Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-11-08
q .Seletteb Story*
SEED AND HARVEST;
OR,
DEACON MORRIS MISTAKE,
BY MARY W. JANVR1N.

tNo! l tell you, no! l won nave b
backgammon board in the house, and that's
the end of itv exclaimed Deacon Morris in
any angry tone, and with a heavy frown
upon his iron brow 81 amt going to have
my boys grow up gamblers, if I can help
it!
lit isn't gambling, father. All the fell
lows round here play-Dick Stanton and
Ed Weston-and their fathers enjoy the
game as much as they do. But l never
can have any sport! was the quick retort
Don't pretend to dictate to me- said the
deacon, sternly. IF Stanton and Weston
choose to encourage their boys in such
worldly wickedness, it's their business, and
not mine, except to show 'em that don't
countenance it. l hav'nt got their short
comings to answer for. Amt gambling,
indeed I wonder if I don't know what
shaking dice leads to, I'd jest as soon you
would bring home pack of cards or fd-
dle-and they're all the DEVILS own bait to
catch souls with. No, Tom, I'm master of
nv own house; and as long as I am, shall
have the ordering of what comes into it.;
50, if you amt contented with things here,
you can 90 where they'll treat you better !?
and the hard, iron browed man strobe firmly
across the floor of the long farm house
kitchen.
Don't say that, father! I'm sure Tom
means nothing wrong! q! said mild-voiced,
patient. faced woman, looking up from the
table where she was peeling vegetables for
dinner.
you'd better not interfere, Hannah. |
can manage my own boys, Ireckon ? replied
the deacon, grufly. This amt women's
business
sP'r'aps 'tis'nt but maybe you're little
too hard on Tom,' she said, half depreca.
tingly, as if unused to such interference. ,
you mustn't forget that young folks can't
see exactly as old folks do; it amt natural
that they should
sWall, better be leetle too hard, than
have 'em grow uplike Jack Sprague or Jim
Hollis-eye-sores to their relations, and
pests to the whole community! My Bible
says, Spare the rod and spoil the child; )
and if Tom or Dave 60 to the dogs, it shall
not be because they amt had the right
training ter home. So you needn't take
their part. I've said it, and I'll stick to
it; not backgammon board or dice-box
comes into my house J and setting his straw
hat over his shaggy eyebrows, he strobe
from the door.
As he disappeared past the old fashioned
well-curb, whose long sweep cut the blue air
of the August sky, Tomlifted his eyes from
the kitchen floor, where they had rested in
sulleu silence while his jaws settled firmly
at his fathers words, and said, sarcastically :
well, I suppose you're convinced, mo-
ther, that Dave and I are straight on the
road to ruin?'
ooh, no, Tom! I've more faith in my
sons than to think either of 'em III turn out
like Jack Sprague or any of his mates; and
you mustn't mind what your father says, for
be don't believe it himself, only it's his way
of talking = said the mild-voiced woman,
excusiDgly.
Il tell you he does believe it, mother =
said Tom, firmly. He never will allow any
good of his own children and you see how
ready he is to believe we're going to turn
gamblers-Dave and I-.just because [ want
ed to get backgammon board, to use while
We are resting from haying in the nooning,
when it's too hot to be out in the fields.
think it's mean and shameful, that fellows
who work so hard as we do, can't have any
privileges like others I amt child, te
be ordered just as though wasn't capable
of doing anything for myself. You'd think
was only ten, instead Of seventeen, to heal
father talk; and 1 won't stand it any long
er and his face grew more determined.
Don't Tom Your father IS little set
l know; but then he thinks it's for your
good,' pleaded Mrs. Morris.
sFor my good p sneered Tom 'but l tel
you, mother, its for my hurt, and you know
it's! You remember how its been all oul
lives-Dave's and mine and yours too, mo
ther-for we've done nothing but work
work-dig, dig-pinch, save and scrimp-
all to help father hoard up money to buy
pastures, farms and oxen with; while every
reasonable pleasure and rest has been de-