Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-01
Selctt storp.
From the Western RurSl.
SOUING md RE IPING.

DO We gather Hgs OF thistles Bible.
Come to the barn with me sir III
learn YOU to lie to met I'll tan your
Jacket for you SIR
These words were spoken in my hear
ing by an angry father to his boy, Jim
Thorne. who had told him lie.
The boy followed his father, who
stopped on his WAY and cut a whip the
size OF an oN-goard, and soon the sound
Of stirring blows was heard, mingled
with shIieks and cries which pierced me
like arrows. but which the mother oi the
child did not heed, nor. indeed, seem to
hear.
Good Heavens | cried. Nancy
Thoruc. how can You hear such blows.
and such cries, and no, stop them or go
mad?"
'He must learn not TO lie TO his father.
she replied "He has got to be such a
liar that we can place no dependence on
word he says. 1t has got to be whip
ped out of him."
Now, reader. don't hold up Your hands
and say Horrible what cruel, unnatural
parents they were
They were no such thing, they were
pleasant, agreeable people enough. hon
est and upright enough, rs the world
goes. and meant to bring mp their chill
dren right, and would have been angry
indeed, had any one said they were harsh
or unjust in the treatment of their chill,
dren. or that they taught them to lie.
When the beating was finished, when
Deacon Thorne had demonstrated hi,
power, when he, aS an earthly father, hac
done toward his child as he imagined his
Heavenly Father would DO toward HIM
the law OF duty was satisfied, and he
threw down the rod and bent his step.
houseward
| felt that if met him, there must
surely be collision. and fled to my
chamber. and threw myself into n chair
at the window that overlookedth porch,
where Jimmy'S mother was at work.
! watched the father as he walked
rapidly down the path. There was nc
sign of pity or sorrow on his flushed face
but instead, an expression ol satisfaction
of having done a good thing. vindicaiet
hi, authority, punished the boy for sill
and set h.s wayward feet in the path o
rectitude.
! As he came near TO his wife, he said,
Il guess I've given him a trouncing tha
he will remember one spell What il
the world makes the boy lie so? an
/ sure don't know
| listened with 4 strained ear for som'
words of condemnation from the mother
but listened yaiuly. She only worked ov
er her butter the more busiy.
too, wonder what made the boy tel
lies; he came of good, honest stock; a.
lar back as could be remembered, none
OF his race had ever been imprisoned, o
hanged, none of them had been remark
able As liars. vet jim Would lie; there
was no question of that, and | resolved Il
know why.
Deacon Thorne shaved, washed. anG
combed himself. and heard him ask hi
wife for clean shirt. 1t was not Sun
day. and / wondered where he was going
and. Yankee-like, set myself To guessing
and Yankee like too, guessed it ont. III
belonged to the Baptist church, and ioda.
was Covenant meeting" day. Preit.,
soon | heard him come out upon the step
ard say TO his wife. Nancy, it seems t
me you might get your work done up. s.
as 10 90 TO covenant meeting sometimes
1t don't look very well for you, and
plaques me TO have the brothers and sis
ters ask where sister Thorne is. Wha
shall | tell 'em, Nancy ?"
"You can tell EN-" replied Nancy, il
rather tart tone, ''that I've no he'll
about my work, and it's as much as | ca
do to get ready for Sunday"
Deacon Thorne got flea in his eaI
He had told his wife that he thought sh
could get along without a girl, now tina
the summers work was done, and tn
weather cool. Mrs. Thorne had reluci