prayer, and helps those who ask his aid. I hope you
will never forget to pray for what you need," said his mother. Willie
smiled, and kissed her, and went out of doors again to enjoy the
evening--
"So cool, so calm, so bright."
Willie is generally a good boy, but he has a quick temper. When three
or four years old, he would sometimes get very angry. I have even
known him to throw things at children with whom he was playing, if
they did any thing to offend him. He did so one day when his mother
was from home. She was much grieved when she heard it, and talked
seriously with him. It made a deep impression on his mind. He speaks
of it now with great solemnity, and asks his mother if she remembers
it. He feels that he committed a great sin. He knows it is wrong to
let his temper govern his reason, and he is struggling to control
himself. I think he will succeed.
I knew his grandfather when I was a little girl, and I remember
hearing him say that he was naturally quick-tempered; but, although I
lived in the same house with him, and saw him under a great variety
of circumstances, I never heard him speak a hasty word. I hope Willie
will obtain as perfect control over himself, and, if he lives to
manhood, that his friends will be able to say of him what I can say of
his grandfather.
Willie was, at one time, playing with some children, and found he was
growing angry. He immediately left them, and sat down on the stairs
alone. Pretty soon they followed him. He did not feel entirely
good-natured, so he again left them, and went into the library. He
shut the door and prayed to his Father in heaven for strength to
conquer himself. He remained there alone till he felt he had obtained
the victory.
Willie is not the only little boy who has a quick temper, and I tell
this story about him for the sake of the dear children who sometimes
get angry. I hope, like Willie, they will learn to go to God for help,
and then, like his, their countenances will be radiant with gladness;
and they, too, can say, "How happy I am!"
"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in
transgression."
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a city that is
broken down, and without walls."
"EVER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS."
"There are ever so many beautiful things up in the sky, mother!" sai
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