Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-09-27
A Moment of Passion 4.


! BITS. ARTHUR.
This story, or something like it, has been
told before, but we wish to tell it in our
own way. Aud the lesson it teaches will
bear many repetitiOus. l'A w.
Mr.. Ellis was man Of kind and tender
feelings, but quick tempered and impulsive.
lie had a son, ten years old, bright,
handsome, generous-hearted boy, who IN
heriled his fathers impusive character. A
quick tempered father and thoughtless,
impulsive boy are apt to get into sharp
collision at times, and it was so with Mr..
Ellis and bis little son. The fathers com
mands were not always obeyed and as
the father had some strict notions in re-
gard 10 obedience, punishments Jared
amid the household harmonies rather more
frequently than wise regard to justice
and humanity would have app owed. The
basty temper aud foregone conclusions of
Mr.. Ellis made his discipline oftener cruel
than reformatory. A single instance will
illustrate our meaning and that is the
story we wish TO relate
1t was n pleasant summer afternoon,
and Willie Ellis came out from his olher's
hands clad all in white linen, aud looking
as sweet and pure as innocence itself The
Louise stood only short distance from
river, on the banks of which the boy was
fond Of sporting. and in the ocze of which
he sometimes soiled his garments in a sad
way, much TO the discomfort of himself aud
his mother.
Willie, said Mr.. Ellis, as the boy passed
out, where are you going
Only to play, answesed the roguish
mouth.
To play-where
With Eddie Wheeler, down at his house
Did your mother say you might go there?
Yes, sir. ..'..- ,...
Very, well all right, then. But, mind
one thing-you are not to go down to ths
river. Yesterday you came home with
your clothes soilcd aud wet. | won't have
that again. So, remember, that I've said
don't go 10 the river?
Not if Mr.. Wheeler let's Eddie go
There was a half pleading look in the
young, blight face.
No, was the imperative answer I've
said don't go to the river, and if you disc.
hey me I'll punish you severely
Willie'S step had lost some of its airy
IightnesS when he moved on again.
Mind that yol don't forget called the
father after him.
The boy heard but did not look back or
make any re ponse, which litle annoyed
Mr.. Ellis, who had grown very sensitive on
The score of strict obedience.
1t wouldn't ut all surprise me, he said 10
himself, if be were to come home in an
| IN, oil IL ii nA II l.
lhoughtless, or self wiItd-I hardly know
which. But children must be made to
obey. That's the discipline to enforce, at
ell hazards and if he disobeys me this
time, be will have cause 10 remember it
as long as he lives.
Something had gone wrong with Mr..
Ellis, and he was in Sterner mood than
usual Moods of mind, rather than sense
of justice, oftenest influence our conduct
with reference TO others. We act from
state of feeling more frequently than from
considerations of right.
Mr.. Ellis went away from home soon
after aud returned in an hour. As be
stood at the door. and glanced around for q
moment before entering, he saw Willie in
shocking, plight, wet and soiled from
head to foot, slink through the garden
gate. The boy had noticed him, and was
endeavoring to get into the house without
being seen. But, at the door where he
hoped to enter unobserved, he encounter ed
stern On angry face. A few quick strides
had brought his father there.
So you have been TO the river, alter all
that | said. ...... -..
The boy lifted pale face and frightened
eyes. -#.
Didn't / tell you not to 60 to the river {?
A vice like grip was already Oh his soft
little arm.
Yes, sir, came through the quivering
lips.
And J on went for all
But, father
Not a word, sir ! told you not to go
to the river, didu't /?
Eddie Wheeler-The poor child tried
to exclaim.
don't want TO hear about Eddie Wheel
er. He can't excuse disobedience Come,
sir, we'll settle this business! and be dragged
the whitefaced boy after him, up stairs, to
the garret, and taking down rod, swung
it in the air above his head
Oh, father Don'tl Let me tell you
A look, almost like despair, was in the
boys face. Mr.. Ellis remembers it to this
day; and will remember it to the day of
his de2th.
don't wish to hear any excuse, was re.
piled, as the rod came down upon the
shrinking child, with a storke that made
every nerve quiver with pain
Oh, father !
Once more the mild. appealing look, so
full of agony, was lifted to the stern face
above him, but lifted in vain. A second
cruel stroke fell, and then rain of strokes,
until the fathers sense Of pity, intruding be-.
tween anger and unforgiving justice, stayed
bis arm. He went down stairs, and left
the boy lying in the middle Of the floor as
be had dropped from his band--motion
as if life were extinct. He had met the
pale, suffering mother below, she had loved
tie boy tendery, and had felt every smarting
blow, but he passed her without word She