The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1867-02-09
A Radical Home.

The following appears in the New Church
Union, under the head of "Home," which
heading, we presume, is meant as sarcasm
for with all the good that may be in the life
herein depicted, it is SO cold and stony, SC
wanting in all that is genial, generous, and
kindly, that it make one almost shndder tc
read it: g
There, take that you good 'for-nothing
little rascal" !" were the words, followed by
the sharp, quick report Of the rod of correc-
ton, apd the loud outcries of the victim
NOW, go to sleep, and don't let me hear
another word outof your head."e maa L
This was the keynote of my life. Ny
father was an iron sort of sman-orthodox,
iAbolitionist,, Baptist,-three words, all con-
yeying ideas of decision. Whatever he was,
he was VERY; VERY severel; VERY stern; VERY
prompt. He believed in a hell, VERY, and
indoctrinated all OF us early. Hence my first
ideas of life were punative. He never argued,
but commanded US into obedience. I had
only to- get one glance from his cold eye, and
if obedience was otrenGeredinstantaneo
\
There wasno sunshine in that house, simple
justice. was the law. l never received a gift;
father thought such things iweak--silly.
never saw a tear shed in our house. There
might have been at mothers death bed, but
not from father-I distinctly remember this
though he loved mother in his iron way,
have since been convinced. t4a anH
Never was there a word of praise or en-
couragemen:, not even from my brothers.
for had fye--or my two strong minded sis
ters, maidens, and now doing battle for
woman Suffrage. Tears were weak things,
and father, and boys and girls ruled them out
of that household rs 94tM gf53s4t8
We ate our bread in silence, serving with
practieed3 promptness fathers every want.
Fear seemed o9rule, but it was not FEAR, for
the moment he was gone itwas all the same.
Something controlled US, know not what,
to make the iron machinery of that house
hold run as .noiseless as night; never knew
a family jar as the world knows so much
about. Frequent corrections were admin
istered for our shortcomings, but no one ever
rebelled or murmured. In short, we were
all radicals. "A spirit of heroism was born,
bred, and ripened in us alh I have seen a
brother logged until the blood would almost
start from hspurple cheeks, and never finch,
and quietly go to his task again.
Never was there any shivering round the
fire of q winter morning. never any weak
tale- bearing or informing never any sign of
saw a kiss in cur family
such a thing would have been driven out OF
the house with fire and with sword. Ten
derness was not known. Wewere all plainly
clad, not from compulsion, for father had
neither poverty nor, riches. ] have known
little in this world of fashion Our boys are
men, and our girls womea now all we'll to
do, one or two wealthy; but not one of them
owns watch or an article of jewelry, or in
dulges a luxury, No wines, no tobacco. in
the houses of any no immoral or sensual
habit has anything but an ephemeral sway.
My sisters are not bloomers, but plumb line
from the nose to the toes of either may be
dropped, to show hoop skirts have never got
dominion over their fancy.
e There were never any farewells. One
brotherI after untold adventures, in ship
wrecks, wars, and wanderings, came home at
the end of FIVE years, took his place at the
table, and a simple shake of the hand was
the only greeting. aai e8*a "a"
Such was home what it produced Judge
when you have read to the end, the life of a
Radical.