Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-08-08
"Like Father, Like Son."
BY T. S. ARTHUR.


My friend had spoken an impatient
word to his little son, and saw the
child 'sefaee stained by the hot blood of
anger. My friend saw the stain, also.
What did he do? Repent of his impa-
tience, and heal the hurt in his child by
mgentler word? No. But he grew
e impatient, and calling sharply to
ths boy, said, in a warning tone:
/ Take care, sirl''
Take care of what? Why, lest. pun
ishnent follow.
You ash as to the child's fault, that
punishment should be threatened
There was no fault. He had, in pass
ing near table in the room where |
sat talking with his father, accidentally
touched a book lying on the edge,
causing it to fall The noise Jared on
the fathers sensitive nerves. Naturally
irritable, he smote the child, as I have
said, with an impatient word, and the
child's spirit answered to the harsh re-
buke in hot face and flashing eyes.
''Take care, sir, . repeated my friend,
seeing that his warning admonition had
produced no effect on the boys reused
spirit, smarting under an undeseryed
blow. The stain grew redder ON his
cheeks and brow, the eyes more intense,
th e lips more firmly shut. I saw def
ance in the child's face.
"Why don't you pick up that book,
sir?'
There was no sign Of obedience.
s.Did you hear me2" almost fercely
demanded the father. I shuddered in
wardly, but dared not interfere between
my hot-tempered friend and his equally
hot-tempered child. He might as well
have spoken to deaf ears.
"Pick up that book, I say!''
The child did not stir.
! II shall not speak again." said my
friend, : in a suppressed voice. One
minute passed in dumb silence; then
rising with deliberation, he approached
the boy, whose face had become pale
but not weak or fearful, and grasped one
Of his atms tightly. Time was still
given for him to lift the book; but he
was too angry to yield. / held my
breath painfully, taking long inspira-
ton as my friend swept from the room
dragging the boy after him. He was
gone for nearly five minutes, and then
came back, flushed, nervous, and ex.
cited, saying, as he sat down opposite
me, stI'm ott of all heart with thai
boy"
He looked sadly discouraged. 1 die
not answer. After sitting for few mo
ments, he added:
sSuch a temper! such Will! I never
saw anything like itp'
But | answered nothing. Wha
could say in approval Of my friend,
conduct? My silence was on the side o
IhisSown uneasy convictions, and he fel
lit to pc so.
"What am / to do with the child?'
he asked, interregating my unspokel
thought. "To give UP to him-to lie
will and passion have their sway-cal
only end in moral ruin. He must com,
under the yoke. Is it not so?
obedience is essential" [ answered
$50 l think-obedienee at all haz
ards.''
I did not assent to this extreme prop
osition.
CAT all hazards" he repeated, will
increasing force.
"It may be well" said I, 'to look a
the conditions of obedience before exact
ing the full measure of Obligation
4 81 am not sure that [ understan,
you," answered my friend, with
lslightly puzzled air.
''Obedience may be impossible
4 "Was it impossible for John to lif
that book from the foer?"
"Perhaps," said ].
"Perhaps!'' My friend looked aston
. ished.
"Morally impossible, I mean"
t He shook his head doubtfulIy.
ga condition may render the easies
act SO difficult Of performance thai
man will look death in the face and ye
not lift hand in attempted execution
! The act, in this case, becomes moral
!, impossible"
Il do not see how you will appl