The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-12-24
THE PASSIONATE FATHER,
BY FANNY FERN,

, | o1
"Greater is he who ruleth his spirit, thai,
he that taketh acity."
"Come here, sir!'' said strong, athletic
man, as he seized delicate-looking lad BY
the shoulder
"You've been in tho water again sir.
IIav'nt forbid it?-
"Yes, father, but
"No buts;' hav'nt forbid. .-heyp
"Yes, sir, was'-
"No reply, sir" and the blows fell like
hail-storm about the child's head and shoul.
ders
Not tear started from Harry's eve, buthis
face was deadly pale, and his lips firmly COM
| pressed, as he rose and looked at his father
with an unflnching eye.
Go to your room sir, and stay there till
you are sent fors I'll master that spirit of
yours, before you are many days older
Ten minutes after IIarry's door opened,
and his mother glided gently in. She was
u fragile woman, with mournfil blue eyes,
and temples startngly transparent. Laying
her hand smoothly upon llarry's head, she
stopped and kissed his forehead. The rock
was touched and the waters gushed forth,
Dear Mother said the weeping boy.
why didn't you tell your father that you
plunged into the water to save the lite Of
your playmatcP
'Did he give me chancc!" said Harry,
springing to his feet with 4 flashing eye
didn't he twice bid me be silent, when | tri-
ed to explain! Mother he's tyrant to you
and me-
Harry, he's my husband and your father
'Yes and am sorry for it. What have
ever had but blows and harsh wordsl Look
ut your pale cheeks and sunkcn eyes, mother
Its too bad, say: he's tyrant, mother
said the boy, with cIenched fist and set teeth,
'and if it were not for you, 1 would have
been leagues off long ago.
sand there's Nellie too, poor sick child
What good will all her medicine do herr
She trenbles like II leaf when she hears his
footsteps. say its brutal, mother!"
"Harry, (and soft hand was laid on tho
impetuOus boys lips,) for my sake"
well, It's only for your sake yours and
Nellic's-or should be on the sea somewhere
anywhere but here
Late that night Mary Lee stole to her boys
bedside, before retiring to rest.
God be thanked he sleeps she murmured
kneeling at his bedside, she prayed for wis
dom and patience to bear uncoInplainingly
the heavy cross on which her steps were fal-
tering; and then she prayed for him.
'No, no' said Harry, spriDging from his pill
low and throwing his arms about her neck, 4
can forgive him for what he has done to me,
but never will for what he has made Won
suffer; don't pray for him, at least don't let mo
hear it!
Mary Lee was too wise to expostulate.-
She knew her boy was spirit.sore under the
sense of recent injustice; she lay down be-
side him, and resting her fearful cheek against
his, repeated in low, sweet voice the story
of the cruciixion. Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do" fell upon his
troubled ear. lie yielded to the holy spell.
4 will!'he sobbed. Mother you are an an-
gel, and it ever get to heaven, it will bo
your hand that has led me therrr .
There was hurrying to ind fro in Robert
Lees house that night. 1t was heavy hand
that dealt those heavy blows on that young
head.
The passionate fathers repentance csmo
too late-cane within word that his boy must
DIE.
BE kind to her. said Hurry rs his head
dropped upon his mothers shoulder.
1t was II dearly bought lesson! Beside
that liteless corpse Robert Lee renewed his
marriage vow; and now, when the hot blood
OF anger rises to his temples, and that llastv
word springs to his lip, the pale face of the
dead rises up between him and the offender,
and an angel voice whispcrs-.PEAcE! BE
STIIIp .