Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-09-22

ing far more to form his sons character
than anything 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
the minister of his parish and he usu-
ally preached about the hard-heartcdness
of Jews, two thousand years ago, rather
than the errors and temptations of the
men and boys who sat before him.
Once he received an admonition from
his neighbor, Goodwin, which, being
novel and unexpected, offended him as
an inpertinent interference with his rights.
He was riding home with Zoe, then a lad
Of thirteen, when the horse took fright at
a piece of white paper that the wind blew
across the road. Mr.. Barker was previ-
ousiy in an i'll humor, because a sudden
squall had wet some fine nav, all ready
for the barn. Pursuing the system Oh
which he had himself been educated, he
sprang to the ground, and commenced to
cudgel the poor beast most uumercifu,iy.
Mr.. Goodwin, who happened TO be pas
sing by, enquired the cause of so much
severity, and demonstrated against it, as
suring him that horse was never cured
of bad habits by violence. He spoke
mildly, but Mr.. Barker was irritated
and having told him to mind his own busi-
ness, he continued to whip the poor fright
ened animal. The human nei9hbor turn
ed away, saying: "Thats a very bad les
son for your son, Mr.. Barker"
"If you say much more, viii fog you,
instead Of the horse muttered the angry
man. at isn't HIS horse what business
is il to HIN %
He did not reflect in what a narrow
circuit be was mailing up the symplthics
Of his child by these words. But when
he was re-seated in the wagon, he did
not feel altogether pleased with himself,
and his inward uneaslness was expended
on the horse. The poor bewiIdered ami
NAL, covered with foam. and breathing
short and hard, tried his utmost to do his
masters will, as far as he could unde.-
stand 1t, but nervous and terrified cor
stanlIy IN expectation of the whip, he
started at every sound. II he went too
fast, he was refined in with sudden Jerk,
that tore the corners of his mouth; If he
went too slow, the cruel crack of the whip
made him tear over the ground, to be
again restrained by the violent jerk.
The sun was setting and threw radi-
ant glow on every tree and little shrub,
jeWeled by the recent shower. Cows
grazed peacefully in the yerdant holIows,
birds sang. q little brook rippied costly
10y the wayside, winds played gently with
the flowers, and kissed the rain-drops
from their faces. But all this ioveiaess
passed unheeded by human hearts, he
cause they had at the moment no inward
beauty to harmonic with nature. Perhaps
the familiar landscape seemed quite other
wise to the poor horse than it would other
wise have done, had be travelled along
these pleasant paths guided By a wise and
gentle hand.
Had Joseph continued to be little Joe,
his eager welcome and gentle pratlIe
might soon have tanned the evil spirit in
his fathers soul that night; but he was a
tall lad, who had learned TO double up
his fists, and tell other boys they bad bet
ter let him alone if they knew what was
good for themselves. He still loved h S
father better than anything else in the
world, but the charm and the power of
=
veXed spirit Ike a too faithful mirror. -
He was no longer a transparent, uncon-
5clOus medium for the influence Of angels.
Indeed, parental affection became a
hardening, rather than a softeniug lnau-
cnce. Ambition for his son Increased
the love Of accumulation; and the grau-
ticaton of his propensity narrowed his
sympathies more and more. Joseph had
within him the meEpanded germs Of some
noble qualities; but he Inherited his
fathers passionate temperament with his
mothers ohstinacy; and the educ-tion Of
such circumstances, as | nave described,
turned his energies and feelings into the
wrong channels. The remark, "It isn't
HIs horse - what business is it to HIM 2
heard III his boyhood, expressed the views
and habits Of his later years. But this
mental growth, such as it was, pleased
his father, who often said eXuliugly:-
There IS no danger Of Joe; he knows
how to fight his way through the world. >
Such was their mutual product of cha
racter, when Mr.. Barker was summoned
to Jury in a case involving death. He
was vexed to be called away from his en-
ploymcnIs, and had never reflected at all
upon the fearful responsibility Of a jury
man. James Lloyd, the prisoner, was a
very young man, and his open, homes
countenauce gave no indication Of capacity
for crime; but he was accused Of murder
and circums.autial evidence was strong
against him. II was proved that a preyI-
Gus quarrel had Alsled between him and
tie murdered man, and that they had
been seen to take the same road, the pris-
0ner in a state OF intoxication, the nigh
the violent deed was committed. Mos
people thought there was no doubt of hi.
guilt, although others deemed the case
by no means certain. Two OF the jury
were reluctant to convict him, and wished
to find the evidence insufficient; the pen,
atty was 50 dreadful, and their feelings
were so much touched by the settled mis-
cry of his youthful couutenance. Others
talked sternly of justice, and urged tha
the Scripture demanded blood for blood
OF this number was Peter Barker; from
the beginning he was against the prisoner
The LAWYER who pleaded for him haC