The Tupelo journal., 1904-06-10
FOR FAMILY USE"
Unpleasant characteristics Which Are
Only Displayed in the
Home Circle. i.

to mention ketchup, pickles, milk and
cream. But there are other things that
are also bottled up for use in the
family, that are not material; but they
are kept in store and drawn out upon
occasion. Every h~ousekeeper has a
supply. What are they? Well, let us
variously designate them as temper,
Impotence, irritability, unreasonable
ness-these are kept most carefully
bottled up for family use, and it is
not unfrequently that the stopper is
drawn! Bottled up as they are, they
often begin to ferment and press for a
wider range during business hours and
when strangers are by. But the stop
per at such times is only pressed down
the tighter. 1t would hurt the bust
ness to show irritability and give way
to temper. A mar would lose his
client, or his patient, or his customer
or his place if he should give way to it
So down it stays till he cOmes-where?
why, to his dear, peaceful, quiet
home, the place he loves, and whose
dear inmates he loves. But then they
know by his looks that the days bust
ness has been trying, and soon the bot
tled-up temper which would have in
jured the business begins to show how 1t
has been kept expressly for family use
S~trange-isn't it?
We have welcome words for the stranger
And smiles for the sometime guest;
But We veX our own with the bitter tone,
ThnI1Oh wa Iowa nfr au-p tho hast
oh, lips with the word impatient,
Oh. brow with the look OF scorn.
'TWere a bitter fate were the night too late
To undo the work Of the morn!
And how does it all come about?
Why are the testiness and the impa-
tent reply all saved up for the home
and the mes We really and devotedly
love and care for there? Why, it is
all there-the cowardliness and mea
ness of spirit that lead to this out
burst. We dare to do it because we
know we can do it and still be toll
Grated. Men in business and strangers
in society would not tolerate it; so we
keep it in. But in the family we let
it out. In many a character this quail
ity of i'll temper stands out as the one
glazing defect. Its terment will per-
meate a household like an evil leaven;
its shadow will brood over an other
wise happy circle like a storm-cloud.
For the man who habitually gives
way to temper and testiness, there is
only n course open, and that is to
go apart by ones self and think it out
think what wrong you have done,
and how you have injured others. Bit
ter words are like Knives; they leave
cruel wounds-wounds that often pierce
the most loving hearts.
Boysfying kites haul in their white-wirged
birds;
You cant do that when you are flying
words.
Thoughts that we think may sometimes fail
back dead,
But God Himself can't kill them when
they're said.
Let the man who is afflicted with
this malady sit apart with the Master,
and tell it to Him, and get the touch
of His healing robe, which will mako
even the crooked tempers straight
There is no other way, declares Chris
tan Work and Evangelist. And no
other way is needed, because this IS
a sufficient way. Let him pray with
David: Create in me a clean heart, o
God, and renew a right spirit within
me-"
The waspish temper is bad enough
when men only are concerned; but
when it's singing virus is seen to de-
stroy the peace of the home, making
every member suffer, the evil goes
deep. Do not give way to it, Christian,
Keep the bad spirit down! See to it
that you are not the one meant when
some shall ask: What are those
wounds in Thy hands?" and He shall
answer: These are the wounds where
with | was wounded in the house of
My friends"