The Lansing state Republican., 1862-10-01
b. 7 :. AE1HIE


Til. story, OF something like it, has been told
before, but we wish to tell j; in our own way.
AGd the lesson it teaches vii, bear many repeti-
tion-.
Mr.. Ellis was man OF kind and tender fee
ings, but quck-tempered and impusive. He
had sou, ten years old, bright, handsome,
generousheaIi boy, who Inherited lis fathers
impulsve character. A quick tempered father
and thOus shtleSs, impusiye boy are apt TO get
into sharp collision at times, and it vas so with
Mr. Ellis and his little son. The tstner's com.
mands were not always obeyed; and as the faith
| er had strict notions in regard to obed
ence, punishments Jared amid the household
| ha'monies rather more frequently than a wise
regard To justice and humanity would have ap-
proved. The hasty temper and foregone con-
cu-iol.s Of Mr.. Ellis made his discipline oltener
cruel than reformatOry. A single instance will
Illustrate our meaning; aud that is the story We
wish 10 relate.
IL Was a pleasant sumner afternoon, and VIII
lie Els came out from his mothers bands clad
all ~ White linen, and locking as sweet aud pure
a> iHnocerce itself. The house stood only
short distance tion river, on the banks of
which the ooy was ioad of sporting, and in the
ooze o. which he sometimes soiled his garments
10 sad way, much TO the discomfort of himself
and his mother.
Willie," said Mr.. Ellis, as the boy passed
out, "where are you sOing:"
"OEly to play" answered the rosuish mouth
"To play-where
with Eddie Wheeler, down at his house."
" Did your mother say you might 20 there 2"
Yes, SIR"
"Ve'y well all right then. But, mind one
t0'rg-ycu are TO go down to the river. Yes
era@y 20" came hone With ysar elasHS fsas s'H:
on~ ,uat I've said don't 60 TO the river.'
Mot it Mr.. Wheeler lets Eddie go.'
No." was the imperative answer, 1--WE
said don't 80 TO the river, and If you dsobey me
III punish YOU severely"
Willie's step had lost some of its airy lghiness
~hen he moved on again.
= II ind That yol don't !orget!" called the
.a;her aftec him.
Tue boy heard, but did not look back or make
any response, which little annoyed Mr.. Ellis,
Who had grown very sensitive CT the score of
s:rict obedience.
alt wouldn't at all surprise me-" he said TO
himself, cit be were to come home in an hour
all covered with river mud. He is so thought.
less, OF sels-wiled-I hardly know which. But
chilJ,en must be ru%de to obey. That's the dis
cplue to enforce, at all haza, ds; and if he DISC
bey= me this .ime, lie will have cause to remem-
Der il as long as he ives"
Something has gooe wrong with Nc. Ellis, AID
he was in ste.ner mood than usual. Moods o.
mind, rather than sense OF justice, oitenest in.
tiJence our conduct with reference to Others.
w ". for,, staiA az filing, G.Y.Unus
than f,om Considerations OF right.
Mr.. Els went away from home soon after
and returned in an hour. As ne stood at the
door, aud gla lccd around for moment before
ente.irg, he saw Willie in shocking plight,
wet and soied from head 10 foot, slink thi Ough
the garden gate. The boy had noticed him, and
was cndeavOrins to get into the house without
being seen. But, TT the door where he hoped
to enter unODserved, he encountered a stern and
ansfy face. few quick strides had brought
his father there.
| $50 you have been to the river, after all tha,
| sad"
| The boy Hfed pale face and frightened
eyes.
| didn't tell you not 10 go to the river?"
| A vice-like gfip was already on his soft little
Yes, SIR came through the quiveriag lips
And you went, for ALL"
| But, ialhe.@"
mot VOID, SIR" | told you not to go tt
II e river, didn't ?"
eddie Wneeles-" The poor child triet
70 explain.
g. don't want to hear about Eddie Wheeler
he cant excuse your disobedience. Come, sir
we'n settle iris business. :" and he dragged tn,
white-iaced BOY after him, up stairs, to the gar
ret, and taking down rod, swung it in the al
above his head.
"Oh, father! Don't. Let HE tell you!"
A look, almost like despair, was replied, as Tn
rod came down upon the shrinking child with
stroke that made every nerve quiver wit
pain.
| "Oh, taIher,"
Once more the mild, appealing look, SO full G
agony, was lifted to the stern face above hin
f but hi;ed in vain. A second cruel stroke fel
and then rain of strokes, until the father
, sense OF pity, intruding between anger and vi
iOraivng justice, stayed his arm. He wer
down stairs, and left the boy lying in the middl
of the floor, as he had dropped from his hand
moiionless as if life were extinct. he met til
pale suffering mother below. She loved the DO
I tcndehy, and had felt every smartng blow, br
be passed her without word. She had see
I Willie as he encountered his father at the doc
n and understood the meaning of this heavy pul
lshment. Mr.. Ellis went out into the porch
breathe the ileer air, and cool the sudden excit
mert under which he had been laboring. As !
= shut the door behind him, in kind of instincti'
}. effort TO separate himself from painful scene,
!. stood face 70 face with MIR. Wheeler. A har
/. srasped bis In quick, strong pressure.
1t was brave act sir He's a noble boy
= Where is he? ?"
= Z" don't understand you," said Mr.. Ellis, loo
ing bewildered.
It Didn't he tell you?"
. "Tell me what?"
e " How be sprang into the river and saved u
little Eddie's life -
"a 81 heard nothing of it."
d There was a choking sensation in Mr.. Eli
throat-his voice was faint and husky.
III and he didn't tell you: Brave, noble bo
He came over to play with Eddie; and Edd
lie wanted to go down TO the river; but Willie sa
he couldn't go to the river. | heard Ed
;, coaxing him; but Willie was firm, because
,r said you had told him not to 60. was
pleased at his obedient spirit. Well, l ID
sight of them after a little while; but, as
re learn, Eddie would 60 down to the river, a
ar your boy followed him, but kept at distan
<. from the water. Instead of climbing over {
logs and barrels, or getting into boats, be sat
n himself away of. Then, sir, my Eddie, in lea
m ing over the river, slipped and fell in; and yo
i'd boy, instead of running away, half frighten
o. out of his senses, as most children of his a
would have done, sprang down to the wha
nd and into the water after Eddie. l wonder th
were not both drowned. 1t was only in Go
d mercy that they we're saved When the m
nc who saw what had happened, got to the pl,
Of and looked over the dock into the water tn,
was Willie, holding to ring in one Of the X
with his right hand, end clinging to Eddie v
his left Such 3 courage and presence of nj