The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-04-09
A BALL OF TWiNE.
Ned's Passionate Temper, and How He
Subdued 1t.

Ned's Passionate Temper, and How He
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 very much |
shamed little boy would say: 30 dear,
dear, what shall | do?h For he had
been taught that unless he learned to
conquer this evil spirit, in the end 1t
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
man can help you unless you strive
yourself.
'sBut do, mamma" said Ned.
81 know you do sometimes, dear
child, but you have not struggled as If
you were in the clutches of wild beast
that will surely destroy you if you
don't overcome him. Life is a poor
| thing, child, il 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 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 carpenters bench,
and began to examine the tools in a
box that stood open beside him. After
awhile he picked up a ball of twine
and began to unwind and rewind it.
All at once a new thought took pos
session of him, and tossing the ball OF
twine back into the box, he darted oil,
and was soon running down the street
as fast as he could go.
After awhile he returned with afrest
ball of twine that he had bought, and
put it away in box of his own traps
in the barn-chamber. About this time
Ned's friends began to notice that HI
did not get into a passion as often al
usual, and instead of speaking when HI
was angry he ran away. His mother
who watched him closely, was over
joyed, for she saw that he was learnin,
self-control, though it was no cas-,
matter. She saw his face flush often
and the angry spark in his eye, but h
would shut his lips tightly and disap
pear, coming back after awhile wit
his anger quite gone. Seeing that Ne
always ran to the barn at such times
. his mother followed him one day, cur
/ Gus to know what the boy would dc
/, She stepped cautiously, and, lookin
; up into the barn-chamber, saw Net
sitting on box unwinding with gres
rapidly ball of twine. His face ws
very red and his lips shut tightly, an
the cord flew fast through his finger
Towards the end the hands began
a relax their speed, and when the tas
y was done the boy gave great sic
a and slowly began to wind up the twin
i again. His mother judged that
i would now do to speak to him,
/. climbing the stairs she said:
!. "What are you doing, Nedp"
He looked up surprised, and lit
a confused, but said:
!. 30 mamma, | do believe / ha
. found way to help myself. ju
! don't speak one word when am ma
,s but come right up here before do al
n thing, and unwind this twine and WIZ
k it ali up again; by the time I get it
# unwound, I'm not very angry, and
If is such stupid work winding it
n again, but | do it every time, and
N guess shall learn soon not to get m
a at all, when l have to do such a job
or work every time.n
10 Ned Dixon is a man now, and
7 letters come addressed to Hon. Edwa
w Dixon. His mother loves to tell
grandchildren how their father learn
to to conquer his temper and rule
spirit. They find it hard to belle
h. that papa ever had quick temper;