The Princeton union., 1879-09-17
HALBERT AND HOB.

.sae-o HALBERT AND HOB.
Here is thing that happened. Like Wild
beasts whelped, for den,
In wild part OF North England, there lived
Inhabiting one homestead, neither hoyel nor
hut,
Time out OF mind their birthright; father and
son, these-but-
Such son, such u father! Most widest by
degrees
softens away; yet, last of their line, the wild
est and worst were these.
Criminals, then? Why, no. they did not mur-
But give them word, they return blow
old Halbert as young Hob:
Harsh and fierce of word, rough ana savage Oh
deed.
Hated or feared the more-who knows-the
genuine wild-beast breed.
Thus were they found by the few sparse folk
But how Jared each with other? Fen beast
couch, hide by hide,
In growing grudged agreement: so father
and son lay abed
The closelier up in their den because the last
of their kind in the world.
stSll, beast irks beast on occasion. One Christ
mas night of snow,
Came father and son to wOrds-such words!
more cruel UtCauSC GuC UlOW
To crown each word was wanting, While taunt
matched gibe, and curse
Competed with oath in wager, like pastime
in hell nay, worse:
For pastime turned to earnest, as up there
sprang at last
The son at the throat OF the father, seized him
and held him fast.
Out of the house you go!"-(there follow a
hideous oath)-
This oven where now We bake, too hot to
hold us both
If there's snow outside, there's cooness: out
with you, bide spell
In the drift, and save the sexton the charge of
aparish shellG'
Now, the old trunk was tough, was solid as
stump of oak
Untouched at the core by 4 thousand years:
much less had it's seventy broke
One whipcord nerve in the muscly mass from
neck to shoulder blade
OF the mountainous man, whereon his child's
rash hand like a feather weighed.
Nevertheless at once did the mammoth shut
his eyes,
Drop chin to breast, drop hands to sides, stand
stifened-arms and thighs
All OF a piece-struck mute, much as sentry
stands,
Patient to take the enemy's FIRE: his captain so
commands,
Whereat the sons wrath few to fury at such
sheer scorn
OF his puny strength by the giant elb thus act
ing the babe new born.
And Neither will this turn serve!" yelled he,
Out with you! Trundle, log!
Ii you cannot tramp dtrudge like man,
try ell fours like dog"
Still the old man stood mute So, logwise-
down to the floor
Pulled from his f.e-side place, dragged on
from hearth to door
Was he pushed, q very log, staircas along
until
certain turn in the steps was reached,
yard from the house doorsili.
Then the father ouened his eyes-eaeh spark
OF their rage extinct
Temples, late black, dead blanche hed-zight
hand vii h left h 'rd linked
He faced his son submissive; when slow the
accents came,
They were stran ely mild, though his sons
rash hand on his neck lay all the same,
"Halbert, on such night Of Christmas long
ago,
For such cause, with such gesture, did I
drag-so-
My father dewn thus far; but, softening here
Iheard
voice in my heart, and stopped; you wait
Tor an outer word.
'For your own sake, not mine' soften you too!
Leave this last step We reach, nor brave the
finger of God?
dare not pass its lifting; did well, 1nor
Nor praise you. stop here; Halbert, do you
the same"
Straightway the son relaxed his hold of the
fathers throat
They mounted, side by side, to the room again;
no note
Took either OF each, no sign made each to
either; last
AS FIRST in abso ute silence, their Chrtmas-
night they rassed.
At dawn, the father sat on, dead, in the self
same place,
With an outburst blackenng still the old bad
fighting face;
Bat Che son crouched all a-tremble like any
lamb new -weaned
When he went to the burial, some ones staff
he borrowed-tottered and leaned
But his lips were loose, not locked-kept NUT
tering, mumbling. "There!
At his cursing and swearing!" the youngsters
cried.but the elders thought, "In prayer"
A boy threw stones; he picked them up md
stored them in his vest.
SO tottered, muttered, mumbled he, till he
died, perhaps found rest.
"ls there reason in nature for those hard
hearts?' O Lear
That reason out OF nature must turn them
soft, seems clear