Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-17
9ylonih's Column.
STAMP HIM DOWN.

ing?" asked grandmother, who had
come a few days before on visit.
.Look at him now; he is surely try
ing to drive those bricks into the
ground"
WHY'S mother looked and saw
that the little boy had come inside
the gate and was stamping with all
his might on the brick wall. 1t GER
tainly looked as if he was in very
bad temper, indeed.
"And | have heard him do it sew
eral times since / have been here
went on grandmother. "When |
was out in the garden yesterday
heard such a noise in the barn that
thought something must be wrong
with the horse; so l peeped in, and
there was Willy stamping about all
by himself. And this morning 1
heard it going on in his room.''
His mother smiled as she tapped
on the window. Very soon Willy
came in with face so bright that it
seemed hard TO believe there could
be any bad temper behind it. "What's
the trouble now, Willy?" mamma
asked.
"Why, mamma, came near hav-
ing the worst fight with Jack Pratt
We were playing marbles out On the
pavement, and he wanted me to trade
him my best agate for twenty COM
mics and two crystals, and l wouldn't,
and he slapped me in the face and
threw my hat away out in the street.
| was as mad as a hornet, mamma
l was just going to give him a good
one; but thought just in time, and
| got inside the gate as quick as [
COULD and stamped and stamped
and I've got him clear down now"
Mamma kissed his round cheek,
and he ran out to play again, while
she told grandmother all about the
stamping.
She had seen with much concern,
even in his babyhood, that he had a
very passionate temper, which SEEM
ed to grow with his growth and
strengthen with his strength. She
used to talk very seriously to him
about it, and he would listen earnest
ly, for the little fellow was always
inclined to do right when he was not
in fit of anger.
She told him of the danger he was
risking in allowing his temper to get
the mastery over him. She babe him
observe how its outbreaks were be-
coming more and more frequent, and
that it was growing more and more
difficult for him to control himself.
II know it, mamma" said Willy,
sorrowfully, one day, "but you see I
can't help it. When I get mad 1
don't stop to think of anything. I
don't care what 1 do"
''It is the very spirit of evil, old
Satan, who gets possession of your
poor little heart, and if you find him
so strong while you are very little
boy, what will he be as you grow old
er? If you do not get the better of
him he will get the better of you. He
is a great deal stronger than you
are.'
"Then how can I get the better of
him, mammal
'You never can, without the help
of Him who is stronger than Satan :;
but you know you can always have
that by praying for it. You must
stamp down the evil one, my boy !;
beat him to the ground when he
shows his ugly self in your heart"
Willy gave vigorous stamp.
II wish [ had him here now -
The morning after this talk his
mother heard a most astonishing
tramping about the piazza, and call
ed to Willy to know what it meant.
"Oh, mamma, I got awfully mad
with Mike because he wouldn't let
me water the flowers with the hose.
l was going to snatch it and give
him dousing, but I thought quick,
mamma, and I'm stamping him
down-not Mike, you know, but old
Satan -
"Stamp away, dear; only be sure
you stamp with your heart, too, till
you get him clear out!''
Willy seemed to find it a relief tc
stamp when, as he told his mother.
he was so mad he must do something
Perhaps it kept him from doing some.
thing much worse.
AS he gets older she is teaching
him that it is his duty to control his
temper as well as all other desires
towards sin, without the help Of
stamping. And he will surely fine
sufficient help in the grace which the
dear Lord gives to the children hi
loves.
Meantime, grandmother smiles
when she hears the stamping, ant
murmers softly to herself:
"May the Lord help the dea
child !"-NeaU York Observer.
A FIGHT WITH AN ALL