Year: 1859

:" It's no such thing, Mother" res.
ponded John.


"John p called the mother, sternly


"Ma'am p


Give Amy her dolls bonnet this in
stant -


"There Take the bonnet, you mean,
selfish thing" And John threw the
bonnet upon the floor.


:" Mother He won't give it to me y
called out the now thoroughly exaspera.
ted little girl, as she saw the bonnet tossed
upon the floor.


At this, the mother threw from her
hands the work upon which she was en-
gagged, and starting up in a passion, came,
with quick step, and resolute air, into
the room where her children were in dis
pute.


"Didn'tI | tell you to give your sister
her dolls bonnet !'' seizing the now
frightened little boy by the arm, and
holding him with tight grip. "Say,
didn't l tell you! What do you mean by
such conduct -


And without waiting for an explana-
ton, she struck him one or two blows.


81 did give it to her." said John, as
soon as he could find his voice. "There
it is, lying at her feet now"


:" You didn't give it to me. You only
threw it at me- was Indignantly answer
ed by Amy.


The mother saw that Amy had partly
deceived her, and that she had been toe
quick to punish.


You are naughty, storytelling
girl !" she said, turning with new in
dignation towards Amy, and raising her
hand to punish her also. But something
in the aspect of the child staid the up
lifted hand, and the smarting strokes fell
not upon the frightened culprit.


Naughty children !" she said. as she
regained little self-possession. "Tc
be always quarreling with one another
I'm surprised and ashamed Of you !
What will your father think. when he
hears of this How will he feel
when he learns that his little boy and
girl have been angry with one another
1t makes me sick and sad to think that
my children should act so wickedly ~


Very little of a right impression did
the mothers censure make upon the
minds of her unhappy children, the sun
shine of whose pleasant day her owr
darkening anger had clouded. They
stood with partly averted faces silent
moody, and with unkindness in their
hearts. Their apparent want of penitence
fretted their weak mothers mind. She
looked for, or at least required, an ODE
dient yielding on their part. She expec
ted them to kiss and be friends again, ,
at her word, as if love and kindness were
vassals that came and went at another
bidding. But she could not command
the sun of love to shine, nor scatter
with breath of her lip, the shadows
that were around their young spirits.


"I must separate you p she at lengtl
said, with a sternness of voice and man
ner, that showed more of angry indigna
ton than of love. Amy, do you g
over into my room, and stay there alone
until | call you and you, John, go of
to the garret, and don't let me see you
face until your father comes home.
shall tell him of all this"


As if any place would be more agree
able than that in which their mother
presence smote them, the two children
at this command, went quickly away
Amy into her mothers room, and Joh
up into the lonely garret. Both, the in
odut tuSf
themselves to tears-Amy sobbing t
herself as if her burdened little hear
would break, and John standing still i
the centre of the garret floor, with scald
ing drops falling rapidly over his burn
ing cheeks. To the boy, there was
cruel mystery in the sudden change to
wards him which his sister had manifes
ted. He understood that her mother hat
refused to let her have pair of scissor
to cut out dresses for her paper dolls
and he could understand how this woult
fret her mind but he was too youns
and unskilled in the philosophy of men
tai transitions to comprehend how tn
disappointment should have wrought ii
her SO great change of feeling towarc
himself, and caused her to act with selfisl
unkindness.


If Johns mother had not punish e,
him, he could have forgiven Amy
But the blows thouoh felt only for