It was the season of vacation, when children's minds are given to play,
instead of study. It was during this interval, that a little girl, whom
we will call Jane, came from a neighboring town to visit one of her
school-mates, another little girl, whose name we will call Emily.
The disposition of Emily was very different from that of Jane. She was
always pleasant and kind, willing to confer favors upon others, even
though she should not receive the same in return. Jane was ill-tempered,
told wrong stories, and did many things which rendered her a very
disagreeable companion. Her parents could see no fault in her, therefore
she was permitted to give way to her temper, which was the cause of her
losing friends and gaining enemies. When she was in these violent fits
of passion she would accuse her companions of things which would wound
their feelings very much. During vacation, Emily accepted an invitation
which had been given her to spend a few days with Jane.
She enjoyed herself very much while there and invited Jane to come and
see her. Soon after Jane went to visit Emily. The first part of the
time, she enjoyed very much; but as her visit was drawing to a close,
she gave way to a violent fit of temper. She took this opportunity to
relate to Emily many things her parents said about her after she had
left them. She told her that if she knew what her father and mother said
about her, she would never visit them again. Whether they did talk about
her, or whether it was Jane's ugly temper, that led her to taunt Emily,
I do not know. But it caused Emily to feel very much grieved, because
she was not conscious of having done anything which would cause them to
talk about her. Emily has never visited Jane since, nor has she desired
to. She thinks that those who treat her well when she is present and
talk about her when she is absent, cannot be her true friends. Thus we
see that those who govern their temper, and endeavor to make themselves
pleasant and agreeable, are much more loved and respected than those who
give way to this wicked passion.