The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-16
A Story from Real Life.

A Story from Real Life.
"What do you mean by such careless
nessf" exclaimed John Doringlto his son
William, a young lad OF twelve years.
'Take thatr' he added, striking the boy .
heavy blow on the side Of the head; ''and
that and that!' repeating the blows as hv
spoke, the last of which knocked the boy
over plow that was standing by his side
"Get up now and go into the house," oon
tinued the father, and see If you can't tkeer
out of mischief for u while, and stop tha
crying, or I'll give you something to cry
for"
The boy started forthe house, struggling
to suppress his sobs AS he went.
"It is astonishing" said Doring, adress.
ing neighbor named Hanford, who was
near by in barn, and Of course had seen
and heard all that had passed, "how troub.
lesome boys are.--Just see those oats, now
that I've got to pick for that boys care
lessness." and he pointed to a measure OF
oats which William had accidentally over.
turned.
"And 1t was for that trifie that you as
saulted your child and knocked him down, "
replied Mr.. Hanford, in sorrowful tone.
Doring looked from the oats in surprise,
and repeated: Assaulted my child and
knocked him down! Why, what do you
mean, neighbor Banford?'
"Jnst what say. Did you not knock
the'chld over the plow!"
"Why-well-no. He kind O. stumbled
and fell over it," doggedly replied Doring.
"Do you go against parental authority.
Hav'nt I right to punish my own chill
dren?"
"Certainly you have" responded Mr..
Hanford, ''in proper manner and prop
er spirit. but not otherwise. Do yuo think
that father has right to revenge him.
self upon his childi"
"ofcourse not; but who's talking about
revenge7"
"Well, friend Doring, let me ask you an
other question. For what purpose should
child be punished,"
"Why, to make it better, and to do it
goo'., OF course" quickly answered Dor
ing.
For any other'" quietly asked Han
ford.
well, no, not that can think OF Just
now," replied Doring. thoughtfully.
= "And now, my dear friend" kindly con
tinued Mr.. Hanford, "do you suppose your
treatment of your son few moments ago
did him any good. or has increased his re-
spect:and affection for you, The boy,
venture to say, is utterly unconscious Of
having done any wrong, and We, pou sud-
denly assaulted him with anger and vio-
lence and gave him beating which no
penitentiary convict can be subjected to
without having the outrage inquired into
by Legislative committee. But let me
tell You long story. You know my son
Charles?''
1.-THE one that Is preaching In Charles
town.
"Yes; you have probably noticed that he
is lame!"
II have noticed it," said Dorinc. "snd
asked him how it happened, and he told
me he got hurt when boy"
"Yes." responded Mr.. Hanford with
emotion, ''the dear boy wonld never he
made to say that it was by his fathers
brutality. But listen,'' he continued, as
hesaw Doring was about to speak.
"Wben Charles was about the age OF
your son William, he was one Of the most
active and intelligent boys had ever seen.
Twas fond Of him. and especially of his
physical beauty and progress. But un-
fortunately was cursed with an irritable
and violent temper, and was in the habit
Of Furnishing my children under the infiu-
ence Of passion and vengeance, instead Of
from the dictates Of reason, duty. and en-
lightsned affection. One day Charles Of
Tended me by some boyish and trifiing
misdemeanor, and treat ID him almost
exactly as you treated your son
few minutes ago. I struck him vio-
lentlv, and he fell upona pile Of st mes at
his side, and injured his left side so badly
that the result was he was crippled for life''
said Mr.. Hanford in tones Of deepest sor-
row and remorse, and covering his face
with his hands.
A period ofnppres,ive silence followed.
which was at last brok en- by Mr.. Hanford
saying:
"When found that my boy did not rise
from the stones Oh which he had fallen, I
seized him dy the arm and rudely pulled
him to his feet, and was about to strike
him again, when something that saw in
his face, in his look. arrested my arm, and
I asked him If he was hurt.
~ am afraid tina am, pa" he mildly
answered, clinging to my arm forsupport.
'Where?" i asked in great alarm. for
notwithstanding my brutality, fairly
idolixed the boy. .a. ....... .
"'Here,' he replied, laying his hand up
on his hip.
'.In silence took him in my arms and
carried him to the bed, from which he
never arose the same bright, active, glori-
GUS boy that had so cruelty struck down
on that pile OF stones. But after many
months he came forth, pale, saddened
little fellow hobbling on crutch!'
Here Mr.. Hanford broke down and
wept like child, and thetears rolled down
Doring's cheeks. When he resumed, Mr.
Hanford said:
"This Is a humilfating narrative, neigh
Dor Doring, and would not have related
it to you had not supposed you needed
the lesson which it contains. 1t rs impos-
sible for me to give you an adequate no
ton Of the suffering thst ] have undergone
on account Of my brutal rashness to my
boy. But fortunately it has been over
ruled to my good, and to that ofmy fami-
ly also. The remedy, though terrible, was
complete, and no other child Of mine has