The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-09
INTO TIE SUNSHINE.
A O FOR PARENTs

II wish father would come hcme'
The voice that said this had a troubled tone
and the face that looked up was sad.
tYour father will be very angry said an
aunt who was sitting in the room with a book
in her hand. The boy raised himself from
tbe sofa. where he had been lying in tears for
half an hour, and with a touch of indignation
In his voice, answered.
Hell be sorry not angry. Father never
gets angry"
For a few moments the aunt looked at the
boy half curiously, and let her eyes fall again
upon the book that was in her hand. The
: bow laid himself down on the sofa again, and
hid his face from sight.
go That's father nowp He started up after
the lapse of nearly ten minutes, as the sound Of
a bell reached his ears, and went to the room
door. He stood there for a little while and
then came slowly back saying with 4 disap-
pointed air:
1T isn't father. I wonder what keeps him
so late. Oh, I wish he would come come?
you seem anxious to get deeper into
O. trouble remarked the aunt, who had been
only in the house for a week, and who was
neither very amiable nor very sympathizing
towards children. The boys fault had pro-
yoked her, and she considered him a ft sub
ject for punishment.
Il believe, Aunt Phoebe, that you'd like to
see me whipped said the boy, a little warmly
but you wonA
Il must confess replied Aunt Phoebe, that
T think a little wholesome discipline of the
kind you speak of would not be out place
IF you were my child, I'm very sure you
would not escape
I'm not your chiId I don't want to to be.
Fathers good and loves me-
IF your. father is so good, and loves you
$50 well, you must be a very inconsiderate boy.
His goodness don't seem to have helped you
much eos ss-
Hush, will youP calculated the boy excl
ted to anger by this unkindness of speech.
ePhebep 1t was the boys mother who
spoke now for the first time. In an under
tone she added: you are wrong, Richard is
suffering quite enough, and you are doing him
harm rather than good
Again the bell rang, and again the boy left
the sofa, and went to the sitting room door.
eIt's fatherp and he went gliding down
stairs.
tAh, Riohardp was the kindly greeting, as
Gordon took the hand of his boy. But what's
the matter, my son? you don't look happy
-, wont you come here p and Richard drew
? his father into the library. Mr.. Gordon sat
down, still holding Richards hand.
FYou are in trouble, my SON. What. has
happened
The eyes of Richard filed with tears as he
looked into his fathers face. He tried to
answer, but his lips quivered- Then he
turned away, and opening the door of the cabinet,
,b~roughtout the fragments of a broken statuette,
which had been sent home only the day before,
and set them on a table before his father, over
whose eountenance came instantly a shadow of
regret.
EWho did this, my son ? was asked in an
even voice.
NI-II:
{ HowF
~ { I threw my bali in there, once-only once,
in forgetfulness.'
The poor boys tones were husky and tremu-
lous.
= A little while Mr.. Gordon sat, controlling
himself and collecting his disturbed thoughts.
Then he said cheerfully:
What is done, Richard, can't be helped
Put the broken pieces away. You have had
trouble enough about it, l can see-and re-
proof enough for your carelessness-so 1 shall
not add a word to increase your pain,
sltOh, father?' And the boy threw his arms
about his fathers neck. You are so kind-so
good
So Five minutes later, and Richard entered
the sitting room with his father Aunt Phoebe
looked up for two Swallowed faces ; but she did
not see them. She was puzzled.
'That was very unfortunate she said a
little while after Mr.. Gordon came in. 1T
was such an exquisite work of art. It is hope
,hssly ruined
w. Richard was leaning against his father when
his aunt said this. Mr.. Gordon only smiled
and drew his arms closely around his boy =
Mrs. Gordon threw upon her sister a look of
warning, but it was unheeded.
al think Richard was a very naughty bow
awe have settled all that, Phoebe,' was the
mild but firm answer of Mr.. Gordon 'and it
is one of our rules to get into the sunshine as
quick as possible
10 Phoebe was rebuked; while Richard looked
grateful, and, it may be, a little triumphant
for his aunt had borne down upon him rather
too hard for a boys patience to endure.
Into the sunshine as quickly as possible
Oh, is it not the better philosophy for our
homes !? Issit not true Christian philosophy ?
It is selfshness that grows angry and repels,
because a fault has been committed. Let us
putsthe offender into sunshine as quickly as
possible; 50 that true thoughts and fight feel
ings may grow vigorous in It's warmth. We
retain anger not that anger may act as a whAle=
some discipline, but because we are unwilling
to forgive. All, if we were always right with
.z..l J