Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-02
From Peterson's Magazine.
"DON'T BOTHER Me-"

DUN L BOIHER NE.
BY ELLEN ASHTON.
Mr.. ALDEN had put on his slippers, seated him
self in his easy chair and made ready to spend what
he called "a comfortable evening"" when his little
boy came running in from the play-room.
"Oh, pa," cried the child, "you should see what
nice house Helen and have built"
The father without looking at the eager child,
answered Grossly,
"Don't bother me :"
The face Of the child fell. His lip quivered and
he crept frightened and hurt from the room.
We pass on few days.
twas thanksgiving. Mr. Alden, after dinner,
thought he would take walk Just as he was put
ting on his hat his little daughter ran up to him
saying
"Pa, mayn't go with you?"
Their face fairly shone with the anticipated hap
piness. But the father, rehccting that he would
have to delay till her bonnet was put on, replied
selfshly,
mo can't wait Don't bother me!'
The bright look faded from her cohntenance AS
he closed the outerdoor tears started into the chds
eyes,
"Pa" tmidly said the little boy on another occas-
:. ion "won't you show me how to do this sum? It's
dreadful hard"
Mr.. Alden was reading the newspaper, and was
deep in some political article, in which, as in most
such things, there more abuse than sound argu-
ment.
Don't bother me" he answered testify" I'm
reading"
On another occasion, Helen was singing as inno-
cent children do, ont of the very joy Of her heart.
Hor father looked sternly round, and taking the
cigar from his mouth, cried harshly,
"Who's making that noise wish, Mrs. Alden,
you wouldn't let the children bother me so?''
One night little Charlie had the tooth-ache; and
though he tried bravely, could not help crying His
father, woke from sleep. lost temper at last. and
would have whipped the child. if it had not been for
the mother.
"It's all whim, that he cries; for it will do no
good and you'll spoil the chid,' he answered. out
of hnmor "rm always bothered in this way"
These things happened weekly, almost daily. Mr..
Alden did not consider himself selfish man. yet
he thought of nobody's comfort at home but himself
till at last he became terror to his little ones.
Their natural instinct of love toward him finally
out for their little demonstrations nearly always
met with rebuff If they rushed, when he came
home, to climb about his neck. he put them away,
saying There that'l do don't bother me-" Ifthey
were lavish of their kisses, when the time came for
their retiring, it still, Don't bother me-" If,
in their exubcrant Spirits they made any excessive
noise at their play, their mother, a servant was
sent to bid them to stop and not I" bother him. y
And in hundred similar ways their tenderness was
repelled.
Sometimes, indeed, Mr.. Alden would be affable
enough with his children He would have them on
his knee, help them with their studies, even Join
in their plays But then again, without any reason
save the whim of the moment, he would harshly
repuse tneir advances. BY this ntIui system, worse
almost than steady repulson, his children grew
finally not only to fear him. but to lose all respect
for him. They did not reason the matter, they were
too young to analyze causes but they felt that he
was unjust, selfish. and tyrannical.
Gradually, therefore, Mr.. Alden's children became
es.ranged from him. When they grew up, they
gave him their confidence, but living in the
same house, were almost strangers to him. He be-
gan as he grew old to feel the want Of their love.
and to complain of it as an injustice to himself
have done everything for them, that tather could
be was woUt to say. * s..-.e.ssz