The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-03
G9e Storp Teller.
DUTY AND KINDNESS.

There was an angry frown on the cOunte,
nance OF Deacon Jonas Browning. There
were tears in the sad face Of his wife.
'Ho shall be sent to sea?' said Deacon
Browning s,ernly.
There was pleading look in the eyes o.
Mrs. Browning, as she lifted them to thC
iron face of her husband. But no word,
passed her lips.
.IIe shall be sent to sea II is my last
hope
Philip is very young, JONAS said Mrs,
Browning.
Not too yospg for evil, ..and therefore,
.poDtso young 3oi he dnslp slpliioxnssdsd %
eradicate the evil. lie shall 20 to sea
Captain Ellis sails in the Fanny Williams
next Monday. Twill call upon him this
very day
isn't the Fanny Williams a whaler?'-
The lips of Mrs. Browning quiyered and her
voice had choking sound.
YES, was hrmiy answered.
Il wouldn't send him away in a whaler
Jonas. Remember he is very young, not
thirteen till April.
Young or old, Mary, no has got to 60,
said the stern old deacon, who was believer
in the gospel Of the law. He was no weak
advocate Of moral suasion, as it is familiarly
termed. He went in for law, and was stric,
cons,ructionist. Implicit obedience was the
statute for him, and dcyiations thcreirOnl
met the nevcr-withhcld penalty.
Mrs. Browning entered into no argumcn,
with her husband for she knew that would
be useless. She had never succeeded in chang
ing his purpose by argument in her life
And so she bent her eyes meeEly to the flool
again, while the tears crept over her face, and
fell in large, bright drops upon the carpet
Deacon Browning saw the tears, but they
did not move him. Hc WAS tear proof.
Philip, the offending member or the
Browning family, was bright, active, rest
less boy, who, from the start, had been a rcb,
el against unreasonable authority, and as II
matter Of course, not unIrequently against
authority both just and reasonable. Punish
ment had only hardened him increasing in
stead of dimishins his power Of endurance
The particular offence for which he was now
in disgrace, was, il must be owned rather u
serious one. He had, in company with
three other boys Of his age, known as the
greatest reprobates in the village, riaed a
choice plum tree belonging to neighbor oI
all the fruit it contained. and then killed a
favorito dog, which happened to discover
them at their work. and attempted to drive
them from the garden. The ncighbor had
complained to Deacon Browning, accompa'
nying the complaint with threat to hay,
Philip arrested for stealing.
IF you don't do something with that boy
of YOURS he added. with considerable feel
ing, .he'll end his life in the State Prison OF
on the gallows.'
Hard words were those for the ears of Dea-
con Browning. Hard words, and with u
prophetic conviction in them. He had not a
very creative imagination, but in this instance
the prediction OF his angry neishbor copjur.
oil up in his mind tho image of prison and
gallows, ,causinga shuddcr to pass along his
nerves and the cold perspintiOn to start up.
ON his forehead. From that moment the res.
olution Of Deacon Browning was taken.
The boy was on the brink of ruin, and
must be saved at all hazards. AS to the
means Of doing this II never entered into tn,
heart Of Deacon Browning to conceive OF an!
other than involved harsh discipline.
Canaanite was in the land and must be driver
out with fire and sword. With him the dut,
had stern signidcation.-Hc had alway'
tried to do his duty. moving steadily on IL
the path Of life, aud crushing down all van
tiles and evils that sprung up by the way
under heel shod with iron. a.