Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-03-24
A TIRED MOTHERS VICTORY.

A little timely gentleness will sweet
en- a parents recollections in afteI
years with a thrill of gratitude. W berea,
'ne memory of hasty severity to LITTLE
ones must bring a paug. This tepde,
story OF a mothers experience, pub
l'sned In the Christian Weekly, i, q
beautiful lesson in itself. The motbe,
a laid her table with great care and
palms. for a company of distinguished
guests when her little girl a~ccidentally
overturned a tureen of gravy on the
snowy cloth.
What shall l dor 1t seems a dror
too much for my tired perves-many
drops too much for my table cloth. ]
was about to jerk my child dowr
angrily from the table when a blessed
influence held me.
Il caught the expression on her face
such a sorry, frightened. appealing
look | never saw-and suddenly a pic.
ture OF the past came and stood out
out wildly before my minds eye. My
enid 8 face revealed feelings which
had experienced twenty years before.
u saw myself a little nervous girl,
about eight years old, in the happy
home of my childhood. 1t was a stormy
afternoon in winter. 1t was when coal
oil lamps were first introduced. and
father had bought a very handsome
one.
The snow had drifted up against
The kitchen windows, so, although it
was not yet night, the lamp was light.
ed. Mother was sick in bed upstairs.
and we children were gathered in the
kitchen, to keep the noise and confu.
sion away from her.
u was feeling very important, help.
Ing get supper; atany rate, l imagined
was helping, and, in my oficlousuess,
| seized that lamp and went down the
cellar for some better. l tried to set it
on the hanging shelf, but, alas Ididn't
give it room enough, and down it fell
on the cemented floor.
u never shall forget the shock that
1t gave me. | seemed almost paralyzed.
l didn't dare to 90 upstairs, and | was
afraid to stay down there, and tn make
1t worse, | heard fathers voice in the
Kitchen. He had cautioned us oil.
again and again, to be careful of that
lamp, and now there 1t lay, smashed to
piecesl
But his voice seemed to give me the
impetus l needed to 60 up and meet
the scolding or whipping, or both,
which | felt sure awaited me, and
which really felt l deserved. So |
crept up over the dark stairway, and,
as entered the kitchen, l met father
with such a stern look upon his face
that was frightened.
Il saw there vas no need to tell him
what had happened. He had heard the
crash, and if he hadn't, 1 guess my
would have told the story. The
children stood silently around, waiting
TO see what father would do, and Isaw
by their faces that they were horror
struck, for that lamp had been the
subject of too much talk and wonder
be smashed without a Sensation.
AS for me, | felt so frightened, so
confused and sorry, that | couldn't
speak. But upon glancing again at
l saw the angry look die out of
MS eyes, and one of tenderest pity take
to place.
II doubt not that he saw the same
.ook in my face then that l saw in nv
mild 8 face today. In q minute he had
IN his arms, and was hugging me
to his breast. Then he whispered,
IN. so kindly, Never mind, little
laughter, we all know twas an acct
lent, but l hope you will take the
mall lamp when you go down cellar
"Oh, what q revelation of feeling
experienced. 1t was such a surprise
o me that was suddenly overwhelmed
With feelings of love and gratitude, and
my face, l sobbed as if nv
were breaking. No punishment
have affected me half so much,
nd nothing can ever effacc the men,
ry of it from my mind.
How l loved my father today a. the
light of my own little girls face
'rought it all so freshly before me.
Twill she love me as dearly, l won.
er, twenty years or more from now,
ecause, moved by the same God given
impulse that stirred my fathers heart
4 that long ago time, l was able to