The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-11-17

horse to 60 to the adjoining village. Per
mission was given on condition that hs
| would return before dinner. Dinner tims
came, and with it came William.
"What has our William been doingP
exclaimed Mr.. G., as he gave hasty
glance at the window, "cutting load o
Il withesP' te9 ID tsr
~ don't know, but can't see very vel
without,my glasses" - 8
! Twas easy to see. however, that tina
hasty glance had ruffled the smooth cur
rent Of his thoughts, for he at once knew
that withes needed no roots. William
took out the horse, wheeled the wagon
into the shed, and entering the long kitch
en-, seated himself at the table. The moth
er, with her quick perception, failed not to
understand why that shadow rested upon
the fathers brow. Hardly a word wal
spoken. Mr.. g., upon leaving the table
took up a newspaper, thing which he
rarely had time to do. 1t was evident to
Billy, however, that he was not reading
very intenuy, as the paper was upside
down. r
When William left the house he went
directly for the spade and hoe. and walk.
ing deliberately down the hillside, south
of the house, commenced making holes
12 ieet apart, where he had helped his
father TO plow the day before. He had
thus been engaged half an hour, when
rising to wipe the heavy drops Of moisture
| from his forehead, he saw his father look
ing earnestly at him.
"What are you doing, Wiliam9"
"I am fixing places to set out trees"
"What kind Of trees?'
"Peach and pear trees. SIR"
"Where did you get them!"
81 bought them at atree auction to-day"
"You did! Well, you can't set them
here, SIR"
IL can't-what is the reason?"
"Thers are reasons enough, though I'm
under no obligation to tell children; yet
| won't be particular this time. In the
first place, lwish you to understand once
for all. that you take one step too far when
you buy trees, without leave or license,
and more than that proceed deliberately to
put them on my best corn land. And now
you oan do what you please with the trees.
You have taken far too much liberty.
You shall never set them on my land"
Without one word, William shoulder.
ed his spade and walked to the house
His mother who stood atthe corner window,
although she had heard no word spoken,
understood the whole affair perfectly. She
saw William shoulder the spade, and then
her heart beat heavily, but quickly raising
the corner of her apron she wiped away
the tears which we're fast falling and met
her son with smile.
"Well, mother, I've DONE" said he as
he sunk down on the old kitchen chair.
"I've done trying to do anything here.
He won't let me be anybody"
"My child. don't speak so disrespectful-
ly of your father. He, Billy, that sounds
dreadfully; never say that again, my son."
81 can't help it mother, | shan't stay
here. You know what | told you last
week, mother, and today have had
something come across my feelings, hard.
er to bear than that. When | was com.
ing from the village. | met a man with q
double wagon, and a beautiful larch tree
in it. was hoping to buy it, so | asked
him where he got it. esquire Cove gave
it to me-" he replied. o. mother, wasn't
that too much! | asked him who took it
up, and he said his Irishman, tha, he called
Mike. could have torn that tree in splin-
ters, mother rode round by the grove,
and sure enough twas gone, and the mos.
sy seat trampled and torn. DO you think
after that would ask him to let me set out
the trees? No mother, if father can do
without me, can do without him. shall
60 away as soon as you can get my things
ready. Of course, the folks will say
r"What an ungratefll boy to leave his faith
er alone" but why can't fathertr try to please
me as we'll as others--as we'll as strangers?
There are the Norton boys-if father had
done one quarter for me that their father
has done for them, should be very, very
happy. O, mother, don't feel so bad
you must not blame me. know you are
real Christian, mother, but amt like
you--you overlook. and forgive everything.
| am some like father; wish was Just
like YOU"
William expected his mother would en-.
treat him to stay at home, but no, not one
word did she say in favor Of it. She knew
these were little things TO cause the boy to
leave the home Of his youth for home
among strangers, but she knew also, that
the joys and griefs at home are almost all
made up Of little, very little things.
We hasten over the particulars of Will
iam's leaving home, and only say that his
fathers parting words were, al can do
without you as long as you can do without
me, William" In four weeks from this
leave.taking, William was sort Of waiter
on board Mississippi steamboat. SO
Mr.. Cove hired an extra hand: many
people shook their heads meaningly. and
said il was pity, great pity, but nothing
new or, strange. TOR an only child to be