The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-04-03
A NOVEL
Ned's Passionate Temper, and How HI
Subdued 1t.

Subdued 1t.
Ned Dixon had a quick, passionate
temper; he spoke first and thought
afterwards. Like a whirlwind his
anger overlook him; there came violent
words, and after awhile a very much
shamed little boy would say: 30 dear,
dear, what shall l dop" For he had
been taught that unless he learned to
conquer this evil spirit. in the end it
would subdue him. His mother had
striven with him and tried in all ways
to help him, and at last she said;
"Now, my boy, you must do this
thing for yourself; neither God nor
mar can help you unless you strive
Yourself"
but l do, mamma said Ned.
81 know you do sometimes, dear
child, but you have not struggled as if
you were in the clutches of a wild beast
that will surely destroy you if you
don't overcome him. Life is a poor
thing. child, if we let ourselves grow
up the slaves of our evil tendencies;
but remember, He that ruleth his
spirit is greater than he that taketh a
a city, and you have read of some of
the terrible battles men have had to
fight to take Cities
This conversation took place after an
unusually bad exhibition of temper on
Ned's part, and when it was over, the
boy wandered off by himself in
a very contrite mood, and at last,
found himself in the barn. Here
he sat down on a carpenters bench,
and began to examine the tools in q
box that stood open beside him. After
awhile he picked up a ball of Irvine
and began to unwind and rewind it.
all at once a new thought took pos
session of him, and tossing the ball Of
twinc back into the box, he darted off,
and was soon running down the street
as fast as he could 60.
After awhile he returned with afresh
ball of Irvine that he had bought, and
put it away in a box of his own traps
in the barn-chamber. About this time
Ned's friends began to notice that he
did not get into a passion as often as
usual, and instead of speaking when he
was angry he ran away. His mother,
who watched him closely, was over
joyed, for she saw that he was learning
self-control, though it was no easy
matter. She saw his face flush often,
and the angry spark in his eye, but he
would shut his lips tightly and disap-
pear, coming back after awhile with
his anger quite gone. Seeing that Ned
always ran to the barn at such times,
his mother followed him one day, curl
to know what the boy would do.
She stepped cautiously, and, looking
up into the barn-chamber, saw Ned,
sitting on a box unwinding with great
rapidity a ball of Irvine. His face was
very red and his lips shut tightly, and
cord flew fast through his fingers.
Towards the end the hands began to
relax their speed, and when the task
was done the boy gave a great sigh
and slowly began to wind up the Irvine
again. His mother judged that it
would now do to speak to him, SO
climbing the stairs she said:
"What are you doing, Ned?"
lie looked up surprised, and a little
confused, but said:
20 mamma, / do believe l have
ound a way to help myself. l just
'on't speak one word when l am mad,
nut come right up here before I do any
hing, and unwind this Irvine and wind
t all up again; by the time l get it all
|nwound, I'm not very angry, and it
) such stupid work winding it up /,
gain, but do it every time, and l !
'uess ! shall learn o not to get mad |
t all, when l have to do such a Job Of !
FORK every time" f,
Ned Dixon is n man now, and his l
.ttcrs coiue addressed to Hon. Edward
'ixon. His mother loves to tell her 8
randchildren how their father learned t
} conquer his temper and rule his .
They find it hard to believe Y
papa ever had n quick temper; no ]