Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-07-14
HASTY TEMPER.
"a Soft Answer Turncth Away wrath
An Faster Sunday Lesson.

sides good supply OF gally-ooAored
eggs and huge custard pies.
l was country boy, and as there
was always an abundance of these
things, they naturally occupied more OF
my attention than did the yearly Easter
sermons that Parson Hartwell preached
IN the little country church which We
attended; they had always made me-
feel sleepy or restless, with desire to
be out in the bright spring sunshine.
instead of sitting on the hard, bare
seat, with my feet hanging down until
they were uncomfortable with the prickly
feeling OF being asleep.
One Saturday night, before Easter,
l sat cleaning my coarse leather shoes
(for father always said it was no way
to wait until the Sabbath before getting
in order for church.) | rubbed and
polished very slowly, for in truth l was
not in a pleasant humor That very
day had quarreled with Cousin Ned.
and we had even come to blows. II
had been about dam which l had
been building across the brook behind
the barn. ..- .
l had Just completed it to my satisfac-
ton and was watching the bright, clear
water flow over the miniature falls,
when Cousin Ned came over and began
giving me advice as TO ways of improv-
ing it. was pulled up with success
and answered shortly that / had made
it in the way l wanted, and didn't need
his advice. Ned was bit inclined to
be tantalzing and he kept on chatting
me about the dam, until | could keep
my temper no longer, and broke forth
with the most abusive language could
command.
Ned was as hot-tempercd as was,
and, picking up handful of stones, he
began pelting the dam. In second,
he had broken away part of the work,
aud, as soon as the rushing waters
found an opening, they soon swept
the rest away, and the result of my
mornings work was carried down the
stream
sprang up from where l had been
yainly trying to prevent the destruction
of my dam, and confronted Ned with
flashing eyes and flaming cheeks. In q
moment we were locked together, and
Were fighting like young tigers. We
two boys, who had been loving play.
mates from baby hood until now, were
fighting rs though we were morta
enemies
Who would have conquered, l can
tell, for William, my eldest brother
saw lis from the barn, and, Fastening
toward us, soon separated us in hi
calm, gentle way; but it mad left boil
of us defiant and sullen, and as l sa
rubbing my shoes, l felt both angry an,
sorry for the disgraceful scene.
had Just finished my task, when
felt mothers soft hand on my head. an,
her loving voice asked: What is TIL
matter with my merry son tonight
IS 50 quietg
answered that nothing was the mat
ter, and tried to smile up in her face a
usual, Tut on looking up, encountere
William kind, gray eyes. | knew a
once tnat he was thinking of the morn
ing's scene, and my face grew scarle
as 1 reflected how panied mother woul
be il she knew of it,
was unhappy all the evening an
was glad when 1t was bedtime.
aSoke the next morning with til
feeling of not having rested wei
somehow the pillow had not been {
soft as usual.
Before we started for church, vii
lam whispered to me that must nj
90 to church on Easter with anger
my heat, but | was too sullen to al
swcr.
To this day can remember how III
old church looked that Easter morr
ing. The young people had almo.
covered the square, plain pulpit, unit
it looked Ike bower of flower
Easter had come early in the season
and, with the variableness of Marcel
the sun would shine and light up tt
church, and again the sky would |
overcast and II gloomy dimness pc
NdlG Illc eulllCe
sat an looked at the white-haire
minister with anything but gent
spirit, for was half-angry and y
half-ashamcd of myself, and when
his quiet, almost monotonous voice, |
delivered the text, it seemed as thong
he had read my thoughts. "A SO
answer turneth away wrath" he sal,
repeating it slowly over again. l p,
up TO my burning cheeks my lit
brown hands, as though to hide then
| felt almost sure he had heard of n
, wickcdness and was preaching entire
to me. the sun had gone under clou
and there was nothing to attract II
attention out of the window, 80 ke'
herself, with little shudder which ev
the warmth of her surroundings cou
not repress, ''is it impossible to
bana'e even in thatp" and she gave
little groan as she stepped out of h
carriage and up the Embassy steE
4 The thought was still on her mind a
tracing the least suggestion of froy
, upon her exquisite girlish face as S
Y entered the great room and took I
/ hand of the Ambassadress. The thr
OF interest, of excitement, of admin
+ ton, which as matter OF course
/, tended upon her entrance did not 81
! her any answering thrill Of gratificatic
n She appeared to listen with the mt
= gracious attention to the complimel
u of the Ambassador She answered W
the daintiest little air of infantile oh
u sance the Old World courtesy of
white-haircd Minister who would hs
been as much at homo as she herself
q salon of the Regent OF Orleans.
condesccndcd 10 cntangle in u netwo
=. of fascination II particularly obduri
i and impressive Secretary of State. S
e patronizcd Prince of the blood roy
a and was exceedingly frank and frier
IL ly with the young painter Lepell, W
knew exactly how much her familiar
|, meant, but was at once amused and
y lighted by the envy it aroused in othC
i Yet all the while the Princess Barpal
ct was not devot,ng q single serit
a thought to one of her admirers. Ev
II idea in that vain and foolish head v
c. conferred upon the one query: "Shal
le commit suicide next week, and If
howl"
1t was while in this frame of mi
talking to twenty people and think
A. OF none of them, that her bright ey
in wandering lightly over the crowt
room, CHANGED To fall upon you
& man who was standing. somewhat