Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-02
Jack Sprouts Change.

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II was nothing wonderful for back Sprout
TO swear, even in the presence of his wife,
or lie was sadly given 10 the habit of
pfOfane language. And yet Jack was a
good husband, an indulgent father, an in
dustriOus man. accommodating neighbor;
and he possessed many other excellencies
Of character which might have made him
available member of society, had it not
heen for certain loose habits which had
marked his course from childhood. His
parents had been careless and profane be-
fore him; his father had been Tough,
rough customer; so Jack naturally enough
came up in the same track. But he was
good looking, and kind hearted, and gen
iaI and social, and so he had gained for
wife one of the very best maidens of the
town, rs well rs one of the handsomest.
Master Freddy Sprout. aged five years.
stood by his mothers side, with sadly
beCrimmcd and tear-streaked face, and
his story was, that Solomon Gordon had
whipped him with n stick. and the boys
egs still bore few slight tokens of the
casliCation. The other boys Lad come
home with Master Freddy, and their ties
timonv cCrroborated that which t e
sufferer had given. Freddy, with some
of his playmates, lad been throwing
stones at Mr.. Gordon's dog, and one Of
the missiles hurled 10y Freddy hn,l lit
the animal anl caused him to howl with
pain. OF course the stone thrown by
such :iny har,l could not have inflicted
much injury on the canine brute; bu;
Solomon Gordon loved his dog, aad
when be saw what had been done, he
caught Master Ere .dy and gave him
thra- hing; for be it known Solomon Cor
don was just such another man rs Jack
SProut--warm hearted, generous and
neighborly; Int rough, uneducated,
strong willed and impulsive.
Jack Sprout put on his hat and pre-
pared TO sally tOrth. Ills lips were pale,
and tightly compressed, and the huge
muscles in lis arms worked like bundles
If ropes.
dear Jack" pleaded his wife dent
20 out now"
LET me alone. Abby. No man shall
strike cl.iiI of mine without having a
c;rance To strike me. shall 90 and see
Sci. Gor,!on, and III give him such a
!ickirg as he won't forget in hurryl"
And Jack closed the sentence with ter
rlbic oath.
"No--nO, Jack--ion't go. Whist
good Will It DO Wait until you are
more cool -
"Psha~! Go away, Abby. There
Is no; power enough on earth 10 save
so! Gordon frorn a drubbing; and I'll
give It TO him before the sun goes
down.
AMI as Jack Sprout looked at that
momcEt be gave awful evidence that he
was able 10 make his word good; for a
more magnificent structure of frame
work and muscle was not to be found in
the town.
"Dear Jack" cried The wife, taxing
her husband by the arm, sob. do listen
20 ne one moment. Freddy is not
much hurt; and he onght not 10 have
thrown stones as GOrdou's dog. You
know both Solomon and his wife set
everything by the little animal and he
would not bark at the BOYS if they did
not plague him. If you go and find
GOrdun as you are now. yon will only
mako matters worse. Oh, wish you
would drop it."
Jack only shook his head and smiled
one OF these smiles which are terrible
npon the face of an angry man.
"Oh, Jack, if yon would only try the
effect of kindness upon Solomon! lie
IL a good man at heart
Jack interrupted his wife with lie
risive sneer.
"Dou't laugh at me Jack. l tell you
It would be better to do so than to re-
sort 10 blows. If YOU vera attacked |
'Io not blame you for lighting to protect
yourself, but this is not case that cal,
fmr your strength Of muscle. There is
hi. her and nubler strength that YOU can
Use now.
"Oha.' uttered Jack, ''you are preach
ing. Ecu are giving NE some of Your
S;un,lay School lessons. But l don't
want 'em. You may experience religion
as much rs You please; but YOU muen'.
preach the stuff to me-"
Jack" spoke the wife, with s-crn
soIeniuity, ''lIu,e been any wor SINCE
I,egan TO have III interest in Religious
,lingS!'
mo, Abby, you were good always"
Then why will Won moi listen 10 me
II vou vii! stay with me unw-:f ynu
will wait until your anger Is cooled ard
then 90 and speak kindly to So'omcn
Cord. r. / give you my solemn w"id
that vou viii feel thousand tines bat
Ter than you nil ii YOU"
But Jack wcu!d not hear his wife ont.
lie ha! sworn tina; lie would th,asi:
Solomon Gordon, and he would keep his
word. Ills temper Was at the boiling
point, and he was fairly aching to get
lis hands upon the man who had dared
- strike his boy; for FREELY was his pet,
and every blow that had been laid up
,u the cliiIds body had msdc a mark
"f fire upon Lis own heart. So he put
his wife away from him, and hurried
from the house, slamniBg the door after
him.
Away went jack Sprout with rapid,
heavy strides; and had Solomon G. nd ~
fallen in his way just then. he would
,,,,s, .ssurc liz have been severely hen