The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-30

conscious innocence oil their little one.-r or
the second time in his life, vision oil beauty
and love cleaned across the rugged path OF
thai honest, laborious man. Vague impress
sions Of beauty he had constantly received
from The panorama Of the universe. His
heart sometimes welcomed bright Hover IN
the sunshine, or cluster Of lilies on The
stream; he marvclled at the splendor oil the
rainbow. and sometimes gaZed reverenily al
the sun sinking 10 rest in his rich drapery oil
purple and gold. But these were gllmpscs
of the infinite; their beauty did not seem 10
apuertain 10 him i: did not enter like mag
ic charm into the sphere Of his own exists
ence, as did the vision Of Mary Williams and
his own little Joe. The dormant tenderness
there was in him leaped up at the smile oil
his babe, and every pressure of the little I'M
gers made a dimple in the fathers heart
Like the outbursts Of spring, after long cold
winter, was the revelation Of infancy 10 him.
When he plodded home, after a hard days
work. il rested him body and soul 10 have
the little one spring into his arms for kiss,
or GENE loddlng along, fitting his little por-
ringer of milk, in eagerness 10 eat his sup
per on fathers knee.
But though this new influence seemed to
have an almost miraculous power over his
nature il could not quite subdue the power
of temperament and habit. As the darling
babe grew into boyhood, he was sometimes
cherished with injudicious fondness, and
sometimes repealed by bursts Of passion, that
made him run and hide himself from the over
indulqeni father. Mr.. Barker had himself
been educated under The dispensation ofpurr-
ishment rather than attraction, and be be-
lieved in il most firmly. If his son commit
Ted fault, he thought of no other punish
ment han severity. II neighbor did him
an i'll turn, he would observe, in presence oil
the boy, Il will watch my chance to pay him
for it," If the dog stole their dinner, when
they were at work in the woods, he would
say, "Run after him, Joe, and give the ras-
cal sound beating" When he saw the
child fighting with some larger lad, who had
offended him, he would praise his strength
and courage, & tell him never TO put up with
an insult.-He was not aware that all these
things were education, and doing far more
10 form his sons character than anything he
learned at school. He did not know 1t, be-
cause his thoughts had never been directed
towards it. The only moral instruction be
received was from the minister OF the parish;
and heusually preached about The hard heart,
edness OF Jews two thousand years ago, rath-
er than The errors and temptations ofmen and
bows, who sat before him.
Once he received an admonilion from his
neighbor Goodwin, which, being novel and
unexpected, offended him as an impertineni
interference with his rights. He was riding
home with Joe, then lad oil thirteen, when
The horse took fright at piece Of white pa
per, that the wind blew across The road. Mr.
Barker was previously in an ill humor, be-
cause sudden squall of rain had wet some
fine hay, all ready for the barn. Pursuing
the system on which he had himself been
educated, he sprang 10 the ground and cud-
gelled the poor beast numerically. Mr.
Goodwin, who was passing by, inquired che
cause of so much severity, and demonstrated
against il assuring him that horse was
never cured oil bad habits by violence. He
spoke mildly, but Mr.. Barker was irritated
and having told him to mind his own bust
ness, he continued 10 whip the poorfrighten
ed animal. The humane neighbor turned
away saving, "Thai is bad lesson for youl
son, Mr.. Barker"
"Iryou say much more, | will fog YOU
instead of the horse," mutiercd the angry
man. cit isn't his horse, What business j:
il TO him?"
he was mailing up the sympaIhies Of his
Child, by such words as these. But when
he was reseated in The wagon, he did notice
altogether pleased with himself and his In
ward uneasiness was expended on the horse
The poor bewildered animal, covered with
foam, and breathing short and hard, tried his
utmost to do his masters will, as far as he
could understand it. But nervous and terrI-
! fed, constantly in expectation oil The WHIP
he started at every sound. Ii he went loo
fast, he was reined in with sudden JERK
that tore the corners oihis mouth il he went
100 slow, the crack Of The whip made him
tear over the ground, 10 be again restrained
by the violent jerk.
The sun was setting, and threw radiant
glow on every tree and little shrub, lewelled
by the recent shower. Cows graZed peace
| fully in verdant hollows, birds Gang, little
brook ripped costly by the wayside, winds
played gently with the flowers, and kissed
The raindrops from their faces. But all this
loneliness passed UNDECIDED By human hearts
because they had at the moment no inward
beauty to harmonic with nature. Perhaps
The familiar landscape seemed quite other
wise to the poor horse, than it would have
done, had he travelled along those pleas
ant paths, guided by "a wise and gentle
hand.
Had Joseph continued 10 be little Joe, his
eager welcome and loving pratte might soon
have tanned the evil spirit in his fathers soul
that night.
But he was tall lad, who had learned to
double up his fists, and tell other boys they
had better let him aloue, if they knew what
was good for themselves. He still loved ms
father better Than anything else in The world
but the charm and the power of infancy was
gone. He reflected back the vexed spirit
like a loo faithful mirror. He was no longer
transparent, unconscious medium for the in-
iuence Of angels.
Indeed, parental affection gradually be-
came hardening. rather than a softening
influence. Ambition for his son increased
the love Of accumulation; and the graiifica-
lion of this propensity narrowed his sympaa-
thies more and more. Joseph had within
him the unexpanded germs of some Doble
qualities but he inherited mis- fathers pas
sionate temperament with his mothers obsti-
macy; and the education of such circum-
s,.nces nc have described, turned his ener-