p. 10 | TEMPER AND TONGUE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 2, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 14.

TEMPER AND TONGUE.

A London merchant had a dispute with a Quaker about a bill; the merchant said he would go to law about it; the Quaker tried all means to keep him from doing so. One morning the Quaker resolved to make a last attempt, and he called at the merchant's house and asked the servant if his master was at home. The merchant heard him, and, knowing his voice, called out from the stairs, "Tell that rascal I am not at home." The Quaker, looking up at him, calmly said, "Well, friend, God grant thee a better mind." The merchant was struck with the meekness of the reply, and he looked into the disputed bill and found that the Quaker was right and he was wrong. He called to see him, and, after confessing his error, he said—

"I have one question to ask you, How were you able so often to bear my abuse with patience?"

"Friend," said the Quaker, "I will tell thee. I had once as bad a temper as thou hast; I knew that to yield to this temper was sinful, and I found that it was unwise. I noticed that men in a passion spoke loud, and I thought that if I could control my voice, I should keep my passion. I have therefore made it a rule never to let my voice rise above a certain key, and by carefully observing this rule I have, by God's help, mastered my temper."—Ex.