The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-09-12
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
GETTING THE VICTORY.

Sammie Gay was bright, generous,
but very quick tempered. His father
and mother had tried faithfully to point
out the foolishness and danger of Weld
ing constantly to so dangerous a foe
Frequent punishment had followed pa
ternal counsel, but still Sammic yielded
far too often to the tyrant temper, which
proved after all a hard master to the
kind-hearted boy.
When there was to be n festival at the
Broad Street Church, and Sammie beg
ged leave to 90, his mother said, yes,
he could 90, and have fifteen cents to
spend if in the intervening two DAYS he
would not yield once to any improper
show OF temper, not That it was any
part of her plan to hire Sammie to do
right, but the wise mother knew that
once IN awhile some tempting inccn-
tive would 90 great ways towards
stimulating a boy to real effort in the
right direction. But the mother was
made both glad and sorry, when, on the
afternoon of the festive day, poor Sam
mic declared with a burst of tears that
he couldn't go, because he got lawful
mad that morning and called Tommy
Ting "a hateful dirty spider" because
he crawled softly up behind him and
scared him half out of his wits.
Mrs. Gay was glad that if Sdmmie
was quicE-tempered he was not
coward, but dared to tell the truth,
although it cost him considerable in
the way of fun and pleasure. And she
did not forget nor neglect to commend
the boy for his truthfulness, for the at
fni hn,,,,,,,,,t -, I,, I
could easily have been concealed had
Sammie had less courage and con-
science than d.stinguis he'd him. SO that
evening, when the time tor the festival
came, Mrs. Gay invited Sammia to take
little walk with her, and during the
pleasant stroll she showed how hasty
temper betrayed any one into all kinds
of sin and folly.
Then she spoke in her calm, kind
way of the improper language he had
used in calling Tommy ling the names
he did, language no little gentleman
would soil his lips by using. Now,
my child" she added, cheerllv, give
heard OF an excellent plan for prevent
ing ones self from saying hasty words
and making improper speeches; when
ever you feel the least angry, stop and
count ten before allowing yourself to
SPEAK one word -
SammIe thought this splendid idea,
and declared his belief that he could
xii his unfortunate temper in that way
W thout doubt. He would try it the
very next day.
And so he did. poor child for when
Nick Neal, the bad boy of the school,
tainted him with having failed in spell
ing. he answered never a word, but Just
began counting ten with all his might;
but when Nick called out in his most
provoking tone: All, so the little
parson hasn't the courage to say a
wordn' up went Sammie's hand in
quick revenge, and he had to remain in
from recess m the afternoon for strik-
ing another boy
No wonder poor Sammie cried that
night, and told his sympathizing mother
it was no use, he could not conquer his
temper, it was bound to overcome him
every time.
After Samme was in bed and set
ting himself ito think over things"
his mother came into his room with a
book i'm her hand; and with ready de-
light he knew that meant a story before
going to sleep. And it was Il wonder
full story, all about a boy who won an
astonishing victory in making Il can't
yield to 81 will -
The hero was not a very strong child,
and every difficult task of duty made
him shrink back and say: Il can't;"
but one night he dreamed great giant
by the name of Il will' came and con
quered the feeble, but persistent, Il
cant" until it was driven away for
ever. But the great Captain, under
whose leadership the victory was ac-
complished, was named ''Pcrsever-
ance;" for 81 will'' did not come off
conqueror at once. There Were several
long battles, first; but the boy dreamed
that Il VIII was not to be put down.
and when finally Il cant was really
driven away lie never came back again
Sammie thought this splendid story,
as indeed it was; and his mother no
ticed how his eyes flashed, and what a
look OF strong purpose and resolve
came over his face rs he listened to the
well-told, truthful story.
The next night, when bedtime came,
Sammic looked 50 happy his mother
said he knew lie had something good
to tell her; and he laughed, and said
twas long story; but he thought for
all that she would like 10 hear it; and
as his mother certainly did want TO
hear all about it, he began:
''Well all the way to school this
morning | kept thinking of Il can't
and Il WILL and / says to myself: /
aciH make this Old temper of mine give
in; yesterday / thought: Oh! can't. |
can't; but now | will, and, first thing
while | was thinking these thoughts
some one jumped at me and screached
boo as loud as he could. and there
was that bothersome Nick Neal again,
and my Grst thought was: ! can t keep
my temper, but quick as a flash says:
! will! so Just laughed and says:
We'll, that was pretty well done, Nick,
'spose you try it again Well, he
plagued me all the way to school, and
that cant and will kept up Il battle
all the whole way, but will came out
victorious"
well done" says mother I'm
glad to hear that.
But the Lest of it,, continued Sam
mic, was when recess came. Nick