The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-10-08
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
aEIrlNa IHE NIcroRY.


Sammie Gay was bright, generous,
but very quick tempered. His father
and mother had tried faithfully to point
out the foolishness and danger of yield
ing constantly to so dangerous a foe.
Frequent punishment had followed pa
ternal counsel, but still Sammie yielded
far too often to the tyrant temper, which
proved after all hard master TO the
kind-hearted boy.
When there was to be a festival at the
Broad Street Church, and Sammie beg
ged leave to go, his mother said, yes,
he could go, 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 incen-
tive would go q great ways towards
stimulating 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
ME declared with burst of tears that
he couldn't go, because he got lawful
mad that morning and called Tommy
Ting ga hateful, dirty spider, because
he crawled softly up behind him and
scared him half out of his wits.
| Mrs. Gay was glad that if Sammie
was quick-tempered he was not a
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 af-
| fair happened in the school-yard and
could easily have been concealed had
Sammie had less courage and CON
science than distinguished him. So that
evening, when the time for the festival
came, Mrs. Gay invited Sammie to take
a 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 Ting the names
he did, language no little gentleman
would soil his lips by using. 'Now,
my child" she added, cheerily, s'l'ye
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
kill his unfortunate temper in that way
without 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 word, but just
began counting ten with all his might;
but when Nick called out in his most
provoking tone: 'tAh, so the little
parson hasn't the courage to say a
word!H up went Sammie's hand in
quick revenge, and he had to remain in
from recess in 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 Sammie was in bed and set.
thing himself ito think over things
LID AlOtACl CduiO 1ubO Ills IOOlu Will
book in her hand; and with ready de.
| light he knew that meant story before
going to Sleep And it was wonder
full story, all about a boy who won an
astonishing victory in making II can t.
| yield to 81 will. -
The hero was not very strong child
and every difficult task of duty made
him shrink back and say: II Can't
but one night he dreamed great giant
by the name of AZ will came and con
quered the feeble, but persistent, 81
cant, until it was driven away for
ever. But the great Captain, under
whose leadership the victory was &C
complished, was named sPcrsever
ance;' for "l wilF' did not come of
congueror at once. There were seYera
long battles, first; but the boy dreamed
that II will' was not to be put down
and when finally Il can't" was really
driven away he never came back again
Sammie thought this asplendid story
as indeed it was; and his mother no
ticed how his eyes flashed, and what 1
look of strong purpose and resolve
came over his face as he listened to the
well-told, truthful story
The next night, when bedtime came
Sammie looked so happy his mother
said she knew he had something gooC
to tell her; and he laughed, and sale
twas long story; but he thought TO
all that she would like to hear it; anc
as his mother certainly did want t,
hear all about it, he began:
"Well, all the way to school thi
morning | kept thinking of 4 can't
and I will, and / says to myself:
mill make this old temper of mine Civ
in; yesterday thought: Oh! 1 can't,
can't; but now | will, and, first thin,
while | was thinking these thoughts
some one jumped at me and screache,
boot as loud as he could, and Their
was that bothersome Nick Neal again
and my first thought was: / can t keer
my temper, but quick as flash I saws
| will! so l just laughed and says
Well, that was pretty well done, Nick
'spose you try it again. Well. h
plagued me all the way to school, an
: that can't and will kept up a battl
all the whole way, but 'will' came OF
] victorious"
I well DONE says mother, 'pr