News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-07-30
of a pleasant conversation, half an hour

after had come IN, Wnen one OF The
children, boy between seven and eight
years old, came into the room and made
some complaint against his brother
The little fellow was excited, and broke
in upon our quiet chit-chat with rude
jar that felt quite sensibly. I expected,
of course, to hear him ordered from the
room instantly. That had been mn
friends usual proceeding when these
Interruptions occurred; at least it had
been so when I happened to be visitor
But instead of this, she said, in q low,
mild, soothing voice'
"Well, never mind, Willy. You stay
in the parlor with us, where Harry can't
trouble you"
This was just the proposition, above
all others, to please the child. His face
frightened and he came and nestled up
closely to his mother, who was sitting on
corner of the sofa. Drawing an arm
around him, she went on with the
remarks she h.gsaened to be making
when the,xi;E,{ session session of his entrance
before the parlor door flew open and
Harry entered, asking, as he did SO, in
a loud voice for Willy.
'EWilly is here. What do you want
with him 2' said the mother, in quiet,
but firm, tone.
81 want him to come and play"
"You were not kind to Willy, and he
dosen't wish to play with you"
"Come, Willy, and play, and will be
kind" said Harry.
"Will you let me be the master some
times ~ asked the little fellow; RAISING
himself up from where he had remained
seated beside his mother.
''Yes, you shall be master sometimes 2"
''Then T'll play" And Willy sprung
from the sofa and bounded from the
room, as happy as he could be.
The mother smiled, and, looking into
my face as soon as we were alone, said:
"You see, Kate, that am trying your
remedy, patience"
with most happy results, / am glad
to see."
"With better results than I could have
believed, certainly. Gentleness, consid-
Grafton, and firmness, find to do great
deal, and their exercise leaves my own
mind in good state. There is power
in patience that did not believe it pos
sessed. l can do more by mildly
spoken word than by the most emphatic
command uttered in a passion. This is
the experience of a few weeks. But,
alas Kate to be able to exercise patience
how hard thing that isl 1t requires
constant watchfulness and a constant
effort Every hour l find myself betrayed
into the utterance of some hasty word
and feel its powerlessness compared to
those that are most gently spoken"
"Do you get on with your domestics
any better than you did2"
"Oh! yes. Far better"
II suppose you sent Hannah away
some time ago2'
'tNo, have her yet"
'Indeedr'
eyes, and she does very we'll"
"Does she get your meals ready in
timer"
"She is punctual to the minute"
Greatly, she must have changed for
the betterl And is this, too, the result
of patience and forbearance on your
part2"
'T suppose so. What you said in
visit, struck me forcibly, and caused
me to feel humbled and self-condemned
The more / thought of it, the more
satisfied was that you were right But
it was one thing to see the use of
patience and another thing to exercise
it. To be patient amid the turbulence,
and disobedience of children,
and the irregularities, carelessness, and
neglect of domestics, seemed thing
| was in this state of doubt
as to my ability to exercise the virtue
30 much needed in my household, when
came to the door of the room
where l was sitting in no very happy
mood, and notified me of some want in
The kitchen in an exceedingly provoking
way. 1 was about replying sharply
and angrily, but suddenly checking
myself, l said, in quiet, mild may:
" Very well, Hannah. will see that
It is supplied
''The girl stood for some moments,
looking at me with an expression OF
surprise on her face, and then walked
away. This was victory over myself,
md l felt, also, victory over her.
Not half an hour elapsed, before, on
passing near the kitchen, she said to
nc, in very respectful manner:
/" 4 forgot to tell you this morning
hat the tea was all out. But l can
run round to the store and get some
N few minutes
"Do 50, if you please, Hannah, I
without evincing the slightest
feeling of annoyance at her neglect; and
Try, if you can, to have tea ready pre-
,isely at six o'clock
4 will have it ready, ma'am,' she
replied. And it was ready.
Had not exercised patience and
'elf-control, the interview would have
been something after this fashion: About
;en minutes before tea time Hannah
would have come to me and said, with
GOODNESS.
''The tea s all out
''To which I would have replied,
sharply:
" why, in the name of goodness, did
lot you say so this morning 2 You knew
hat you had used the last drawing l
ieclare you are the most provoking
'reature l ever knew. You'll have to
20 to the store and get some
I'm not fit to be seen in the street,
he would in all probability have re-
1lied.
''And then !, losing all patience,
would have soundly scolded her, and
,ained nothing but sick headache,
perhaps, for my pains. Tea, in all
would have been served at
bout eight o'clock. You see the diff
erence."
"a very material one it is"
'Gsn't it 2 AS you well said, there is
power in patience undreamed of by
hose who seek not its exercise. Next
morning, when I had any occasion to
peak to Hannah, I did so with much
and if had occasion to find
ault, requested change rather than
reproof The girl changed
s if by magic. She became respectful
n her manner toward me, and evinced
constant anxiety to do everything as 1
7ished to have it done. Not once since.
ave we had a meal as much as ten
linutes later than the appointed time
could not but express the happiness
felt at the change, and urged my ex-
client friend to persevere. This she
las done, and the whole aspect of things
n her family has changed.
There are times, however, when, from
ll-health, or return of old states, she
ecedes again into fretfulness; but the
eaction upon her is SO immediate and
erceptible that she is driven in self
efence to patience and forbearance, the
esult of which is order and quiet in her
amily just in the degree that patience
nd forbearance are exercised. ed.-A,thur's
fagazine.
PRIoEs.-A lady in neighboring
OWN lately went to colored white