Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-09-17

better instruction, no ~ out practising
our modern plan OF training himself
up 10 the way he likes 10 50, having
40 thought that when he Ia old he will
care to depart from IT, Hut the father
who has inquired Tor his boy rub' his
eyes. looks out inlo the darkness, aud
listens but 10 hears him not, lie
wishes that hls boy would not 80 out
80 OF nights but then no does 90
out, lilo wonders that John cannot
slf down at home Ike other boys
What other boys' And then. with o
very feeling remark that, III john
does not do better and become steady,
he will make q miserable shirk Of him
self" tho father goos TO bed, The
mother waits iii her boy comes by
snd.by he does como in--his restless-
ness blown Of, the uneasy hdget OF
the early evening spent In relaxation
which Of some kind q boy must hsve
and then At last the house IA quiet.
Sleep and rest prepared the household
for another day and evening like
these,
Good father why should your boy
spend his evenings ut homer What
lis there nj homo for hint What
pleasant recreation, what happy plan
for willing away the hour, does he
find inviting there, or that would VI
vile any boy thercY What have you
done to make home attractive and
winsome to him as Johns honey Ito
would like amusenents suited to his
young, restless brimming nature how
much real thought and care did you
ever give in schemes, devices, plans
effort, with view TO meeting this
passionate yearning Of ms mind !
How much do you play with him, tell
stories with him, make riddles with
him, talk with him OF what You have
done aud seen, Of what your father
did aud SAW Among the book
shelves Of tho old house how many
shelves have you filled for your boy !
What games, what sports, what ei'
forts at skill with slate and pencil,
with knife, saw, ind g,mlet, have you
devised Tor him. while your look aud
action were saying, any hoy, want
you to love your homo more than sny
other spot OF earth!'
After q period Of years ] come back
where the home OF this family 10 OF
which John is SO important a member,
and look in upon them once more.
Al only the las, week looked in to
some Of those families that knew
long time ago, and learned with heart
ache of their Johns. so ] came back,
to this family and inquired about its
John. The father and mother with a
lurid smile, yet with warm grasp OF
the hand, welcome me. We sit down,
and soon the talk wanders back into
the past. God has been kind to them,
though the burden OF years begins to
be heavy upon them. Their work
will soon be done. They are finishing
up the days labor aud getting ready
for the long evening and the final
sleep. look about me and remem.
Der. turn to the mother, and with
CHEEKY voice break in, And what
has become of-of John, that | used
to zee q
The mother drops her hands. Her
work falls to the floor, She turns
away her eyes. She cannot answer,
In the mean time the father has risen
from his seat, and, as if to do some
forgotten thing, has gone out. In Il
minute follow him. l find him with
downcast look, hands clasped behind
him, pacing to and fro on the green.
sward by the door. We sit under 4
tree through which the full moon ii
shaking her beams upon US, and there
he tells me of John. u hoped wei
for my boy. I did what l could fo'
him. He was my all. But he would
not stay at home like steady boy
He spent his evenings abroad. Bad
boys and worse men led him away
He learned to 60 with them that havs
, done him no good. Not that John
; was naturally vicious; before he wen'
with bad men he was a good boy. He
, learned it all. He began to drink 81
= first BECAUSE others did. Soon h'
loved it and--I cannot 60 ovel
r these sad years. You can think hsw
: it has been. My boy-is-lost-tc