The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-03


ted duty from kindness. The one was ,
stern corrector of evil, the other smilin,
approycr OF good.
From his home to the wharf, where tn,
Fanny Williams lay all equipped for sea
Deacon Browning bent his steps. Captain
Ellis, a rough, hard man was on board. AT
ter listening to the farthcr's story and 70
quest, he said bluntly-
'Iiyou put your boy aboard the Fanny
Williams, he'll have to bend or break. tha
is certain. Take my advice and give thc
matter second thought. He'll have dogt
life Of it in u whaler. II is my opinion tina,
your lad hasn't stuff enough in him for thi.
experiment.
IN risk it, replied the Deacon, he's got
too much stuff in him to stay at home, that's
the trouble. Tho bend or-break saystem is
the only one in which | have any faith
'As you like, Deacon, l want another. boy,
and yours will answer l guess
When do you sail?' he inquired.
'On Monday
very we'll I'll bring the boy down to-
morrow
The thing was settled; the Deacon did not
feel altogether comfortable in mind. Philip
was young for such an experiment, Us the
mother had urged. And now very oppor
tunely, q leaf in the book of his life was
turned on which was written the story of q
poor boys wrongs and sdiTarings at sea-
Many years ago his heart had grown sick
over the record. He tried to look away from
the page but could not. 1t seemed to hold
bis eyes b.. q kind Of facination.
Still he did not reMnt. Duty required him
to go steadily forward, and execute his pur
pose. There was no other hope for the boy.
.Philip!' It was thus he announced his
determination. Il am going to send you to
sea with Captain Ellis. It's my last hope
Steadily bent as you are. on evil, | can nc
longer suffer you to remain at home. The
boy who begins with robbing his neighbor's
garden, is in great danger of ending his ca,
reer upon the gallows. To save you, If pos
sible, from fate like this, now send you
to sea-
Very sternly, very harshly, almost angrily,
was this said. Not the smallest impression
did i, seem to make upon the boy, who stood
with his eyes cast down the image of stub.
born self will and persistent rebellion.
With still deeper denunciation did the
father speak, striving in this way to shock
the feelings OF his child, and extort signs Of
penitence. But it was the hammer and the
anyil-blow and rebound. Very different
was the mothers efforts with her child
Tearfully she pleaded WITH him-earncstly
she besought him t5 ask his fathers forgive
ness for the evil he had done. But Philip
said
NO, mOthSr. l would rather 60 to sea.
Father don't love me, he don't care for me.
lie hates me, believe
Philip! Philip! Don't speak in this way
of your father. He does love you and il is
only for your good that he is going to send
you to sea. Oh how could you do SO wicked
a thinsT
Tears were in the mothers eyes. But the
boy had shown something Of the father
stern spirit in him, and showed no weakness.
1t isn't any worse than he did when he
was n boy was the answer.
'PhilipY
well it isn't; for heard Mr.. Wright tell
Mr.. Freeman that father and he robbed or
chards and hens nests; and did worse things
than that when they were boys
Poor Mrs. Browning was silent. Well did
she remember how wild boy Jonas Brown
ing was; and how, when she was little
girl, she had heard all manner Of evil laid
to his charge.
veryuncxpcctedly-atlcas, to Mrs. Brown
ing-the minister called in on the evening
of that troubled day. After some general
conversation with the family, he asked to
have few words with the Deacon alone.
is it true, Mr.. Browning he said, after
they had retired to an adjoining room, shat
you are going to send Philip 20 sea-?
TOO true,' replied the father soberly., III
is my last and only hope. From the beginning
that boy has been rebel against just author,
ity and though have never relaxed disci.
pliue through the weakness of natural feel.
ings, yet resistance has grown with his growth
and strengthened, with his strength, until
duty requires me to use desperate remedy
Tor desperate disease. 1t Isl painful trial ;
but tho path of duty is the only path OF
safety What we SEQ to be right, we must
execute with unainchins courage. Icannot
look back and accuse myself Of any neglect
OF duty toward this boy, through weakness
of the aesh. From the beginning, have
made obedience the law Of my housc.bold.