Squatter sovereign., 1857-10-24

shoughts had never been directed toward Il.
The only moral instruction. he received
vas from the minister of the parish and
he preached about the hard-heartedness of
jews two thousand years ago, rather than
the errors and temptations of men and
boys who set before him. Once he re-
ceived an admonition from his neighbos,
Goodwin. which. being novel and unex-
pected. offended him as an impertinent IN
ierference with his rights. He was riding
home with Joe, then lad of thirteen,
when the horse took fright at piece of
white paper, the wind blew across the road
Mr.. Barker was previously in an i'll htl-
NOR. because sudden squaf of rain had
wet some fine hay, all ready for the barn.
Pursuing the system on which he had him
self been educated, be sprung to the ground
and cudgeled the poor beast Numerically.
Mr.. Goodwin. whe was passing by, in
fluired the cause of SO much severity, and
demonstrated against It assuring him that
a horse was never cured Of bad habits by
violence. He spoke mildly, but Mr.. Bar
ker was irriiated. and Eaving told him to
mind his own business, he continued to
whip the poor frightened animal. The
humane neighbor turned away, saying,
Is That is a very bad lesson for your son,
MIR. Barker"
:. If you say much more. will fog you
instead of the hofse,' muttered the angry
man. sit isn't has horse. What business
is il to hinp?o
He did not reflect in what narrow cir.
cult he was mailing up the sympathies OF
his child, by such words. But when he
was re.srated IN the wagon. he did not feel
altogether pleased with himself. and his in
ward uneasiness was expended on the
horse. The poor bewildered animal COW
cred with foam, and breathing short and
hard, tried his utmost to do his masters
will, as far as he could understand it,
But nervous and terrified. consta ntly in ex.
pectation of the whip. he started at every
sound. II he went too fast. he was refined
in with sudden jerk. tha, tore the corners
of his mouth; it he went too slow, the cru
ell crack Of the whip made him tear over
the ground, to be again restrained by the
violent jerk.
The sun was setting. and threw radiant
glow on every tree and little shrub. Jew
eled by the recent shower. Cows grazed
peacefully in yerdau: holiows, birds sang,
little brook rippled costly by the wayside.
winds played gently with the flowers, aud
kissed the rain-drops from their faces
But all this loveliness passed unheeded by
human hearts. because they had at the mo-
ment no inward beauty to harmonize with
Nature. Perhaps the familiar landscape
seemed quite otherwise to the poor horse,
than it would have done, had he travelled
along those pleasant paths guided by a
WISE IIiss geurT5 fIaII1.
Had Joseph continued to be little Joe,
his eager welcome and loving praite nigh,
soon have tanned the evil spirit in his fa.
theirs soul that night. But he was tall
lad. who had learned to double up his fists,
and tell other boys they had better let him
alone, If they knew what was good fol
themselves. He still loved his father bet.
ter than anything else in the world, but the
charm and power of infancy was gone
He reflected back the vexed spirit like toe
faithful mirror. He was no longer trans.
parant, unconscious medium of the influ.
ence of angels.
Indeed. paternal affection gradually be.
came hardening, rather than softenine
| influence. Ambition for his son increased
the love Of accumulation /; and the graft
fcation of this propensity, narrowed hi:
sympaihies more and more. Joseph hae
within him the unexpanded germs of some
noble qualities; but he inherited his faith
er's passionate tempe rament with his mo-
theirs obstinacy; the education in such cir
cumsiances as [ have described turned
his energies and feelings into wrong cha n
/ A., sGFs
what business is it to him 2" heard in hi.
boyhood, expressed the views and habits
of his later years. Bat this mental growth
such as it was, pleased his father, wh,
often said cxutingiy, "There is no dan
ger of Joe. He knows how to fight hi
own way through the world"
1 Such was their mutual product Of char
acter, when MIR. Barker was summone,
to jury. in case involving death. III
was vexed to be called away from his em
ployments. and had never reflected at al
upon the feaiful responsibility of jury
man. James Lloyd, the prisoner. was
very young man, and his open. homes
coun,enance gave no indication OF capaci
u ty for crime but he was accused of mur
der. and circumstancial evidence wa
S0OkIS HRuIttSt HtItl. II was PIOSSu bud
Ia previous quarrel had existed betwee
him and the murdered man, and they ha
been seen to take the same road. the pris
oner in state Of intoxication. the nigt
the violent deed was committed. Two {
|, the jury were reluctant to convict hin
and cished to find the evidence insufficien
the penalty was so dreadful, and the
feelings We're so much touched by the SCI
. tied misery of his youthful countsnanc.
!, Others talked sternly of justice. and urge
: that the Scripture demanded blood e
blood. OF this number was Peter Bal
: ker. From the beginning he was again
the prisoner. The lawyer who pieade
: Tor him had once been employed IN a Iav
suit against Mr.. Barker. and had game
the cause for his client. The juryma
: cherished grudge against him for b
/, sarcastic elo4uence on that occasion
n Moreover, IL so happened that ueiphhf