The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-18
PUBLISHED EVERY
Volume rs.
Gbe storg Geuer.
"LlKE FATHER, LIKE SON."
nv T. 5. ARTHUR.

Ny friend had spoken an inpatient word
10 his little son, and / saw the child's face
stained by the hot blood of anger. My friend
saw the stain, also. What did he do9 Re
pent Of his impatience, and heal the hurt in
his child by gentler word? No. But he
grew more inpatient. and calling sharply to
the boy, said, in warning tone, Take care,
siri'
Take care of what? Why, lest punish
ment follow.
You ask as to the child's fault that pun.
ishment should be threatened. There was
no fault. lie had, in passing near table
in the room where sat talking with his
father, accidentally touched book lying on
the edge, causing Il to fall. The noise Jared
on the fathers sensitive nerves. Naturally
irritable, he smote the child, Us i have said,
with an impatient word and the child's
spirit answered to the harsh rebuke in q hot
face and flashing eyes.
Take care, sir = repeated my friend. see
irg that his warning admonition had pro-
duced no effect on the boys reused spirit,
snarting under an undeseryed blow. The
stain grew redder on checks and brow the
eyes more intense the lips more firmly shut.
\ | saw defiance in the child's face.
why don't you pick up that book, sirT
There was no sign of obedience.
.Did YOU hear meT almost fiercely de-
nanded the father. l shuddered inwardly,
but dared not interfere between my hot-tem-
| pered friend and his equally hot-tempcred
child. He might as well have spoken to deaf
4 ears.
'Pick up that book, say!'
The hid did not stir.
II shall not speak again. said my friend,
in suppressed voice. One minute passed in
dumb silence; then rising, with deibera.
ton, he approached the boy, whose face had
become pale, but not weak or fearful, and
rrasped one of his arms tightly. Time was
still given for him to lift the book but he
was too angry to yield. held my breath
painfully, taking a long inspiration as my
friend swept from the room, dragging the
boy after him. lie was gone for nearly five
minutes, and then came back, flushed, ner-
yous and excited, saying, rs he sat down op-
posite to me, I'm out Of all heart with that
boy.'
lie looked sadly discouraged. did not
answer. After sitting for q few moments he
added, Such temper such will! Iney-
er saw any thing like il )" -.
But / answered nothing. What could |
say in approval Of my friends conduct? My
yictions, and he felt it to be so. 49,.
What am l to do with the child ? no
asked. interrogating my unspoken thought.
To give up TO him-to let will and passion
have their sway-can only end in moral ru-
in. lie must come under the yoke. Is it
not SOP
obedience is essential, answered.
so think-obediens at all hazards
l did not assent to this extreme PROPOSE
tiOn.
AT all hazards, he answered with increas-
ing force.
TT NAV be well,' said I, 'to look at the
conditions Of obedience before exacting the
full measure Of obligation
= Il am not sure that understand you,
answered my friend, with a slightly puzzled
air.
.Obcdiencc may be impossible
WAS il impossible for John to lilt that
book from the noor?'
.Perhaps!' My friend looked astonished.
'MOrhlly lmpucciOic, incau.
He shook hls head doubtfully.
a condition may render the easiest act so
difficult Of performance, thata man will look
death in the face and yet not lift hand in
attempted execution. The act, in this case,
becomes morally impossible
Il do not see how you will apply that to
my boys case. 80.
: Suppose. said |, you were riding in one
Of our street cars, and passenger, on enter
: ing. and before you had time to make room
for him. were to order you in rough, i'm
perative manner, to move; what would be
the resultI'
Il would ss still in my place. answered
my friend.
And vet il would be the wiser course to
give way and not be disturbed by ungentle-
manly rudeness.'
perhaps it would but l have that in me
which will not submit to unjust encroach-
ment. And l am quick in my resentment,
ms YOU know. To gcntlemanly demeanor
I yield every thing that is right; to rude ex-
action, nothing
Therefore Il is that the condition Of
command may render obedience a moral im-
possibility
1T ~ So, ansWefcu my ricuu.
Has il not often happened continued,
under momentary blind excitement. you
have said or done things for which you were
sorry. and yet, having said or done them,
would not recede-groying more persistent
in the degree that you were assailed by an
cry efforts to drive you from the position ta-
ken, although, in your heart, you knew that
you were wrongr
understood my friends character, and
: knew its weak side.
1T is as YOU say was his answer. Il can
he led easily; but all the world cannot drive
: memo, not even to do what is right
Has IL ever occurred to YOU, asked alter
a pause. shat your son is like you in this
rcspectr
: saw 4 qiuck change in my friends coun.
) tenance. The question had taken him un'
: awares. A sudden light had streamed into
, an obscure corner Of his mind.
! Like mer His tine was that OF man
Just awakening. and in surprise at some un'
expected sight. ,,,., .,
queried. r,
Perhaps not. l am his father. The
surprise had already gone out OF his voice.
: which had In il shade Of depression.
Like father, like SON. The adasc Is as
much founded on immutable law rs upon Oh
scryation. In a bomelsr phrase, you have
a. - A n a. IL