A Lesson For Mothers

"Müther," said a little girl, "does God ever acold?" She liad seen her mother under circumstances of strong provocatioD, lose her temper and give way to the Impulse of passion; and pondering thoughtf ully for a moment, slie asked "Mother, does God ever scoldV" The question was so abrupt and startMng tliat it arrested the mother's attention almost with a shock, and asked, "Why my child, whatmakes you ask that question ?" 'Because, mother, yon have al way s told me that God was good, and that we should try and be like Mm; and I should liketo know if he ever scolds." "No, my child, of course not." "well, l'm glad he don't, r'or scolding always hurta me, even if 1 feel I have done wrong; and it don't seem to ine that I could love Godvery much if he scolded." The mother feit rebuked before her simple child. Never before had she heard so forcible a leeture on the evils of scolding. The words of the cliild sank deep into her heart, and she turned away hom the innocent face of her little one to hide the tears that gathered to her eyes. Children are quick observers ; and the child, seeing the effect of her words, eagerly inquired, "Why do yon cry, mother 't Was it naughty for me to say what I saidV" "JTo, my love, it was all right. I was only thinking that I miglit have spoken more kindly, and have hnrt your feelings by speaking so hastily and in anger, as I did." "O, mother, you are good and kind ; only I wish there were not so manv bad things to make you fret and talk as you did just now. It makes me i'eel away from you, so far' as if 1 could not come near to you, as 1 do when you speak kindly. And oh, some-times Í fear I shall be put off so far I can never et back again I" "No, my child, don't say that," said the mother, unaole to keep back her teais, as she feit how her tones hadrepelled her little one f rom her heart ; and the child, wondering wliat so alïected lier parent, but intuitively f eeling it was a case requiring sympathy, reached up and throwing her arms about her mother's neck, whispered, "Mother, dear mother, do I make you cry ? Do you love me ?" "O, 'yes! I love yon more than I can teil," said the parent, clasping the little one to her bosom ; "and I will try never to scold again, but if I havo to reprove my child, I will try to do it not in anger but kindly, deeply as I may be grieved that she has done wrong." "O, I am so glad. I can get so near to you if you don't scold. And do you know, mother, I want to -love you so much and I will try always to be good." The lesson was one that sank deep in that mother's heart, and has been an aid to her for many a year. It impressed the great principie of reproving in kindness, not in anger, if we would gain the great end of reproof - the great end of winning the child, at the same time, to what is right and to the parent's heart.