The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-05-05


my commands this mornipg?"
Eyes, sir.
You remember the penalty of your
disobedience ?"
eyes, sir.
You know that you must suffer if.
do you not?"
''Yes, sir
Take off your jacket and your vest, J"
jamie obeyed, hung them on peg, and
came back to his position before father
WITH hard, suilen expression on his
face that showed a spirit to be won, new
er compelled by blows. Perhaps father
saw this for his hand failed to fall in
punishment aud his great strong arm
stole around The boys shoulders and
folded him closely to fathers side.
Jamie! Jamiel my lad, why do YOU
8rleve your old father SOP"
II an angel had spoken we could not
have been more awe stricken, Father
who was so seldom caressed. who was so
severe, SO sten-father was ctyippl
jamie was crushed by this sort OF thing
anu stammered his excuses, and when
he felt the tears on his upturred face his
heart melted. "Ol pa, [ didn't know
don't!"
Boy, did you think loved TO wbip
you? Don't you know every blow on
your tender flesh makes a deeper, sorer
mark on your fathers heart NV son!
my only son!"
His voice faltered and broke. I shall
never forget the tenderness that thrilled
every word as he talked.
!" / cannot break my word, Jamie.
told you II you disobeyed punishment
must follow. Now, my boy, many a
time with aching heart have | whipped
you, and ii seems to have had no lasting
effect. L cannot whip you tonight. and
l dare not break my word. Take this
whip, sil!'
Jamie took the whip, ani father
quickly laid aside his worn black coat.
then his vest, hanging them beside
Jamle's; and turning his broad shout
ders to the wondering lad, his voice
rang like clarion
"James, some enc must suffer. |
can't whip you. You must whip me.
Strike. sir"
The boy stood as if turned to stone.
Do you hear me, jamie? Strike!"
White rs death grew JAMES face: bis
mouth twltched neryously. The whip
fell to the floor and with cry that
came right from his heart jamie went
down on his knees. SOB, pa! You NAV
kill me. but [ never can strike you!"
How he begged for forgiveness, pas,
sionateiv pleading, 81 can't, pa! Any
thing bat that!"
What promises Of future obedience.
But fathers will was iron. He would
not break his word. lie had said so
many lashes, anG they must be paid.
Puzzled and stirred to the depths, what
could he do?
What little white-gowned figure is
this that creeps out of the shadows and
throws itself at his feet, while a childs
shrill voice pines:
o, papa! | have been so wicked; l
coaxed Jamie; truly, truly, | did! Whip
me, papa, and let Jamie 60"
Now if You think this was not an act
OF heroism, am sorry for you, and
then, perhaps, your father was not a
minister.
He lifted his forlorn little daughter
from the floor, aud, as no way out of the
dilemma seemed to present itself, Jamie
stood 10y IN shame and humiliation,
while fathers hand fell in punishment
on his little sister, Father carried me
to ny room IN his arms, and when [ felt
his tears splash on my hair a new feel
ing Of love that understands was born
in my heart.
Ii jamie had been writing this record
of our long ago ne would have closed
with the announcement that never from
that day did we venture to run away with
Eighty, aud as our eyes grew accus
toned TO see the love written in every
line Of fathers face we grew TO watch for
the smile Of approval, and weep over his
di5pleasure
But alas, | must add one more testi-
mouy to the weakness of my sex, and
just whisper, how early the next morn
ing standing on the veranda. where the
lilacs swung their fragrant clusters
against the study window, [ ventured to
say: Jamie, don't you almost wish,
when pas back was almost in front of
you so, that you had just given HIM a
c0uple;of good cuts, he has given you so
many ?"
jamie had no chance to reply, for the
lilacs were held aside from the window,
and fathers voice called "Daughter. J"
Trembling little wretch, [ need not have
feared. Father was one of those rare
men who have learned to let well
enough alone, and only kissed me with
unusual tenderness as he lead me ont to
breakfast.