Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-04

the book; but he was too angry to yield. ! helt
my breath painfully, taking long respiration a.
my friend swept from the room, dragging the DO,
after him. He was gone for nearly five minutes
and then came back, flushed, nervous and excited
saying, as he sat down opposite me- I'm out OF
all heart with that boy
lie looked sadly discouraged did not answer.
After sitting for few moments, he added, Such
tempcr!-such awill | never saw anything
like itr
But | answered nothing What could ! say in
approval Of my friends conduct Ny silence was
on the side of his own uneasy convictions, and he
felt IL TO be so.
what am / to do with the childY he asked. in.
torogating my unspoken thought. TO give up
TO him-to let will and passion have their sway
can only end in moral ruin. lie must come under
the yoke. is it not SOP
obedience is essential | answered.
80 | think-obedence a. all hazards
did not assent to this extreme proposition
AT all hazards, he repeated, with increasing
force
1T may be WE'LL, said /, 80 look at the condi-
tons OF obedience before exactng the full meas
ure Of obligation
Il am not sure that understand YOU answered
my friend, with slightly puzzled air
obedience may be impossible
Was it impossible for John to lift that book
from the hoorF
Perhaps | said.
'Perhapsr Ny friend looked astonished.
Morally impossible. / mean
He shook his head doubtfully.
"A condition may render the easiest act so diff
cult of performance that a viii look death in
the face and yet not liz hand in ATTEMPTED exc
cution. The act, in this case, becomes morally
impossible
I do not see how you will apply that to my
boys case
Suppose said I, you were riding in one of our
street cars and passenger on entering, and be-
fore you had time 10 make room for him, were 10
order you in a rough, imperative manner to move
what would be the rcsutF
4 would sit still in my place answered my
friend
And yet it would be the wiser course to give
way and not be disturbed by ungcntlemanly rude
ness
Perhaps it would; but have that in me which
viii not submit TO unjust cncroachment. And
am quick in my resentment. as you know. To a
gcntlcmanly demeanor yield everything that is
right to rude exacton, nothing
Therefore it is that the condition OF demand
may render obedience a moral impossbiity'
1T is so, answered my friend.
Has it not often happened | continued, that
under momcntary blind excitement, YOU have
said or done things for which you were sorry, and
yet, having said done them, would not recede
growing more persistent in the degree that you
were assailed by angry efforts TO drive you from
the position taken, although, in your heart you
knew that You were wrongP
| understood my friends character, and knew
its weak side.
1T is you say was his answer. Il can be led
easily but all the world cannot drive memo,
not even TO do what is right
Has it never occurred to you | asked, after a
pause, that your son is like you in this rcspectY
saw quick change in my friends counte-
nance The question had taken him unawares A
sudden light had streamed into obscure corner
Of his mind
Like mcr His tone was that of man lust
awakening, and in surprise at unexpected
sight.
is it strange that he should be like youY ]
queried.
Perhaps not. | am his father The surprise
had already gone out OF his voice, which had in il
shade Of depression
Like father like SON The adage is as much
founded on immutable law as upon observation
In homelier phrase, you have chip of the OLD
block Johns disposition is very much like YOU
own my friend. lie is quick tempered strong
willed, independent, and instinctively opposed I,
coercion-easily led-hard to be driven. Hav,
You never thought Of thisy Never looked dow
into the clear mirror of his unsullied character
and seen perfect image OF yourselfY
My friend dropped his head upon his bosom
and sat a long time silent.
The father | said, he sat missing, repro
duces hi nself in his children, with such modifca
lions as the mothers life may give. need no
offer Arguments TO prove the fact; every man O
rational perception that it must be so unde
the unvaryng law oflke producing like
j have no doubt Of its being So he replied.
Does not the fact instruct usF | went on
Does it not throw light upon that most difficult
yet most important OF all our duties, the govern
ment of our childrenp First we must know Tia,
quality, condition, and capability of any ma
terial upon which we are to work. Tn,
plumber would fail in his effort to produc,
useful result II he wrought with wood in piuc,
of lead and so with the god-beater if, instead o
IL Z a..
20 bis hammer-strokes. As in the lower world OF
nature, different forms require different modes OF
treatment in order TO eliminate their proper use
so in the higher world of mind An objective
differences are but images OF mental differences
Mind is the true world; nature the represents
tive and effect, and, such, our instructor if W,
will open our hearts TO her teachings
Il do not gainsay this returned my friend 4
believe that il is so. | comprehend the important
truth you have stated, that my child bears like
ness to his father But what do not see clearl,
is, the way in which | am 10 deal with him. How
am to correct. in my boy, the peryersties which
he has, boy inheritance, from his iatherr
The first thing, ! answered, is for you to pitt
HIM. To think compassonatcly of him. burdened
as he Is, for life, with hasty temper and stub
born will
saw moisture come into my friends eyes th,
firm mouth gave way little,
May refer TO the scene that passed here ill.,
tie while ago. l asked.
speak freely returned my friend
John committed no fault
There was slight motion Of surprise in m,
friends face.
Accidentally he touched a book. and it fell IN,
on the foor-this, and only this
lie was careless said my friend, with = Sigh
effort At sclfjustifcation.
'You, or /, any one might have done the sam,
thing, Nay every day Of our lives, we do Just a.
careless things. When the mind is absorbed W,
cannot always guard our movements Now pu
yourself IN Johns place. Imagine the book touch
ed without intention, and it falls upon the floor
and imagine as sharp word spoken TO YOU a,
you spoke 10 hm--what state Of mind would
have rcsultedY
paused for his answer. but he did not reply.
Could you have helped the rush Of angr,
wtvesf Hurt prde-a sense ofwrong--blind i'm.
pulse would have made you as stubborn as you
saw him.
'ierhaps II would. My friends eyes were on
the hoor. lie spoke in a subdned Vote.
You '-anoi overcome the minds defects by e1