The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-11-11
[Published by Request.I
"What's the Use of Obeying 2"
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH FOR
THE AVE MARIA.
What is the use of obeying?

What is the use OF obeylng!
How many times does that question
come to the lips of a child? And IS
it not usually thus that he receives, at
least at the bottom of his heart, the
command Of his parents and teachers?
| was like others when | was young; !
[ rebelled very often against the gen
tie laws, whose Importance and WIS
dom | did not understand; and when
| could no further tt an the end OF my
nose, | would have put myself at the
helm and guided my bark at the risk
of making shipwreck at the very be-
ginning of my imprudent course.
What fine thing it would be to gov
ern ones own self! Did | not know
better than any one else what suited
my needs and tastes? And the ad-
venturous opinions of youth, are they
not preferable a hundred times over to
the learned and prosy ideas OF that
superanuated old woman whose name
is Experience?
Such as I was at that time, | resem-
bled most children Of yesterday, to
day, and forever; but when l reached
my twelfth year, was vivldly I'M
pressed by the recital Of little drama,
whose hero I knew, and | learned
then how useful implicit obedience
without discussion or remark may be.
It was Sunday morning; while wait
ing for the appointed hour for Mass,
desirous Of making the most OF my
time, | clambered along the top of a
high wall which separated the yard
from the garden, hoping, at the risk
L., L 10
large branch of acacia which hung
over the old wall confess that 1t
was one of my favorite exercises,
though it had often been forbidden
me.
Have done, Master Albertr' cried
my old nurse, who had just come IN
from the market ''See how you are
running your best trowers! not to
speak Of the accidents which happen
often to those who least expect them;
you are in fair way to make Grip
pie of yourself for life"
my mother opened her window
''How disobedient you are, child! How
many times have forbidden you those
imprudent climbsr'
'Oh, he will only be too happy
when he has put us in mourning!
replied Annette, who never wanted
for word. "Let him go and see tn,
poor little Coussinet boy, and he will
learn what it may cost to disobey one
parents.
What do you mean?" asked m.
mother, anxiously. HAS anything
happened to the child?''
''Ah, Madame! it makes ones yer.
hair stand on end, only to think of it
God grant it is all heap of lies ant
gossip, such as one is accustomed t.
hear on market-days; but the milk
woman told me herself that she say
him when she arrived with her wagol
before the train passed.
| listened with all my ears; Mat
thew Coussinet, although several year
younger than |, was my favorite play
mate on account Of his extreme gen
tleness. He always let me have m
own way. My mother herself, know
ing him to be perfectly well-bred, pre-
ferred to see me with him rather tha
with many of the other boys of m
age Then Mr. Coussinet, Matthew
father, who had been soldier, kne,
so many nice stories about the AFR
can wars! 1t was from thence tina
he had brought his comrade, as h
called in his good-humored way hi
wooden leg, and | never wearied O
hearing him tell of the Kabyles and 0
Kabylia.
Just think, Madame, said Annette
in choked voice, "the whole expires
train passed over the poor little fel
lows body Yesterday. His father ha
forbidden his going on the track, an
he bettered himself great deal by hi
disobedience!" she added, somewha
sarcastically, glancing in my direction
After Mass, we will go to thes
poor people, said my mother, mucl
agitated, while | remained motionles
under the window
The road to Coussinets was charm
ing: Always in the shade, along
hollow in the wood, above whicl
stout chestnut trees interlaced thei
leafy branches, forming thus a natur
al arch Of deepest green. On tn
banks, hollies with shiny leaves wer
busy ripening their red berries in tn
June sun, and according to the season
there were either violets or wild straw
berries to be picked. Usually | climb
ed hundred times to the attack, on
ly, it would seem, in order to have tn,
pleasure of rolling down again as of
ten; thus, ordinarily, we were lone
time on the road, but that day my
mother could hardly keep up with me
| had seen Matthew three days be-
fore. He was helping his brother tC
turn the hay to dry in the sun, Hi
black eyes sparkled like diamond.
above cheeks which were like red ro
ses; and it seemed as if still hearG
him shout as we parted, Il hope
shall see you soon again, Albert"
Aoaini and the end had come: my