Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-09-13
Then YOU will yourself take him q,

the burden
you do not blame me. Mr.. Lawsou?'
BY no means, sir. l appreciate your
motives, and l think have reason to
thank you for the labor you have put
forth for the Correction of my wayward
boy
Mr.. Brickett WAS grateful for the COM
pliment, and he assured Mr.. Lawson that
he had done all for the boy that lay in his
power.
i know i'll know it, said Laweon.-
And then after moments thought, be ad-
ded. i will sleep over it, and in the morn.
ing l shall make up my mind what had
better d.
Mr.. Brickett went away to his home and
Peter Lawson went to bed and in bed he
lay awake more than half the night trying
to solve the domestic problem that had
been forced upon him ana before be went
to sleep be had made up bis mind bow to
act Let it be understood that Peter Law~
son had a warm spot 10 his bosom, and out
from the warmth theretrom generated,
grew q love for his children in which John
sometimes shered but in the present hour
poor John shared not in his bve-he only
took the clouds that dwelt upon his fathers
brow
In the morning Mr.. Lawson took john
into private room, and related to him
what had transpired on the previous eve-
ming. He was stern aud cold, aud the boy
Was suIlen and moToSs.
And now continued the father, Il have
made up my mind what will do. Hence.
forth ycu are your own master, and you
can 60 70 destruction Just as fas: as YOU
Hla II hok l. -,
power, and know that Mr.. Brickett has
done the same; but our efforts for your
good seem to have horne no favorable re-
suits. Oh, my son, what q wretch you
have become! Mr.. Brickett advised me
to send you away, but I Will not do that
will not turn you away from your home,
though you are at liberty to go if you
choose. To save both you and myself
s)me shame l have consented to take you
| away { on school; so the doors of the
| school house are hencsforth shut to you.-
You csu help me on the farm if you like ;
or you can seek employment elsewhere -
Only remember, | wash my hands Of you
For what you may become in the future /
shall not be responsible. Your ruin must
be on your own head. Now, John, YOU
have the way to yourself If you are de-
til am dead and gone. Ohce mnre-I
give you up. Don's come to me for advice
don't come to me for anything. want
nothing more to do with you.'
With these WORKS, spoken in q stern,
harsh manner, MIR. Lawson turned aud left
the room. For some minutes John sat in
his chair and looked down upon the floor !;
but finally he arose and went Up to his
al ,hnr r
bed.
Well be said to himself, with long,
heavy breath, this is q curious position to
be glazed in. What in the world au to
do with myself Here's been father and
old Brickett trying all they know, and
pounding with all their might, for the pur-
pose Of making me behave myself; and if
they did not succeed, how in the name of
common sense can it be expected that
can do the work.
The boy got up ard walked across the
hjor several tunes, and then sat down up
on the bed again, and continued his solIlo-
quY:
BY the eternal hils!' be exclaimed,
smiung his fist upon his knee, Z believe
III try and see how it will seem to be good.
If they aren't going to whip NE any
bad. By thunder, just for the novelty. III
let 'em see that John Lawson can 60 :or
himself what others have failed to do for
him.
Ga the next morning John commenced
IN earnest. lie was up eaIly and out in to
the fsld at work befyre the rest of the
day, steadily and with seeming cheerful.
ba
Lawson. In the evening, Mr.. Lawson
came in from the store. an MT seeing his
eldest SOD, he said to his wife:
i suppose John is off,
No. replied the mother; he is up in bis
chamber. studying
Studying echoed the father.
yes
And what is he studying? Sumo mis-
chief. Pll be bound
mo, husband; he's at work over his
slate and arithmetic
Mr. L.Wson wondered what had got in
20 the by. But then he knew it couldn' t
last.
Time passed on, and John Lawson kept
the promise lie hsd made to himself -
Week on week-mOnth on month-uniil d
full year bad gone-and the boy had not
cnce stepped aside from the path of the
strictest rectitude. lie was kind and in
duigent to his little brothers and sisters ;
tn his mother he was fond, faithful son
and TO his father he was respectful, tho
distant and reserved.
'WhaI's this hear about your son
John 2 said Mr.. Brickett, as he met PsteT
Lawson in the street some sixteen muntha
after the expulsion Of the boy from the
school. 1 beard some Of my scholars say
ing that he far outstripped ell his old
scboOlDates 10 the common English branch
es'
1 shouldn't wonder, replied Lawson
John spends most of his evenings in stu
dy. Parson Greene says he is fully quail
tied to teach q common school.
III tell you what, Lawson cried the
pqdagogue, Frightening up. we were mis-
taken, Those foggings did some gooe, af
ter all. They were slow in their opera.
tion; but, new 'rthe'ess, they were sure
they have proved efficacinus.'
Peter Lawson shook bis head, but cared
not then to enter into an argument with
the old schoolmasttr. He aimply made
only few passing Iemaks, aud then weut
on his way. When he reached home be
found John in the barn.
John. said be, speaking from The
weight of an idea that had been upon hi.
mind for some time, suppose | should give
you a good sound thrsshing?'
The boy started, and his neither lip quiV
cred 10 an instant.
What have done ? be asked.
Nothing out of the way; but suppose
you had, and | should fog you for itr
'Then.' replied John, slowly and en-
phatically, you would have 40 ugly,
vengeful, uogovernable child to take care
Of
my boy, l believe you cried Mr.. Law.
sln, se:zihg his sons by both his bands
For the past six months you have been
all that q true and faithful son could be
and freely confess that the evil of your