The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-11-01
A story From Real Life.

"What do you mean by such careless
ness?" exclaimed John Doring to his son
William, young lad of twelve years.
"Take that" he added, striking tho boy
a heavy blow on the side of the head;
"and that, and that!" repeating the blows
as he spoke, the last of which knocked
the boy over plow that was standing by
his side, "Get up now and GO into the
house, continued the father, s'and see if
lyou cant keep out of mischief for while,
land stop that crying, or I'll give you
something to cry fer ..p -.
| The boy started for the house, strug-
Igling to suppress his sobs as he went.
..It is astonishing" said Doring, ad :
dressing .neighbor named Hanford, who
was near by in barn, and of course had
lseen and heard all that had passed, chow
troublesome boys are. just see those
loats, now, that I've got to pick up for that
lboy's carelessness,'" and he pointed to a
measure of oats which William had acci-
ldentally overturned. ..-.,
."And il, was for that trife that you as
Isaulted your boy and knocked him DOWN.
lreplied Mr.. Hanford, in sorrowful tone
! Doring looked from the oats in sur
prise, and repeated: ASSAULTED my child
land knocked him down. Why, what dc
lyou mean, neighbor Hanford2''
"Just what ! say. Did you not knock
the child over the plow?" gj.Iv
aWhy-well-no. He kind o STUN
lbled and fell over it." doggedly replied
lDoring. "Do you go against parental
lauthority? Haven't a right to punish
lmG own childreh?" ,slIif y Eee daId
Certainly you have, responded Mr.,
Hanford, ''in proper manner and prop
Ter spirit, but.not otherwise. Do you think
that father has right to revenge him
Iself upon his child?
"Of course not; but who's talking about
revenge?"
j "WelI, friend Doring, let me ask you
another question. For what purpose
lshould child be punished2'
"Why, to make it better, and to do il
good, of courses" quicklysanswered Dor
ling. H a,1
! ''For any other2' quietly asked Han
ford. @
"Well, no, not that I can think Of just
now replied Doring, .houghtfully.
"And, now, my dear friend" kindly
continued Mr.. Hanford, 'do you suppose
your treatment of your son few moments
Iago did him any good, or has increased
his respect and affection for you? The
hoy, i venture to say, is utterly uneen-
scious Of having done any wrong, and ye
you suddenly assaulted him with anger
and violence. and gave him beatins
which no penitentiary convict can be sub
! ljected to without having the outrage in
quired into by a legislative committee
But let me tell you long story. Yor
know my sen Charles?" Ha
"The one that is preaching in Charles
town." al 5ss eaa
Eyes; you have probably noticed tha
he is lame?" M 9s.5 3
y 81 have noticed it" said Doring, 'tand
asked him how it happened, and he tolt
me he got hurt when a boy"
"Yes," responded Mr.. Hanford, will
emotion, .the dear boy could never b,
made to say that it was by his father
brutality. But listen,'' he continued, a
he saw Doring was about to speak.
"When Charles was about the age o
!, your son William he was one Of the mos
active and intelligent boys I had eve
seen. l was fond of him, and especiall
Iof his physical beauty and progress. Blu
: unfortunately was cursed with an irrita
Bile and violent temper, and was in th
habit Of furnishing my children under th
Influence of passion and vengeance, in
stead of from the dictates of reas son, du
Ity, and enlightened affection. One da
/. Charles offended me by some boyish an
trifing misdemeanor. and treated hir
almost exactly as you treated your son
! few minutes ago.. I struck him violent
!. ly,and he fell upon pile Of stones at hi
: side, and injured his left side so badl
= that the result was he was crippled fe
3 life" said Mr.. Hanford in tones of deer
Z lest sorrow and remorse, and covering b
Z face with his hands. 81.
} A period Of oppressive silence follow
: ed, which was at last broken by Mr.. Har
: ford saying:
!. when I found that my boy, did n,
rise from the stones on which be bad ia
i len, / seized him by the arm and rudel
I pulled him to his feet, and was about
: strike him again, when something that
saw in his face, in his look, arrested m
arm, and I asked him if he was hurt.
"I am afraid that I am, pa, '''he answe
q led, clinging to my arm for support.
al "Where2" asked in great alarm, fl
Notwithstanding my brutality, fairl
= idelized the bey.V
!. Here" he replied, laying his hand u
= on his hip. 81
"In silence took him in my arms ar
= carried him to his bed, from which
IA never arose the same bright, active, 81
st rious boy that I had so cruelty stru,
Il down on that pile of stones. But aft
many months he came forth, pale, sa
!, dened little fellew, ,hobbling on:a crutch
- Here Mr.. Hanford broke down al
IL wept like child. and the tears roll
80 down Doring's cheeks. When he resul
in ed. Mr.. Hanford said:
"This isa humiliating narrative. neig
Dor Dering, and would not have rslat
IL it to you had net supposed that u
of needed the lesson it contains. 1t is il
te, possible for me. to give you an adequa
be notion of the suffering that have unds
rn gone on account of my brutal rashness
| 4 a r. =. 6 L