The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-10-01

Kindness is weak, yielding ard indul.
gent, and forgises when punishment i,
the only hope Of salvation" /" said Deacon
Browning. little recovering himself
from the first emotions of self.eondemna.
tion. .a
"Onlv when she strays from the side
of Duty" replied the minister. DUTY
aud Kindness must always act together. .
Much more, and to the same purpose,
was urged by the minister, who made on
ly brief visit, and then withdrew, that
his admonitions might work the effect
desired.
When Deacon Browning came in from
the front door of his house, after parting
with the minister, he drew chair up to
the table in the family sitting-room, and
almost involuntarily, opened the large
family Bible. His feelings were much
softened towards his boy, who, with his
head bowed upon his breast. sat a little
apart from his mother. The attitude
was not so much indicative Of stubborn
self-will, as suffering. Deacon Browning
thought he could read chapter aloud,
and so drew the holy book closer, and
bent his face down over it. Mrs. Brown
ing observing the movement, waited for
him to begin. The deacon cleared his
throat twice. But his voice did no. take
up the words that were in his eyes and
in his heart. How could they?
Had there been divine pity in the
heart of Deacon Browning for his rebel.
lious aud unhappy boy' Nay-bad there
not been wrath, instead?
GAS a father pitieth his children"
From hundred places IN the mind of
Deacon Browning there seemed to come
an echo of these words, and they had a
meaning in them never perceived before.
He closed the book, and remained an
deep thought for many minutes; and no.
only in deep thought, but in stern con-
fict with himself. Kindness was striv-
ing to gain her place by the side of duty;
and cold, hard, imperious Duty, who had
so long ruled without rival in the mind
of Deacon Browning, kept all the while
averting his countenance from that Of his
twin sister, who had been so long an ex.
| lied wsnderer. At last she was success
full. The stern brother yielded, and
clasped to his bosom the sister who sought
his love.
From that instant new thoughts, new
views, new purposes ruled in the mind OF
Deacon Browning, The discipline of q
whnler was too hard and cruel for his boy,
young in years, and by no means as hard
encd in iniquity as he had permitted
himself to imagine. A cold shiver ran
along his nerves at the bare thought oi
doing what, a few hours before, he had
SO rcsolutely intended Kindness began
whispering in the ears of Duty, and
crowding them with world of new sug
gestlons. The heart of the stern man
was softcned, and there flowed into il
something of mothers yearning tender
ness. Rising up, at length, Deacon
Browning said, in low voice, so new
in its tones to the ears of Philip, that il
made his heart leap.
"My son, wish to see you alone"
The deacon went into the next
room, and Philip followed him. The
deacon sat down, and Philip stood before
him.
"Philip. my son" "-Deccon Browning
took the boys hand in one Of his, and
looked him full in the face. The look
vas returned not defiant look, but one
o. yielding wonder.
Philip, am not going to send you
to sea with Captain Ellis. l intended
doing So; but, on reflection, think the
life will be too hard for you"
Very firmly, ye, kindly, the deacon
tried to speak, but the sister Of Duty was
playing with his heart-strings, and theI'
tone Of pity was echoed from his voice
that faltered when he strove to give il
firmness.
The eyes of Philip remained fixed up
on the countenance of his father.
any son Deacon Browning though,
he had gained sufficient self control t,
utter calmly certain mild forms Of admo
milton; but he was in error; his voief
Wis still less under his control, aud ST
fully betrayed the newborn pity ant
tenderness in his heart, that Philip
melting into pcnitence, exclaimed, a:
tears gushed from his eyes
/ ooh, father! I've been very wicked
and very sorry!'
Invo|untarily, at this unexpected con
fession, the arms of Deacon Brownln:
: were stretched out towards his repentan
boy, and Philip rushed, sobbing, int
them.
: The boy was saved. From that hol
his father had him under the NEST per
feet subordnation But the twin siste
of DUTY walked ever by his side.