The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-10-14


lashipg ocean into foam. Tho chill
that was born to them they both love
better than they had ever loved; an
according to their light they sincerel
:! strove to do their duty. His bodil.
wants were we'll supplied, often at tn
cost of great weariness and self sacrifice
but their own rude training had giver
them few good ideas concerning the cul
ture of an immortal soul. The infant
did more for them, than they for him.
Angelic influences, unseen and unbeard
amid the hard struggles of their outward
life, became visible and audible through
) the unconscious innocence of their little
one. For the second time in his life, a
vision of beauty and love cleaned across
the rugged path of the honest, laborinus
man. Vague impressions of beauty he
had constantly received from the great
panorama of the Universe. His heart
sometimes welcomed bright flower in
the sunshine, or a cluster of lilies on the
stream lie marveled at the splendor of
the rainbow, and sometimes gazed rev.
erently at the sun sinking to rest in his
rich drapery of purple and gold. But
these were glimpses of the Infinite; their
beauty did not seem to appcrtaiu to him;
it did not enter like magic charm into
the sphere of his own existence, as did
the vision of Mary Williams and his
own little joe The dormant tenderness
there was in him leaped up at the smile
of his babe, and every pressure of the
little fingers made dimple in the faith
er's heart. Like the outbursts of Spring,
after long cold Winter, was this reve-
latiou of infancy to him. When he plod
ded home, after hard days work, it
rested him body and soul, to hare the
little one spring into his arms for kiss,
or come toddling along, tiltipg his little
porripger of milk, in eagerness to eat
his super on his fathers knee.
But though this new influence seemed
to have an almost miraculous power over
his nature, it could not quite subdue the
power of temperament and habit AS
the darling babe grew into boyhood, he
was sometimes cherished with injudi- |
cious fondness, and sometimes repelled |
By bursts of passion, that made him run |
and hide himself from his over indulgent
father Mr. Barker had himself been
educated urder the dispensation of pun
ishment, rather than attraction; and he
believed in it most firmly. If his son
committed fault he thought of no other
cure than severity. If a neighhor did
him an i'll turn he would observe, IN the
presence of the boy, 81 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 rascal
sound beating"
When he saw the child fighting with
some larger lad, who had offeuded him,
he would praise his strength and cour-
age, ard tell him never to put up with
an insult. He was not aware that all
these things were education, and doing
far more to form his sons character than
any thing he learned at school, He did
not know it, because his thoughts had
never been directed toward it, The only
moral instruction he received was from
tho minister of the parish; and he usually
preached about the hard -heartedness of
Jews two thousand years ago, rather
than the errors aud temptations of men
and boys. who sat before him.
Orce he received an admonition frcm
his neighbor, Goodwin, which, being
novel and unexpected, offended him as
an impertineut interference with his
rights. He was riding home with Joe,
then lad of thirteen, when the horse
took fright at piece of white paper
that the wind blew across the road. Mr..
Barker was previously in an i'll humor,
because 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 sprapg to the
ground and cudgeled the poor beast un-
mercifully. Mr.. Goodwin, who was
passing by, inquired the cause of so
much severity, and demonstrated against
it; assuring him that horse was never
cured of bad habits by violence. He
spoke mildly, but Mr.. Barker was irri-
tated, and having told him to mind his
OWN business, he continued to whip the
poor frightened animal. The humane
neighbor turned away, saying, That is
4 very bad lesson for your son, Mr. Bar
1er."
IF you say much more, will fog
7ou, instead of the horse," muttered the
lDgry man. "It is MT hiS horse. What
business is it to him. 2"
He did not reflect in what a narrow
ircuit be was mailing up the sympathies
f his child, by such words, But when !
le was re-seated in his wagon, he did {
lot feel altogether pleased with himself, Il
nd his inward uneasiness was expended
n the horse. The poor bewildered an 1
NAL, covered with foam, and breathing |
hort and hard, tried his utmost to do &
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