The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-20
OVER IN A MINUTE.
An Ungoyerned Temper-What a Sudden
Outburst of Passion May Do.


Outburst of Passion May Do. "
Kitty had constructed new swing for
her dolls entertainment; but it proved
unsatisfactory, for that wooden lady
slipped from her perch and landed with
considerable violence upon the table,
overturning an inkstand upon pict-
ure Walter was copying. In an in.
slant Walter sprang to his feet,
snatched up the doll, threw it into the
fire and marched out OF the room, leav.
ing Kitty in tears and the table in con.
fusion. In half an hour he returned,
gay and sunny as ever, bringing a
handsome doll to replace Kitty's loss
She was easily comforted, and was
more sure than ever that Walter was
the best brother in the world. ..
9 If fellow is qulck-tempered, why,
he is; suppose that's all there is OF
it, " said Walter, more carelessly than
penitently. II do get angry in jiff,
but it's all over in a minute or two.
care you sure of that?" asked his
grandfather gravely.
. ''Oh, yes. I'm not one of the sort
to 60 sulking about over any thing. /
flash up quickly enough, but l never
bear malice.
"But the consequences-can you be
sure that they ARE all over in minute
or twoP | never hear any one speak
carelessly of that fault without recalling
one scene in my own boyhood. / was
quick-tempered, too, Walter, and, as
you say, quick over it-fying into a
rage one minute, and ready to laugh
at my tempest of passion the next.
held high place in my classes, and
one day had spoken rather boastingly
of my position and how long l had
kept it; but that very afternoon, through
some carelessness, l failed, and gave
~ answer so absurd that it was re-
ceived with burst of laughter. Nor
titled by my blunder, vexed at having
lost my place, | passed an uncomfort-
able afternoon, and when school closed
L walked out, mOodily, inclined to
speak to no one and pretending to be
busy whiting.
Here comes the infallible! here's
the fellow that never missesn called
the teasing voice of a school-mate in
front of me; and then he mockingly re-
peated my absurd answer
,"With all the force of sudden fury
| threw my open knife at him. 1t Just
missed his head, and in an instant it
was quivering in the tree behind him.
The sight of it and of his white, startled
face recalled me to my senses, and |
sank down upon the ground, covering
my face with my hands. The boys
gathered about me kindly-even Char
lie, the one at whom l had aimed the
blow, saying that the fault was more
his own than mine. But / knew that
only Gods mercy had saved me from
seeing my school-mate dead at my feet
and my whole life darkened with the
stain of murder.
For weeks afterward lived it over
in horrible dreams; and to this dav,
Walter, ungoverned temper can never
seem light thing to me. Anger that
is over in a minute may be like a
spark OF fire on powder, and give you
cause for shame and sorrow all your
days t.... r..... 20.
And let it be added that not all are
spared the natural fruits of their sud-
den passion. In Philadelphia boy
struck at a playmate in sudden anger;
the knife-blade cut an artery, death
followed, and the boy was murderer;
nor is this solitary case. Beware of
an ungoverned temper Morning Star.