The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-02-27

pause, that your is like you in this respect p
saw quick change in my friends countensnce.
The question had taken him unawares. sudden
light had streamed into an obscure corner OF his
mind.
"Like me -" His tone was that Of a man just
awakening, and in surprise at some unexpected
sight.
ais It strange that he should be like you ?"
queried.
"Perhaps not. am his father" The surprise
had already gone out of his voice, which had in it
shade Of depression.
Like father, like son." The adage is as much
founded on immutasle law as upon observation. In
homlier phrase, you have chip of the old block.
Johns disposition is very much like your own, my
friend He is quck-tempered strong -willed. inde-
pendent, and instnctively opposed to coercion-ea-
silly led-hard to be driven Have YOU never thought
of this' Never looked down into the clear mirror
of his unsullicd character and seen perfect i'm
age of yourselff"
My friend dropped his head upon his BOSOM and
sat long time silent
The father" said, as he sat musing, "repro-
duces himself in his children, with such modiica
tons as the mothers life may give. need offer
arguments to prove the fact every man of ra-
tonal perception that it must be so undor the
unvarying law of like producing like"
." I have no doubt of its being So" he replied.
"Does not the fact instruct us ?" I went on.
"Does it not throw light upon that most difficult,
vet most important Of all our duties, the govern
mont of our chillrenP First, we must know the
quality, condition and capability Of any material
upon which we are to work. The plumber would
fail in his effort to produce useful result if he
wrought with wood in place of lead and so with
the goldbeater, it, instead Of the most ductile of all
metals he subjected iron to his hammer strokes.
As in the lower world Of nature different forms re-
quire different modes of treatment in order to em-
nate their proper use, so in the higher world of
mird. All objective differences are but images of
mental differences. Mind is the true world nature
the representative and effect and, ms such our in
structor if will open our hearts to her teachings"
al do not gainsay this" returned my friend. al
believe that it is so. ! comprehend the important
truth you have stated, that my child bears like
ness to his father. But what do not sec clearly is
the way in which am to deal with.him. How am
to correct, in my boy, the perversities which he
has, by inheritance, from his father 2"
The first thing" l answered. "is for you to
pity him. To think compsssonatey of him, bur-
dcned, as he is, for life, with hasty temper and
stubborn will"
"a saw the moisture come into my friends eyes
the firm mouth gave way little.
"May refer to the scene that passed here q lit
tie while ago?" asked.
"Speak freely" returned my friend
"John committed no fault"
There was a slight motion of surprise in my
friends face. ~
Accidentally he touched book, and IL fell up
on the hoor-this, and only this"
"Hs was Careless" said my friend, with slight
effort at self-justfcatiOn.
"You, or ], any orc might have done the same
thing. Nay, every day of our lives we do just as
careless things. When the mind is absorbed VIC
can not always guard our movements. Now, pu
yourself in Johns place. Imagine the book touch.
ed without intention, AMI it falls upon the floor
and imagine as sharp word spoken to you as you
spoke to him-what state of mind would have re-
sultcd?"
paused for his answer, but he did not re ply.
"Coud you have helped the rush of angry
waves? Hurt pride-a sense Of wrong--blnd i'm.
pulse-would have made you as stubborn us you
saw him."
perhaps it would" Ny friends eyes were or
the floor. He spoke in a subdued voice.
"You can not overcome the minds defects by ex.
ternal force," added.
"There must be wise appliance of moral means
Deal by him as you would yourself be dealt BY
in like circumstances. Cure his disease by the
remedies that reason tells you would heal youl
own. Weaken his angry willfulness by removing
exeitements. Control yourself in his presence
hold back your quick-springing impuses-never
let him see you angry, nor find you unjust or un
reasonable. Always speak mildly and kindly, ex
cept when in grave rebuke or remonstrance for un
mistakable faults, self-acknowledged. Help him
with his load of hereditary evil tendencies instead
Of adding part Of your own burden to the weak
shoulders of child. If you can not control your.
self, with the reason, Judgment, years, and expert
ence on your side, what can you expect from him p
stopped, lest were pressing home upon him to,
closely.
Just at this moment the door opened, and the
child came in. The book still lay where il had
fallen from the table. turned, and saw the little
fellows questioning eyes upon his fathers face
There was a look of grief about his lips. Nothing
was said to him in fact no notice. apparently, was
taken of him. My friend changed the conversation
to new theme. John stole softly across the roou
and sat down, noiselessly, taking, as he did so,
long, signing breath. Presently he slipped from
the chair, and moving quietly to where the booL
lay on the floor, lifted and placed it on the table
pushing it some distance from the edge; in thi.
very act showing his recognition Of the fault fol
which he had been harshly blamed as only an acci
dent against the recurrence of which he woult
guard by placing the book where it would be in NJ
danger of falling. l noticed another deep breatf
as the chlds burdened heart sought to relieve The
pressure that still lay heavily upon ii. Then he
began, by slow approaches, to draw near his faith
sr, and at last stood by his knee. Ny friend placed
his arm around him, as he still talked with me, ant
tghtened it with loving pressure, made stronger by
pity and repentance. John looked up into his face
and then his father bent down and kissed him. Rec
onciiedi yet there had been wrong and suffering
and the grsver Of memory cuts deepest when feel