The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-08-25

that there is soft warm, attachable side
to your character my word for it he will
move to your bidding with winged feet. l
have studied the boy, and see in him good
and noble qualities. But he has inherited
from his father certain impatience of con-
troll, and will ever be on the alert to resist
unduly applied force. You may lead him,
by love, anywhere but under the rule of
fear you. will drive him certainly beyond
your influence. Forgive my plain speech.
have wished to say this, before, but, un-
til now, saw no good opportunity"
The whole aspect of Mr.. Somers under
went change. Conviction struck to his
heart. He saw that he had been unjust to
the boy, unloving, and unkind Back to
his own early days his thoughts went with
bound, and there came vivid remem-
brances of states into which he had been
thrown by harsh treatment, states from
which no punishment, however severe,
could move him. Kindness had always
been to his heart like melting sunshine (;
sternness like an icy wind. And Richard
was like him. How strange that he had
never thought of that before.
A long sigh quivered up from the op-
pressed heart of Somers.
eff could only think so" he said
"But the obstinate self-will of the boy is
so firmly inrooted."
"Then you can never tear it up by
force" spoke out his friend. "The only
way is to weaken its vital currents, to cut
off the flow of life, and let it wither for
lack of sustenance, and die"
"Perhaps you are right" said Mr.. Son.
ers, in troubled, uneasy way. "But
what am to do now give him half an
hour in which to do an errand, laid my
commands on him, and enforced them by
threats of punishment. Is my word to go
for noughtp Shall boy defy me
A flash of anger CLEANED over the fathers
face.
"Gently, patiently, forgivingly deal with
the offender" replied the neighbor, as he
laid his hand on the arm of Mr.. Somers,
"Let love rule, not anger. Is he all tc
blame? No. Does not the origin of the
wrong lie most with yourself? Has not il
grown out of your unwise disciplined Be
gin correction at the source. First get in 9
right attitude yourself, and then bring him
right. AS you provoked disobedience il
the present case, restrain the Furnishing
arm"
|
"But shall forfeit my word"
"You will do that even if you punisl
him."
"How So"
"You will hardly go to within an inch OF
the boys life. You were angry, and wen
beyond yourself. Take counsel of reason,
now Passion and pride are blind impul
ses, and are sure to lead us from the righ
path. Think away from your present un
happy relations to your unhappy boy, ant
let love for him prompt you to seek onl.
his good. He is afar off from you now
draw him near, even within the circle of
tenderly embracing arm That is your du
ty, my friend. Enter into, it, and all will
be we'll"
The neighbor after saying this retired
leaving Mr.. Somers to the companionshiI
of his thoughts, There was weight 0
concern on the fathers heart. Anger ha'
given place to troubled feeling. He drew
out his watch as the half hour period ad
vanced to close, looked at the time, ant
then from the window anxiously. If Rich
ard had appeared In the distance, what
sense of relief it would have produced. Blu
there was no sign Of the returning boy.
"Willfully disobedient Defiant %
The indignant man said this as hot bloot
began to burn his face. "Perverse, unhaI
py, wrongly governed boy This was th
father saying in reply. and struggling :
hold anger in check.
The half hour expired. Richard wa
still away. Another half hour elapsed
and yet he was absent. lrl
"He shall be punished for this" sal
Mr.. Somers as indignation gained th
mastery. Then a remembrance of tn
words spoken by his neighbor, pressed bacl
the tide of indignation, and he let pit
move over the troubled surface of his feel
ings and calm them like oil.
A whole hour beyond the limit of tim
had passed. Mr.. Somers was growing un
easy. II flashed across his mind that Rich
ard, in a fit Of anger, rebellion and discoul
agement, might have been tempted TO rul
off He remembered very distinctly hoy
once in hia boViah troubIea at home he ha,
meditated the same thing, and actual
commenced preparations to abandon fathe
and mother. and try his fortunes In th