ANGER.— A STORY FOR BOYS. 
 
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 Uncle, please tell us a story ?" The old 
 
ANGER. 3 
 
 man thus addressed, started as if he had 
 been awakened from a dream, and, look- 
 ing round at the young faces which were 
 gazing eagerly at him, he said pleasantly, 
 " And what shall the story be about ?" 
 " Oh, about something that happened to 
 you when you were a boy, uncle — a real, 
 true story." " I think that kind is always 
 the nicest," said a sweet, gentle-looking 
 little girl. An expression of sorrow passed 
 over the old man's face; then, after 
 a pause, he said : " Well, children, I will 
 tell you something that happened to me in 
 my youth ; it was that which brought 
 these gray hairs before their time, and 
 robbed me of the joy of youth for ever. 
 
 " I once had a sister. She was a sweet, 
 loving child ; timid and retiring, and of a 
 most yielding disposition, except where 
 right and wrong were concerned, and then 
 her firmness was remarkable in one so 
 young. I Wed her better than anything 
 in the world, though I was exactly her 
 opposite in all respects. Headstrong and 
 impetuous, irritable and passionate, while 
 my dear mother lived it was all my deep 
 
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 4 ANGER. 
 
 love for her could do to keep me even in 
 partial restraint ; but about three years 
 before, she had died, leaving Lucy, myself, 
 and an infant brother, under the care of 
 an uncle. This uncle, though I believe a 
 good man, and sincerely desirous of doing 
 his duty towards us, had yet but little 
 influence over me, for I was always more 
 easily influenced by love than by harsh- 
 ness. 
 
 " Like most boys, I was fond of fishing, 
 and I had a fine opportunity for enjoying 
 this pastime. At the foot of my uncle's 
 garden was a very large pond, plentifully 
 stocked with fish ; here I was permitted 
 to amuse myself at liberty, with but one 
 restriction. There was a certain part of 
 the pond where Lucy and I had been 
 forbidden to go ; my uncle had marked it 
 by putting a few stakes at each end of the 
 place. This idea vexed me extremely, for 
 boys about twelve years old do not like to 
 have it supposed that they cannot take 
 care of themselves. 
 
 " Lucy was generally my companion 
 while fishing: not that she liked it, for 
 
ANGER. O 
 
 she sometimes betrayed an unwillingness 
 to accompany me, which, compared with 
 her delight in being with me on every 
 other occasion, and her desire to please 
 me, might have shown me, had I chosen 
 to see it, how much she disliked it. 
 
 " One afternoon, I took my rod, and 
 called to Lucy to put on her bonnet, and 
 come. I think she was not very well 
 
 that day, for she hesitated more than 
 usual, and at last said timidly, ' Would 
 
ANGER. 
 
 you mind very much, Arthur, if I didn't 
 go with you to-day?' I looked at her 
 surprised. ' Not mind,' I interrupted, 
 * why, of course you know I want your 
 help, Lucy ; but if you choose to be ill- 
 natured about it, I don't care ; you may 
 stay at home.' And I turned abruptly 
 away, and walked off, pretty sure, how- 
 ever, that Lucy would not be far behind 
 me. I was right. A minute after, I 
 heard the patter of little feet upon the 
 garden walk, and she was by my side. 
 
 " We walked on in silence, and when we 
 arrived at the pond, I baited my hook, and 
 threw it into the water. But it was a 
 bad day for fishing ; and after waiting a 
 long time, I grew tired and impatient. I 
 felt cross and irritable ; angry with my- 
 self — angry too with Lucy : for there is 
 nothing irritates one more against a per- 
 son, than a sense of having injured them. 
 
 " Just about the middle of the spot we 
 had been forbidden, and standing a little 
 way out in the water, was a large tree 
 whose spreading branches cast a deep 
 shadow all around it. I had often looked 
 
ANGER. 7 
 
 at this place with longing — it was so 
 admirably adapted for fishing ; but had 
 never yet seriously thought of disobeying 
 my uncle's express commands. Now, 
 however, I was in no mood to withstand 
 temptation. I paused but one moment 
 after the idea presented itself — the next I 
 was within the boundary stakes. Without 
 stopping to think, I threw the line, and 
 the hook catching on one of the trees, the 
 rod was jerked out of my hands, and to 
 my horror I saw it hanging just out of my 
 reach. I looked at it for a moment in 
 consternation, then an idea struck me. 
 Hastily feeling in my pockets, I pulled 
 out a ball of twine ; then picking up a 
 stone which lay at my feet, I tied it to the 
 end of the cord. 
 
 " Seeing I would need some help in my 
 endeavours to get at the rod, 1 glanced 
 round for Lucy. She was standing just 
 outside the stakes, gazing at me with a 
 look of surprise and terror which I shall 
 never forget. ' Lucy/ I called out, * I 
 want you to help me ; come quick V She 
 did not move, and I called again, impa- 
 
8 ANGER. 
 
 tient : « Be quick, Lucy ; 1 can't waif 
 *ou know I can't g0 there, Arthur.' 
 Her reply sounded so calm that it irritated 
 me more than ever. • But you must 
 come, Lucy. You shall help me,' I ex- 
 claimed violently— « I'll make you do - ± , 
 bhe did not stir. 'Will you come?' I 
 added passionately. ' No, Arthur.' Oh 
 1 knew not what I did ; but lifting the 
 hand that still held the stone, with all my 
 force I hurled it at her. I cannot tell 
 what followed. I remember seeing her 
 tall— a little coffin in a darkened room 
 kissing clay-cold lips that had never' 
 never spoken one harsh word, and a new- 
 made grave. ' No tears for her :' her eyes 
 had seen the King in his beauty ; her feet 
 have trod the golden streets of Heaven— 
 but for me— never, shall I forget that 
 awful scene." 
 
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