Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-18
DIE Rairg apnpttar.
A STORY Frnm Real Iife.

IL is astonishing, said Doring, ad
dressing neighbor named Handford
who was near in barn, and of course
had heard all that had passed, g how
troublesome boys are. just see those
oats that have got to pick up for that
boys carelessness," and he pointed to a
measure of oats which.sWillism had ae-
cidentiy overturned.
And was Il for that trihe you assault
; ted your boy and knocked hin down =
replied Mr.. landlord in sorrowfnl
tone. = zs'es isfi' -
e DOrning looking up form the oats in
n surprise. and repeate1:
a'.Assaulted my child and knocked him
down. Why, what do you mean, neigh.
Dor Hanferdf.,
just What said Did you not knock
the child over the plough?''
AWell-well-no, he kind q stnmbl-
cd and fell oyer it," doggedly replied
Doring. Do you 40 against parental
authority Haven't right to punish
4 my own child?' ss'a
- Certainly you have, in proper man
ner and in proper spirit, but not other.
WISE po.you think that father has q
right to avenge himself on bis child n
Ps0f course not; but who is talking
I about revenge7"
well, friend Doring, let me ask you
another question. For what purpose
should child be punished7"
- why, to make il better, and do il
good, Of course quietly answered Dor
: sFOr no Otherg" quietly answered
Hanford. v.iR
"weIl, NO, not that / can think of just
now" replied Doring thoughtfully.
"And now my friend" kindly continu-
led Mr.. Hanford, do you suppose yonr
treatment of yonr son, few minutes
ago, did him good, or has increased his
respect for your The boy, / venture to
say, utterly unconscious of having done
any wrong, and yet you assault him sud
denly with anger and violence, ami gave
him q beating which no penitentiary
convict can be subject TO without having
the outrage inquired into by q Legislative
committee. Bur let me tell you long
story. You know my son Charles2'
an" The one that Is preaching in Charts
fown9H
Yes; you have probably noticed that
he is lameF'
"Ihave noticed it, and asked him
now il happened, and he told me he got
hurt when 4 boy.
HYes, responded Mr.. Hanford, with
emotion, 7" ths dear boy could never be
made to say that il was by his fathers
brutality. But listen" he said, 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 / bad
ever seen. / was fond of him, and es-
pecially OF his physical beauty and pro-
gress. But unfortunately / was cursed
with an irritable and violent temper, and
WAS In the sabit of Furnishing my child
rem under the influence of passion and
vengance, instead of from the dictates
Of reason, duty, and enlightened afFee~
ton. =. -.'- s''-'' = = = -
"One day Charley offended me by
some boyish and triAing misdemeanor,
and treated him almose precisely as
you treated your son few minutes ago.
| struck him violently, and he fell upon
pile of stones at bis side, and injured
his left side 80 badly that the result was,
be was crippled for life," said Mr.. Han
ford, in the tones Of the. deepest sorrow
and remorse, and covering his face with
his hands.
A period Of Oppressive silence follow
ed, which was at last broken by Mr..
Hanford saying:
4When l saw that my boy did not
rise again from the stones ON which he
had failed, seized him by the arm and
rudely pulled him to his leet, and was
about to strike him again, when some>
thing saw in his face, his look, arrested
my arm, and asked him IL he was hurt.
.assI am afraid that / am, pa he mildly
answered, clinging to my arm for sup
port.
- Where2 asked in great alarm for
Notwithstanding my brutality, I fairly
idolized the boy. = -
:. Here. be replied, laying his hand
upon bis hip. -, s.s....ss...,
SIN silence took him in my arms and
carried him to bis bed, from which be
never arose the same bright, active, glo-
ri6ns boy that / had so cruelty struck
down on the pile Of stones. But after
many months be came forth, pale, sad.
dened little fellow, MODELLING on a
crutch" - s
Here Mr.. Hanford broke down and
wept like child, and the tears also roll
ed down Doring's cheeks. When he re-
sumed, Mr.. Hanford said (: M
This is humiliating narrative
neighhor Doring, and / would not have
related il to You had not supposed you
needed the lesson which it contains II
10 impossible for me TO give you an ade
quate notion of the suffering that have
undergone on account ofmy brutal rash
ness 10 my boy. But fortunately it has
been overruled to my own good, and that
of my family also The remedy, though
terrible, was complete and no other child
Of mine has ever been punished BY me-
except when in the full possession and
exercise of my best faculties, and wher
my sense OF duty has been chastened anc
aoftaned by reason and affection.
devoted myself to poor Charlie,
from the time he left bis bed, and ",
came "a understand one another as
think bnt few fathers and sons ever do
The poor boy never blamed me 70
bEghting 30 much happiness for him
and I rave sometimes tried to thinl
that his fife has been made happier oI
the whole than it would have been hal
I not taught my duty through his sacri
Gee. Still, neighbor Doring, should
be sorry to have you and your son vii
liam pass through a similar ordeal
1T trust that we shall not, emphati
cally end grayely responded Doring. 6
thank yon for your story, friend Han
ford, and shall try and prohtby it, =
Ard he did profit by It and we hop
thai every parent who 10 capable q
striking his child in anger or pc tulancs
that reads this sketch from life,. vii
profit by it.