The Arizona sentinel., 1886-04-10
A BALL OF TWINE.
Ned's Passionate Temper, and How He
 Subdued It.

Ned's Passionate Temper, and How He Subdued It.
 Ned Dixon had 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: 70 dear, dear, what shall I do?" 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 man can help you unless you strive yourself"
 "But do, mamma" said Ned.
 T 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 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 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 Neds part, and when it was over, the boy wandered off by himself in a very contrite mood, and at last in hn he sat down on a carpenters bench, and began to examine the tools in a box that stood open beside him. After awhile he picked up 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 off, and was soon running down the street as fast as he could go.
 After awhile he returned with fresh 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 he did not get into 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, curi- ous 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 ball of twine. His face was very red and his lips shut tightly, and the 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 great sigh and slowly began to wind up the twine again. His mother judged that it would now do to speak to him, so climbing the stairs she said:
 ''What are you doing, Ned?"
 He looked up surprised, and a little confused, but said:
 70 mamma, 1 do believe I have found way to help myself. I just don't speak one word when am mad, but come right up here before I do any thing, and unwind this twine and wlnd it all up again; by the time I get it all unwound, I'm not very angry, and it is such stupid work winding it up again, but do it every time, and I guess 1 shall learn soon not to get mad at all, when have to do such a job of work every time
 Ned Dixon is man now, and his letters come addressed to Hon. Edward Dixon. His mother loves to tell her grandchildren how their father learned to conquer his temper and rule his spirit. They find it hard to believe that papa ever had quick temper; no one ever sees it now.-GoIden Rule.