The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
THINK BEFORE SCOLDING.
How One Mother was Cured of Speaking
without Deliberetion.

how One Mother was Cured of Speaking
without Deliberation.
Count ten, Tatty, count ten" These
words came to my mind the other even
ing, but they were just too late to be OF
service. knew quite we'll at the mo-
ment that had spoken too hastily, and
that in all probability l had been unjust,
while if had followed the rule given to
'sTattycoram," and always counted ten
before speaking when felt irr' ca5ed,
poor little BERTHE would have been saved
heartache, which / can never recall
without pang.
1 had returned mentally and physi-
cally tired from hard days shopping
n the city. The tedious waiting at the
ferry, and the Over-heated and over
crowded cars had left me with a nervous
headache, trouble which seldom plead
guilty to, and to which was trying not
to succumb.
BERTHE met me at the door with the
cleanest of faces, with his bright curls
so smoothly brushed, and with such an
unusually subdued manner that but for
my aching head l would have suspected
mischief. There was none of the usual
curiosity regarding my packages, but
such a gentleness of demeanor that l
stroked his sunny curls, and asked, 'HoW
is mammals little Lord Fauntleroy"
"Please come in the parlor, l have
something to show you," said BERTHE,
and following him there, l saw my
favorite lamp-shade, the costly gift OF
friend, in fragments. "What a ma ughty,
careless little boy!' 1 began, and with
out trusting myself to say another word
l returned to the dining-room. A few
moments later my husband, all uncon-
scious of the tragedy, entered, made
much of BERTHE, asked him if he had been
,unely, and if he was glad we were
again at home. l saw the little chin
CULVER under his papa's caresses, and l
began to appreciate something of how
the little heart must be aching at the
prospects of disclosure which he sup
posed would follow. Waiting until he
had finished his supper and gone into
the sitting-rOOm, related the catas-
trophe. Without word, my husband,
n the brightest and cheeriest of voices,
called BERTHE to him, and taking him on
his knee, praised him for having at once
and unasked told the truth about the
accident, and in his gentle way drew
from the broken-hearted child the
story of chow he wanted to help
Bridget" by beating the dust out
Of the parlor furniture, and of how
e had ''axidently" hit the shade
with the broom handle; nor did his
father let him relinquish his seat until
smiles had chased away the grief from
his poor little face. Had l lost my little
boy that night, before had had time to
assure him of my full forgiveness, and
to make him feel in some way that it
was the headache and not mamma that
had spoken, should never have for
given myself. Bridget told me the next
day, that after the accident he sat with
folded hands, unable to play, or followed
her from room to room to ask her if she
was quite sure that the four dollars
from his bank would be enough to pay
for it. II was that sorry for him,
uem,' said the kind-hearted girl ''that
. could have cried.'
l have had my lesson, and 1 think
shall never again allow myself to speak
even the slightest word of reproof until
/ have taken time to think. A wise
man when asked his secret Of educating
his children, replied: 81 have always
found it desirable to be little deaf, a
little dumb and little blind" If you
are given to hasty speeches, it is we'll to
be a great deal dumb. "-Palmetto, in
Rural New Yorker.