Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-25
Love and Fear.


"I'm not deaf" muttered the boy in an un-
dcrtoue not meant for the ear of his father,
but reaching it nevertheless.
Red anger burned instantly in the face of
Mr. Somers, his eyes flashed with cruel pur-
pose; his arm moved with an impulse to
strike.
Take care, sir!" Mr. Somers advanced to-
ward the lad in threatening way, but re-
strained the hand half raised for a blow.
"Of with you this Instant" he is ina pas
sionate way; "and don't let the grass grow
under your feet Ifyou are not back in thirty
minutes by the watch, I'll fog you within an
inch Of your life"
And Mr.. Somers drew out his watch to note
the time then turning from the boy actually
trembling with excitement
Richari-that was the lads name-mani-
Tested neither fear nor alacrity but, instead, a
kind of doggcd impassiyeness. He made no
response whatever. The stormy utterance Of
his father did not seem to affect him any more
! than if it had been the murmur of the wind
in the trees overhead. Rising from the
ground where be bad been sitting with a
piece Of wood in his hand, which he was
modelling into the form of boat, he moved
away with lettering step. Not step be-
yond this was there that he had heard, under
stood, or intended to obey his father.
Thirty minutes :" muttered Richard as he
walked along as leisurely as if he had the day
before him. "lle knows | can't 90 in thirty
minutes without running every step of thu
way there and back and I'm not going to dc
it for him or anybody else. Let him fog me
/ if he will. | won't stand it long"
Quick footsteps would have taken Richard
to the end of his short journey to a neighbor'
house and back in less than twenty-five min
utes but anger had awakened his anger, ant
harshly applied force feeling Of resistance
"l'm not dog to be kicked, SO he talket
with himself cor mule to be driven. That
not the way to treat boy. Flog me within
an inch Of my life wish he would kill me
one of these days Then he'd be"
| Richard could not utter the words tina
commenced forming on his tongue. A gooC
impulse restrained him. He felt littl,
shocked at the wickedness Of his thought
After this he walked on more briskly, as i
to atone by obedience for the evil desir,
cherished for a moment in his heart. Blu
his feet soon fingered again. There was n,
feeling mind in the boy. Propulsion, not at
/ traction, moved him onward, and his was ;
nature prone to resist. On his way mani
attractive things presented themselves, ant
he stopped here and there-sometimes in for
getlulness Of his errand, sometimes in wilfu
disregard of his fathers command wasting
the time and rendering punishment thin
next to certain.
Full thirty minutes had expired when th'
boy reached his destination.
Won't you step dow to the postoffic,
and mail this letter for me that's gooC
boy !' said the gentleman to whom he hat
been sent with message. The request was
made in such kind voice and with such {
pleasant smile, that Richard felt that he coulC
90 through fire and water, as the saying is, t
oblige him.
Certainly, sir" he replied in the mos
compliant manner, reaching out his hand foi
the letter. " I'll do it with the creates
pleasure"
As well be killed for a sheep as lamb ,
said the boy as he took his way to the post
office. "The half hours up and the hogginl
earned. lie can only take the other inch o
my life at the worst, and then there'll be Al
end of it."
And he tried to whistle up a state o
complete indifference but the notes h,
sent out upon the listening air were not ligh
and thought-free as the robins warble, no
sweet and tender as the little yellow bird
song. The boys mind was not at ease.
After depositing the letter, Richard saun
tered away in listless, indeterminate man
ner. Going home was not in his mind. Their
was an angry father there, and punishment
awaited his return. He did not feel in tn
least inclined to meet the tiogging within a
inch of his life at an earlier moment thai
was absolutely necessary. A sight Of tn
river which ran a short distance from tn
town gave direction to his wayering thought
and off he started for the pleasant stream o
whose bosom he loved to glide, bending to tn
light-sprnging oar.
4" You don't expect to see him in half an hour
of course" said gentleman who had bee
witness to the contest between the boy and hi
father, and who had not failed to notice th
excited and bafiled state Of Mr.. Somers mind
Age, character and relation gave him warran
for this free speech. 1t was not received as a
intrusion, but in some Difference of manner.
He knows the penalty" Mr. Somer
knit his brows severely. Cruel purposes DIRE,
his lips firmly together
(Which you mean TO indict p
" As surely as there is strength in thi
right arm" And he stretched out the vigor
Gus member.
4" Even to within an inch Of the boys life 2
A pair of calm eyes looked into the face o.
the angry father Il mild, rebuking voice wa
in his cars
81 will bend or break him, sir. That i
my duty. What hope is there for a willfull.
disobedient child"
Small hope, fear" said the other.
Then is not my duty plain?"
"There is no question as to your duty, il
the abstract, being plain--the duty Of secur
ing submission from your child-but il i
barely possible that you are not using th'
right means. Mrs, Hewitt has expresseC