Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-22

snoes. Jonnny Oroke tne tie, wnen
word of impatience fell from his lips.
On the very last occasion of q similar
accident the snap Of the tie had been
responded TO by Mrs. Lawrence In the
sensence, angrily spoken, There it is
again, you careless boyl | believe you
break you shoe strings on purposeP
OF course such a speech did not in any
way improve Johnny's temper. Now,
with the impatient word, his eyes went
up 70 the face OF his mother, half fear
fully. half deprecistingly. BE had
felt the pleasant warmth of her sun
nier mood, and did not wish it changed.
1t was greatful to bis young heart
The old impulse stirred the mothers
feelings at sound of the breaking
cord; but she was in the better way,
and not easy to be pushed aside. 1t
was surely worth an effort to keep her
feet therein. So, forcing back the
wave of passion, she said, kindly:
1T is broken so badly that we must
throw it away?' And STOPPING to ex-
anime the cord. she answered her own
question, in cheerful way: 'Oh; no.
A knot here will make it all right.
Shall /, tie it for you?
%, no, mother, l can do it myself,
replied Johnny, in a bright, brave
voice, as he bent over the shoe with
the earnestness of a right purpose.
Don't pull quite so hard, dear, said
Mrs. Lawrence. as she saw Johnny be-
gin the work of lacing his boot again
after the tie was mended.
No ma am, I'll take care
How quickly kind, thoughtful deal,
ing with this impulsive, self-willed
child had wrought a change in his
temper; and his mother, in seeing the
effect, saw the cause also-and she
felt both encouragement and rebuke.
What had wrought this almost magi-
cal changer 1t was self-disciplinel
She perceived and acknowledged the
truth. Getting power over herself
was the first and greatest difficulty.
That attained, and all beyond was
comparatively easy.
At the breakfast table. Mrs. Law
renee noticed that the children ap-
peared to regard her with half curl
GUS interest. Johnny took his place
quietly. instead Of the noisy, dashing
way peculiar to that young gentleman
and Lydia freed from hisannoyances,
forgot herself so far as to give
sisterly attention to little brother
who occupied a high seat by her
side. ... .-. ..r,... ....
But an incident occurred shat came
near destroying the harmonious bal.
ance OF things thus far maintained
q common incident, and one with
which few mothers exercise patience.
A cup of milk and water was over
turned, and the contents left upon the
table-cloth. 1t was Johnny's work,
and carelessly done. a- .
'YouP Only that one word escaped
the lips of Mrs. Lawrence; but the
flash in her eyes, and the color of her
face, betrayed the irritation that was
near overmastering her. Instead of
smarting reproof, however, there came
a kind remonstrance, and the startled
boy looked grieved and grateful at the
same moment.
i didn't mean to do it, mother. 1t
was an accident he said, with atroub-
led air, instead of the defiant or indif-
ferent one usual on these occasions.
And I'm sorry
A grave quiet followed this incl
dent, for all felt how narrowly they
had escaped a scence of passionate dis
turbance, which, cont-asted with the
harmony that prevailed, made them
shrink from its bare Imagination.
Peace, order and a spirit of mutual
kindness were felt to be so sweet, that
the danger Of losing them gave an
of pain. By none were the
means of escape more vividly realized
than by Mrs. Lawrence. She saw that
on her successful effort at controlling
an impatient spirit, everything was
due. Had the stormy words, which
leaped to her tongue, found an utter
ance, how would all have changed in
a momentl She was not so cheerful
during the rest of this meal; but her
subdued gentleness of manner, and
thoughtful attention to the wants OF
every child, more than made up for
the SUMMER countenance, and as ef-
fectually repressed disorder and un-
kindness.
When had meal passed, before
this one, free from strife among the
children, or angry reproof from the
mother? The occasion was memoria-
BILE.
How we'll the children behaved this
said Mr.. Lawrence, as he
stood drawing on his overcoat, pre-.
to going out. There was a
tone of pleasure in his voice; and
beyond this, also, not to be
concealed-approval of his wife, and
fN Hn