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Coals of Fire

UY MORGAN came in done to prove your love for me just with rapid step and an now?" impetuous manner. His mother looked up from her work. There was a round sat. He was fifteen years old, a great tall red spot in each cheek and fellow, with muscles like steel, but he had an ominous glitter in his not grown above liking his mother's eyes. She knew the kisses. Then she said, softly, "Tell me all "Taken a blow without returning it."

She bent over and kissed him where he signs. That naturally fierce temper of about it, Guy." his had been stirred in some way to a "Oh, it was Dick Osgood? You know heat which had kindled his whole nature. what a mean, bullying fellow he is, any. He threw down his cap, threw himself at how. He had been tormenting some of her feet, then he said, "Never say, after this, that I don't love you, mother." "I think I never did say so," she answered, gently. "Put what have you the younger boys-nagging them till I couldn't stand it. They are everyone afraid for their lives where he is. I told him he ought to be ashamed of himself, and tried to make him leave off, till, after that the only hope was in enlisting his a while, he got stirred up, and he turned own powerful will, and making him from them, and coming to me he struck resolve to conquer himself. Now, she me in the face. I believe the mark of his thought, he had shown himself capable claws is there now," and he turned toward of self-control. In the midst of his rage her the other cheek, which he had kept he had remembered his pledge to her, and carefully away from her up to this time. kept it. He would yet be his own master She saw the marks clearly, and she trem- - this brave boy of hers. bled herself with sympathy and secret indignation. "Well," she said, "and you-what did you do?" "Better heap coals of fire on his head!" she said, quietly. "Yes, he deserves a good scorching "pretending to misunderstand her-" but I should not have thought you would have "I remembered what I had promised you for this year, and I took it-think of been so vindictive." it, mother-took it, and never touched "You know well enough what kind of him! I just looked into his eyes and coals I meant, and Who it was that said, said, 'If I should strike you back I should 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he lower myself to your level.' He laughed thirst, give him drink.' I cannot release a great scornful horse-laugh, and, said he, you from your promise until the year for 'You hear, boys, Morgan's turned preacher! which you made it is over. I think the You hear, boys, Morgan's turned preacher! which you made it is over. I think the You had better wait before you lecture Master who told us to render good for me on my behavior to the little ones till evil understood all the wants and passions you have pluck enough to defend them. of humanity better than any other teacher I've heard about the last impudence I has ever understood them. I am sure shall take from a coward like you.' The that what He said must be wise, and right, boys laughed, and some of them said, and best. I want you to try His way first. 'Good for you, Osgood!' and I came home. If that fails, there will be time enough I had done it for the sake of my promise after this year to make a different experito you, for I'm stronger than he is any day; ment." and you know, mother, whether there's a "Well, I promised you," he said, "and drop of coward blood in my veins. I I'll show you that, at least, I'm strong thought you were the one to comfort me, enough to keep my word until you release though it isn't the comfort I want some from it. I think, though, you don't much, either. I just want you to release quite know how tough it is." me from that promise, and let me go back Mrs. Morgan thought she did know just and thrash him." about how "tough" it was to boy-nature Mrs. Morgan's heart filled with silent to be called a coward; but she knew, also, thanksgiving.

Her boy's temper had that the truest bravery on earth is the been her greatest grief. His father was bravery of endurance. dead, and she had brought him up alone, "Look out for the coals of fire!" she and sometimes she was afraid her too said, smilingly, as her boy started off for great tenderness had spoiled him. She had tried in vain to curb his passionate nature. It was a power which no bands could bind. She had concluded, at last, school the next morning. "Keep a good watch and I'm pretty sure you'll find them before the summer is over."