The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-10-04
A Story from Real Life.

DloW on the Slue OF the mead land that
and that y repeating the blows as he spoke
the last OF which knocked the boy over a
plow that was standpg by his side. Get
up now and go into the house, continued
the father, 'and see if you can't keep out
of mischief for while, and stop that
crying, or I'll give you something to cry
fort
The boy started for the house strug-
Cling to suppress his sobs as he went.
1T is astonishing said Doring, address
sing II neighDor named Hanford, who was
near in a 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 up for that boys
carelessness, and hs pointed to = measure
of oats which William had accidentally
overturned.
'And it was for that trihe that you as
saulted your child and knocked him
down 2 replied Mr.. Hanford, in a sorrow
fol tone.
Doring looked from the oats in surprise
and repeated:
Assaulted my child and knocked him
down Why, what do you mean neigh
Dor Hantord 2
'Just what l say. Did you not knock
the child over the plow ?
'Why--well--no. He kind STUN
bled and fell over it, doggedly replied
Doring. 'Do you go against parental
authority! Haven't | right to punish
my own children
Certainly you have responded Mr.
Hantord, in proper manner, and in a
proper spirit but not otherwise. Do you
think that Il father has a right to revenge
himself upon his child T.
'Of course not but who's talking about
revenge 2
well, friend Doring, let me ask you
another question; for what purpose should
child be punished 2
why, to make it better, and to do it
good, OF course, quickly answered Doring
For any other quietly answered Han
ford
well, no, not that | can think of Just
now, replied Doring, thoug ,ttuly.
'And, now, my friend kindly contin-
ued Mr. Hantord, do you suppose your
eatment to your son few moments ago
did him any good. or has increased his
respect and affection for you The boy,
venture TO say, is utterly unconscious of
having done any wrong, and yet ycu sud-
denly assaulted him with anger and vio-
lence. and gave him a beating which no
penitentiary convict can be subjected to
without having the outrage inquired into
by a legislative COMMITTEES. But let me
tell you long story. You know my son
Charles 2
The one that is preaching in Charles
town 2
"Ies; you have probably noticed that
he is lame ?
4 have noticed it said DorinC, and
asked him how it happened, and he told
me he got hurt when boy
Yes responded Mr.. Hanford with
emotion, the dear boy never could be
made say that it was by his fathers bru.
taliiy. But listen he continued, as he
saw that Doring was about to speak.
'When Charles was about the age of
your son William, he was one of the most
active and intelligent boys | had ever
seen. | was ford of him, and especially
of his physical beauty and progress. But
unfortunately | was troubled with an ir-
ritahe and violent temper, and was in
the habit of furnishing my children under
the influence of passion and vengeance,
instead of from the dictates of reason,
duty and enlightened affection.
''One day Charley offended me by
some boyish and trihing misdemeanor,
and treated him almost exactly as you
treated your son few minutes ago.
struck him violently, and he fell upon a
pile of stones 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 sorrow and remorse,
and covering his face with his hands.
A period Of oppressive silence followed,
viii h was at last broken by Mr.. Han
ford saying:
"When found that my boy did not
rise from the pile of stones on which he
had fallen, seized him by the arm and
rudely pulled him to his feet, and was
about to strike him again, when some-
thing that | saw in his face arrested my
arm, and | asked him if no was hurt
/" Il am afraid that am, pa, he mild
ly answered, clinging to my arm for sup
port.
" 'Where!' ? l asked in great alarm,
for notwithstanding my brutality fairly
idolized the boy.
Here, he replied, laying his hand
his hip.
SIN silence ! took him in my arms and
carried him to his bed, from which he
never arose the active, glorious boy that
had so cruelty struck down on that pile
of stones. But after many months he
came forth, pale, saddened little fellow,
hobhling on a crutch !
Here Mr.. HanfOrd broke down and wept
like child, and the tears also rolled
down Dorlngs cheeks. When he re-
sumed, Mr.. Hantord said :
This is humiliating narrative,
neighbor Doring, and would not have
related it TO you had not supposed that
you needed the lesson which it contains
1t is impossible for me to give an ade-
quate notion of the suffering that have
,n1aroona IN acannnt nf my brutal rash