Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-16
His Fathers Boy.

Mr.. Colyille had sold quite bill of
goods to a customer, yesterday afternoon,
when his son came in. Young Colville
went straight up to his father, and whis-
nered request in his ear. He locked re-
markedly bright and nice as he stood on
his toes to reach his fathers ear.
is that your boyr' asked the Gus
toner.
Yes
And nice looking boy he is" added
the customer, heartily.
| Well, yes, William is good boy, we
think" said Mr.. Colrille with quiet pride.
!" Have you any boys."
mo, | have no children, boys or
girls" /.
"And yet | should say you were fond Of
1 children"
Very fond Of them
"We would hardly know what to do
| without our boy" mused Mr.. Colyille,
1 softly foniling his sons hair. He is q
great comfort to us now" he added,
Speaking slowly, with thoughtful light
in his eyes, "and We hope he will be a
stay and 4 comfort to us in our old age.
There is a happiness, which cannot well
be described, in specializing upon our fu-
ture with him. | can assure you we
build many castles all fitted exquisitely
for our occupation, and although many OF
them may never be anything but imagin-
ary, still there is pleasure In laying
plans tor his future advancement and use
fulness."
Shortly after William left, and the bal
ance of the afternoon he employed in
coasting down the front path in his faith
b.lA Mr. Val
vile approached his home. The thought.
full, dreamy expression with which he
fondled the boys hair at the store, still
fingered in his face. He passed slowly
through the gate His lett foot started
back in surprise. He rapidly dropped
the right foot, threw out his arms, as that
also gave away, and uttered a mingled
eurgle and shrek as both feet shot back
together. Then he came down full
length, rapping his face against the hard
crust with such intense violence as to al
most suggest the probability that he had
inconsiderately snapped off his breath
for drunken torchlight procession. l..
was full moment before the unfortunate
man could get to his feet. Instinctively
he felt for his nose. He felt for it at the
back of his head. He thought for tie in
slant that IL might have been driven clear
through his skull. 1t WAS not. But the
dreamy, thoughtful expression was gone
not vestige OF il remained. He jumped
into the untrodden snow where there was
good hold for his feet, and then dashed
into the house. Young Colville was
there The boy with the fondled hair
was demurely posted in a wide-seated
rocking chair, intently pert.sing book.
Il was the same William who was at the
store. How the fathers heart must have
swellcd with pride as he caught glance
of him. Then he took him by the collar
band and lifted him bodily out of the
chair. William might have thought he
was being exalted 10 the roof OF the
very highest castle in the assortment
which he had heard mentioned at the
store but few hours previous, he
was lifted SO sharply. Mr.. Colville
cufied him on the left ear. Cufled
William, in whom he took so much
comfort And he cuited him on the Other
ear, and thought of the plans for the future
of his boy. There was no quiet happiness
In his eye as he hastily Frustrated his fu
ture stay and comfort on the floor, and
picked him up with his foot, and danced
around him. And yet this was the boy
for whom The whole future was to be 10
cussed-this boy who was bounding
around on the carpet and striving will
wonderful desperation TO make one hano
cover every conspicuous portion OF his
person. Ali! there is happiness which
cannot very well be described in speculat
ing upon the future the fiona parents were
To enjoy with him. And then Mr.. Colvillt
snatched him up, and slapped him oyel
his knee, and having found his voice
huskily observed:
You young scape- grace, how dare yor
slide on that path after I've told you {
hundred times to keep off it, His hanc
descended like meteor, and whooI
went up like a rocket-went up from thu
hope and stay and comfort of the future
1--we told you time and ag'in, yol
miserable brat" he passionately exclaim
ed you'd break somebody's neck yet, ant
now I'll give you something you'll re-
member"
The hand descended and the whoops as
cended in rapid succession. "IhereP
exclaimed the proud but exhausted parent
setting William on his feet with such
earnestness as to completely upset him.
You are the plague and curse OF my
life"
The plague and hope and curse and
comfort OF his life Immediately gained q
perpendicular, and scooted out of til,
room with AS much enthusiasm as If he had
been shot out OF u columbiad. --Dd,,bnry
Mems.