Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-29
My Irritable SisteE.-lAn Open Letter.
Va, NV Inor rc1lo,r,

eternal vigilance which is alcae ;he price of
decent cleanliness. / have fought tho IN
csssant battle with dust, ana have enyiea
those notable matrons whose Windows are
always brightly polished, whose nocrs narer
show speck c: fluff, whose YeslibuI.s are
Immaculate, and whose tables are nc. oaly
abundantly provided but ingayiabo daintily
served. know how beautiful, in tho read
ing, is the story Of this woman or thar, whose
affairs move with no audible lar, and no
visible friction. And an aware, toe. lhat
IL ls not easy, in actual practice. t. go
through all ordinary domestic weeS. with
ts multifolm activities, and feel ucitier lar
nor friction. The ideal supera,ive trans-
cends the positive actual with many Of us.
and the prettier our bomcs are, lha ha:der
it a, alas to take the proper and exquisite
caro- which our very !nxures and cot
veniences demand
1t came TO me, the other day, IL | sat in
my chamber: and thought IF your ann0v-
snces and my own. that perhaps The most
practical way OF conquerinS the tendency
to irritahility OF which you c9Gnplaiu, and
which depiore, IS re3olutely ~ refuse il
expression. We aFe Eot always able to con
troll the impetuoua -ush Of emotion. out We
can repress the hasty speech and tho severe
Irown.sa Wo can be silent, il The first Glish O
injured feeling, and refrain from tlle shsru
word, the queruiGus oG!cry, aud The iaaig.
| nant burst, Of which ,T~ are sure 10 repent,
Have EYs rot repeated OVER aml uver If
having spoken i'.,?NtleutIy, when 70 &u -
did ro gooI; il fact, cid bu: confuse rhi,a r
servant, or pex the heart Of out fr!xHti
Apart from the repression O. ic=eN:lHsat,
,, IN look or word, VS. may do U.ucji townld
the cultivation OF a gentle aud !0J eas..
Perturbed temper, by i9iup nGbitun.ly u
gentle quletuGa oftoDe. SG9i! ] sver i.rgt:
my friend, the sweet mistress .G 6 Ei.2i. j.
manse, her heath fragile, her family 'ar.y.
her house overtloUiug with guests, ard &c.
hands with cares, while the h,s. service
at her command was %"1.. ,.nntr.
feet aud uncertain? H. irssaIce
in the boHilined study WAS IL hent;c.i1u IS
we gathered for family rsayels ~ evening
chat, nor, under any pEoTacalion. wac Tie
sweet voice ever raised. 50 tranquil, 50 uD-
hurried, when | aul wearied the remem-
brance of her gent!eness rests and soothss
me still.
Very precious to my heart is B1nar's
hymn.
"Ctlm me, my God, and keep nc calm,
oOlt resting on l ny breast
SoOthe me with holy hymn anG rsalm
And bid my spirit rest.
Calm in the hour Of bouyant health
Calm in my hour of pain
CO Il in my poverty or wealth.
Calm III my loss o. gain
When we have exhausted all our prcsc,ir-
tions, and tried al! our remedies, dear, ensi-
ly-irritated sister, the one unIui!ug Danacea
awaits US. The leaves of the tree Of life aIe
forever for the healing Of the lim;ioDa But
Te are Often go eiow 20 aVa! ourselves Of The
peace we might have for the asking; ,.a SO
often buy everything else before we 70 10
Him who never fails us when We csrrv our
wants to His feet.
| think We instinctively run to Hiul il
the time Of calamity or disaster. Then we
| cannot help it, The impulse dominates US,
and as the nurt child cries on; for the
mother comfort, We fly to cur heavenly
Friend. But, the children are naughty, the
chimney smokes, there are business worries,
the servant leaves suddenly, the dinner is
spoiled through somebody's careleSsness,
the baby is teething, and we aro worn out,
| and we call ali these little things and think
we must beaT then! alone. They are the
very things in which the Lord is waiting 10
be our gracious helper, if we will only carry
theul stralShI 10 Him, 10 crop the burden
at His feet, and bear song away"
have addressed this bit Of talk to you,
my irritable, my discouraged my over.
wrought sister. You are irritable, because
you are overwrought, and your discourage
tnent springs from the same reason. | do
not know your name, but God knows it, for
is 1t not written in the Lambs Book of Life?
Let Us pray for each other aad let US take
care 10 rule our spirits if We can, lest happi
ly We be so importunate S. 10 offend one os
His little ones ny our unkindnsss or sinful
exasperation.--Mrs. M Z. Sangster in Iatc-
rior.