The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-07-10

his knee, he asked him to tell him oil about
his officially with James Parker, aud Why
James had struck him.
Why, yhpHee, father, began Edward, he
was building a house with the blocks you
told us We might have, from the building, and
got Il up very high, when told him. in fun.
that | would knock Il down, and threw a
great stone at H. just by the way Of make be.
lieye Some how or other the stone slipped
in nay hanL and struck his house, and knock.
ed Il all to pieces. But didn't mean TO do
H. Aud then he came up TO me, with his
face red as blood, aud struck me with all his
might
And then you struck him back again p
Yes, sir
And then what did he do "
lie doubled up hi, list, us II ho wa, going
to hit me again
But didn't do it2'
NO. lie stopped minute, and then be-
gan to cry, and went of home
Suppose he had struck you again, what
would you have done p
i should have hit him back
Like wicked boy, rs you we're then
lie was wicked 10 strike me
.tifrii-gsE A. r-tra.is.t * 4ul r,!.l i.--ti.-
first place. 1t was wrong in you even TO pre-
tend that you were going to knock his house
down. Wrong in two ways, First, you told
an untruth in saying that you meant to knock
II down, when you did not intend TO do so.
Aud then you took pleasure in seeing him
troubled lest his house, the building Of which
gratiied him so much, should be wantonly
destroyed. Both the feeling and act here
were evil ANA my son, IA INDUCING the
one, and doing the other, was not under good
influences And then, can y6u wonder that
lanes. after WhRI rnn had -Gaid, Ahould Aars
believed that you knocked his house down
on purpose? You said that you meant to do
IT, What better evidence could he have had
Of your unjustifahle trespass upon his right
Pleased with his house, its destruction could
only arouse within him feelings Of Indignation
against the one who had wantonly thrown Il
down. Put yourself in his place, and think
whether you would not have felt as angry
as he did, perhaps much more so. Carried
away by this feeling, be struck you. This
was wrong, but not so much So as the fact OF
your returning the blow. You knew that
you had given him cause to feel incensed at
your conduct, and. you ought to have borne
his blow as just punishment for what you
had done. But instead Of this, you made
the matter ten times worse by striking him
L.. L.. r.. al. l.. 4 a.
blow, but resisted the impulse that he felt 60
strike you again, shows that he is gmuch
better boy than you are, Edward for you
have declared that il he struck you again
you would have returned the bloy, and have
fought with him, doubt not, until one or
the other Of you had been beaten
4 am sorry / knocked his house down,
Edward said, as soon as his father ceased
speaking, and he hung his head and looked
ashamed and troubled and l was sorry the
moment saw that had done it,
Then why did you not tell him so at
Eoncc p
Il would, il he had given mo time but he
doubled his fist and hit me before coald
speak
Still, knowing that you had provoked him
to do so, you ought to have forgiven thS
blow
And so i would, il only had time tc
to think. B1e$k game so suddenly'---
You have had time to think since, my
son, and yet you have declared that you ds
not like James, and never intend playing with
him again
4 didn't feel right when l said that, father
l was angry at him. But don't suppose h,
wit v-vr TTTe gatr' Sftsf wf5t ihai
happened
Why not p
OF course he is very angry with me-
r. More angry with himself for having
struck you, expect.
%, If l thought so, l would go st once anC
ask him to forgive me for knocking his hous,
down, and for having struck him. EdwarC
said, his eyes filing with tears.
That ought not to be your reason for ask
ing his forgiveness, Edward
why not, fatherr
You should go to him and ask his forgive
ness, because you are conscious 81 having in
jured him. You ought not TO think any
thing about what he may think or feel, bu
go to him and ceHfess your wrong, sinpl,
because you have acted wrong, .
y but how do know thar he vii tako /