Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1858-09-02
Not in Wrath.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

Frank
Sir
The boy started at the sound of his
fathers's voice, while his color height
ened. Mr.. Lloyd had left the house,
with his axe on his shoulder, a few mi
nutes before, on his way to a clearing
not far off, where his men were at work !;
but thought crossing his mind had indu-
ced him to return. He spoke with some
sternnesS of voice and manner.
Sir repeated the boy, with half IL
mid glance at his father.
Don't 90 to the milI-dam to-day, said
Mr.. Lloyd, speaking slowly and with an
authority.
Frank did not answer promptly. So
his father said, in a tone of sharp inter-
rogation, DO you hear, sir?'
Yes, sir
Very well; then see to it that l am
obeyed.' And Mr.. Lloyd started of
again for the clearing. He did not feel
altogether satisfied with himself, for he
was conscious Of not having addressed
his son in the right spirit. 1t would have
been as easyto have spoken more mildly
to have made the interdiCtion in a differ,
ent tone of voice, and yet been quite as
likely to insure obedience.
Il wish | could control mSSelf a little
better, said the farmer as he strobe away.
4 don't think this harsh, peremptory
mode of speaking ever does much good
I'm sure it never helped to make me any
more obedient when | was a boy; but
rather tended to excite rebellion. The
most outrageous thing | ever did, when a
boy, was in defiance of angrily announced
authority. Frank is sensitive, and my
manner hurt him. l must guard myself
! better
what's the matter, Frank?' inquired
the boys mother, coming to the door,
She had heard her husbands voice pitch
ed in rather a harsh key, and it drew hel
away from her work.
Nothing was answered, only father
always speaks to me as if he would take
my head off,
What did he say!
He told me not to 60 to the mill-dam.
why he did say that!'
i don't know
He had some good reason no doubt
and you must be sure not to disobey him.
1t was, perhaps, two hours later in the
day, when a lad named Jacob Green me
Frank on the road, little way from hi:
fathers house He had a fishing rod il
his hand.
where are you going?' asked Frank
TO the mill-dam. Won't you g
along q
Not to-day
Jacob strongly urged compliance witt
his wishes, but Frank resisted all tempta
tion.
4 met Jacob Green Just now,' saic
Frank, speaking to his mother a little
while afterwards.
Did you?' Mrs. Lloyd replied, in al
absent way.
Yes, and he's going to the mill-dan
all alone. He's most too small a boy t.
be trusted there by himself-and he.
very venturesome. If father hadn't sale
what he did, l would 60 there, Just to SET
that Jacob didn't come to any HARM
You mustn't disobey your father, it vii
make him very angry said Mrs. Lloyd
Maybe suggested the boy, if l were
to go to the top of the hill, just above the
dam, and sit and watch Jacob, he wouldn'
mind. That wouldn't be going to the
mill-dam, you know. And if you tolc
Just how it was, and said that You haC
thought it better for me to 60 there OF
Jacobs account, l am sure he would say
that l had done just right, instead o
wrong
Mrs. Lloyd thought for a little while
and then replied:
Jacob is small boy, and there ar,
dangerous places about the mill.dam.