Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-14
POWER OF AFATHER'S EXAMPLE.

IN beautiful village, Ill one Ol our NcW Cu-
gland States situated on an eminence which
overooks noble river, there lived two gentle
men of wealth, intelligence and responsibility.
Each Of them had accomplished wives, and in
teresting and promising children. These two
fathers were devoted to their families and expen-
ded no treasure with greater pleasure than when
it was advanced to promote the happiness and
good of those dependent upon them. Their bus
mess was extensive, and conducted on principles
which secured the confidence and respect of
the community The house of the one was wide
from his store, and in going back and forth, he
frequently met the other, whose place of business
and residence interviewed. The one who lived
remote from his store, Mr.. S., was passionately
fond of his cigar, and was often, when met by
his friend, Mr.. c., enjoying the luxury of smok-
| ing. Mr. G. was addicted to no such practice,
and was greved that his friend would not be
persuaded to give up what he considered per-
nicions indulgence. 1t so happened, for reasons
which will appear in the sequel of our narrative,
that Mr.. S. passed back and forth with no protu-
berance from his mouth, as had been his long
custom, which, having been noticed repeatedly,
excited the curiosity of Mr. G. to know the
cause Meeting him one day, Mr.. c. thus opened
the interview with his friend =
Il have noticed, Mr.. S., when have met you
of late, that you are without your cigar. When
l have so often talked with you on the subject of
smoking, and have found you so decided in the
conviction that you were benefited by the opera
ton, have wondered when | have met you of
late, without fire and smoke from your mouth,
for the reason of your change Have you given
up smokingF
Il have replied Mr.. S. Il have given up
smoking but l do not think ever should, had it
not been for my little sons. My oldest, you know,
is eleven, and my youngest seven. The other
day, when l came home from my store at night,
their mother told me story about the boys,
which set me to thinking 2
What was it inquired Mr.. G.
why, it was nothing very bad, but the mar.
rative by my wife, said Mr. S., of what she
saw her little sons about, had great effect on
my mind
well, what was it!
She said to me- replied Mr.. S., after my
return from the store, the other night, as was
sitting by the window, looking out into our gar.
den Husband, | think, if YOU knew what oul
sons had been about this afternoon, and knew
too, how they replied to me- as l came upon
them unexpectedly, that you would, hereafter
never again smoke. l was almost glad when
saw the boys doing what l knew would greatly
displease you, aud what certainly filled me witt
horror, because thought their conduct would
have good effect upon you. You know have
said everything to you to induce you to abandon
the use of tobacco, and all my arguments have
had no effect
Said |; My dear, what is it the boys have
been doingP thought could guess, but die
LAT or hat
Mrs. S. replied, was in the garden this af
ternoon, about three o'clock, at work among my
flowers, and thought smelt tobacco smoke
knew you were there, after dinner, with yonl
cigar, but could not think its fumes would las
so long. The scent was so strong, | concluded
there must be some one in there, then, smoking
So left my flowers and went along towards the
corner of the garden, where are our peach trees
and there | saw what almost made me faint
What did you see,' ! asked; our boys smok
ing?
Yes said Mrs. S., my dear husband, say
Frederick, and Thomas, and HHh George, al
three smoking When | first saw them, the,
did not see me; so had full view of them
Alter my eyes were upon them, | shreked out
and hearing my voice, they all jumped and threw
away their cigars, and looked abashed and con
founded when came upon them
Well, said |, that was spectacle, to b.
sure, Did not the boys go to school this after
noonP
Yes said Mrs. S. 'They said they did, Blu
came away at recess
What did they say for themselves, when yo
discovered them? | inquired.
Said Mrs. ST. was so conlounded when
found them, that after my first shrek, did nc
speak again for five minutes The boys locke
guilty and ashamed land did not open their mouth:
After while, spoke and asked them how a
this happened. For while, not one woul
speak. At last, little George broke out, Pap
smokes cigars; and then Frederick embolden
ed by his little brothers courage, continued,
don't think it's any worse for us to smoke, tina
It's Tor pa. So thought !, replied Mrs. S., br
did not say so to the boys. told them to 60 d
rectly into the house, and sit down in the bac
< parlor.'
Have you said anything to them since 2"
S asked
4 II have not" replied Mrs, S. I thought
t would acquaint you with their conduct and the
: reasons, and let you obviate them if you could
s for could not do not think the boys ougl
: to be blamed for following any practice which
!, is right for their father to pursue"
: "Well, do not know about that" replied
r " Are there not many things which man ma
e do, which it would not be proper for boy 2
i On that principle, boys would 60 to Congress
= and our State Legislature"
y go do not refer to mental practices.
: know" said Mr. S., there are works In socet
. to be done, laws to be made and enforced, whic
It belong exclusively to men, and which boys couI
not do. meant, my dear, that every fatht
} ought, in all matters of morals and religion,
s do nothing which it would be wrong for his sol
Q to do Ysu know What mean"