Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-06-07

"More trouble again"
"Whats the matter now!" asked Mr.. Wal
cott almost starting.
"John has been sent home from school,"
"What!" Mr.. Walcolt partly arose from
his chair.
"He's been suspended for bad conduct"
ooh dearn' groaned Mr.. Walcott. "Where
IS he!"
"Up in his room. | sent him there as soon
as he came home. You'll have to do some-
thing with him. He'll be ruined if he goes
on in this way. I'm out of all heart with
him."
Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by the man
ner in which his wife conveyed unpleasant
information, as by the information itself,
started up, under the blind impulse of the
moment, and going 20 the room where John
had been sent on coming home from school,
punished the boy severely and this without
listening to the explanations which the poor
child tried to make him hear.
Father" said the boy with forced calm
ness, after the cruel stripes had ceaseG-"I
wasn't to blame, and i! you will 60 with me
to the teacher | can prove myself innocent" p"
Mr. Walcott had never known his son to
tell an untruth, and the words smote with re-
buke upon his heart.
"Very wel!-we will see about thGt"---he
answered, with forced sternness, and leaving
the room he went down stairs, feeling much
worse than when he went up. Again he
seated himself in his large char, and again
leaned back his weary head, and closed his
heavy eyelids. Sadder was his face than be-
fore As he sat thus his Oldest daughter, in
her sixteenth year came and stood near him.
She held paper in her hand.
"Father"--he opened his eyes.
"Here's my quarter bill. It's twenty dol
lars. Can't have the money to take to
school with me in the morning"
"I'm afraid not"---answered Mr.. Walcott,
half sadly.
"Nearly all the girls will bring in their
money tomorrow; and it mortifes me to be
behind the others" The. daughter spoke
frettully. Mr.. Walcott waved her aside with
his hand, ana she went off muttering and
pouting. ,.
"lt is mortifying," spoke up Mrs. Wacott
little sharply-"aud don't wonder that
Helen feels unpleasantly about 1.-THE bill
has to be paid; and don't see why it may not
be done as we'll first as last"
To this Mr.. Wacott made no answer
The words but added another pressure to the
burden under which he was already stagger
ing. After silence of some moments Mrs
| Walcott said:
"The coal is gone"
"Impossble!" Mr. Walcott raised his heat
I and looked increaulous. 81 laid in sixteer
tons"
81 can't help it, if there were sixty ton!
inste:d of sixteen; it's all gone. The girls
had time of it to-day, to scrape up enough
to keep the fire going"
| "Ihere's been shameful waste some
where" said Mr.. Wacott with strong EN-
phasis, starting up, and moving ebout tn;
room with very disturbed manner.
$50 you always say, when anything is out,
answered Mrs. Walcott rather tartly.
"'rhe barrel of flour is gone also; but | sup
pose you have done your part, with the rest
in using it u:5.
Mr.. Walcott returned to his chair, and a
gain seating himself, leaned back his heac
and closed his eyes as at first. How SAT
| )
dens of the day had seemed almost too-heav.
for him; but he had borne up bravely. TX
gather strength FOR a renewed struggle will
adverse circumstances, lie had come home
Alas! that the process of exhaustion
should still 60 en-. That where only strength
could be looked ssfor nostrngth ewas given
When the tea bell rang, Mr.. Walcot
made no movement to obey the summons.
"Come to supper" said his wife coldly
Eut he did not stir.
"Aint you coming to support" she called t
him, as she was leaving the room.
II don't wish anything this evening"
My head aches badly" he answered.
"ln the dumps again." muttered Miss
Walco.t to herself "It's as much as one
life is worth to ask for money, or to say any
thing is wanted :" And she kept on her wa
to the dining room. When she returned, he
husband was still sitting where she haa lei
him.
"shall bring you cup of tea" ah
. asked
"What's the matter, Mr.. Walcott!-
What do you look so troubled about, as if yo
hadn't friend in the world! What have
done to you!"
There was no answer, for there was not
shade of rea. sympathy in the voice tht
made the queries-but rather querillou
: dissatisfaction. A few moments Mrs, Wa
colt stood Fear her husband; but as he d
: not seem inclined to answer her question:
she turned off from him, and resumed tn
!, emPoyment which had been interrupted b
q the ringing of the bell.
. The whole evening passed without ii
' occurrence of a single incident that gave
healthtul pulsaton to the sick heart of M
Walcott. No thoightful Kindness was man
tested by any member of the family; but q
. the contrary, narrow regard for self, and
= looking to him only to supply .he means
" self qualification.
No wonder, from the pressure which w
'' on him, that Mr.. Walcott left utterly di
couraged. He retired early, and sought
find that relief from mental disquietude,
sleep, which he had vainly hoped for IN 4
=, bosom Of his family. But the whole mig