Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-09-13
LEFT TO SELF.
A LIFE SKETCH.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

do not give the lowing sketch 40
much as a lesson of life as DO to tell q
simple story as related to me by one of nv
most intimate friends-said friend being q
principal &C tor in the scene.
JOhn Lawson had lived 10 be fifteen
years Of age. He was q smart lad some
said, too smart-and whatever he UNDER
took in earnest he was sure 20 accomplish
He had large head upon bis shoulders.
with brain we'll developed but vet be
did not learn much at school. 10 fact,
John WAS q Toguish boy, and cared more
for play than he did for books.
Mr.. Peter Lawson, the father OF John
was a tall, stout, stern man. who believed
firmly in the doctrine of Birch He re-
garded children as something made to be
whipped; and his son j hn he regarded
especially in that light. The rod vac his
staff Of parental office. When John wac
I'D enough 10 walk out of doors alone he
became acquainted with his fathers rod {;
and from that time until be reached the
age # fifteen the I'd was applied almost
daily. Peter Lrws"n was determined t.
cure his son Of his faults, no matter how
many rods he tad to use.
But the father was not the only nne who
village school m ster, did much of that
same sort of business. lie bad gond
| tough green-hide with which he dressed
| down his recusant pupils, and John Law
son got his full share Of the article. In
short Mr. Brickett declared that be had to
whip that boy more than all the rest of
| the school put t'gether' Some people,
! who had looked down into the deeper, bet
| ter part of rhn's heart, wondered why he
decided so much whipping. They were
| forced to acknowledge that he was q very
bad boy; but then they shook their heads
as they expressed the opinion that 80 much
| bearing could not make him any better.
| Four successive days had John strsy ed
| away into the woods with borrowed gun,
when be ought to have been at School On
the evening Of the fourth day MIR Brfckett
came to inform Peter Lawson Of his sons
| absence. When John came home mis- faih.
er asked him where he hi d spent The day.
! The fear Of the cruel rod made him tell a
| lie, aud he said be had been at school
| Peter Lawson shook his head painfully
! Here was falsebood added to truaBcy-a
| most frightful combination ofwicked deeds.
John was taken down to the barn and
whipped severely. lie stood With his arms
folded, bis large head thrown back, and
his teeth shut and during the while beat
ing he never moved q muscle, but was o.
firm as rock.
or grosn4d Peter Law Oh, wb. q he
had piled the rod until he was tired, John
you are perfectly incorriglblep
Have you got through p asked the boy
with vindictive coolness.
For this time,' answered the parent
and John walked out from the barn.
On the following day John Lawson wen
to school, where Mr.. Brickett gave bin
another severe thrashing, the result o
which was that John became sullen anC
would not study.
One evening, about week subsequeu
to the double whipping, Mr.. Bricket csllet
upon Peter Lawson to have some oOnver.
satiou relative to the conduct of the WICKED
by.
It's Of no use, said the schoulmaster.-
l have whipped the boy until am tired o
it, aud yet be does not mind. II you vii
pardon me the expression, / must say tina
! regard John as q case Of tJtal deprsVi
ty'
Il fear you are right replied Peter
with q sad look, apd shake of the head
| IL bOUg uhNc COlEOSbCu tuC OOy OOtIk
heart is sick. He seems to be imperviou
to all moral influence
You are right. Mr.. lawson rejoiue,
the pedagogue. laying bis bands empaati
cally together. He is imperviOus to oil
moral influence-utterly So
What shall do with him p asked th
father, dismslly.
That is the very thing l wished t
speak about returned Mr.. Bricket. 1T
of no use to send him to school any more
that may be considered as settled q
once. / cannot help declaring to you, tha
not only is the school useless to him, bu
his presence there tends to make it use
less to others who might do well enough !
his evil influence were removed. ] W9ult
advise you to send him to Q trade-bin(
him out to some stern, strong MASTER
| But said Mr.. Lawson, Il cannot vel
spare him from my farm. He can Worl
well when he pleases. never yet had 4
hired man who could do more work thar
| be can
Just as you please. cir replied Brick
EFT; 1 simply offered the suggestion. Blu
there's one thing would have you besl
10 mind; Of course you do not wish Il
have the Committee turn your son out o.
the school =
of course not SAID Lawson.