The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-05-26

watching with wondering
ewes the scene painted on my memory
As clearly as if years had not dimmed
the fire of those luminous eyes, or
bowed with weight of care the proud
uplifted head. Father was standing
where the light from the lantern, sus-
pended from the beam above, fell full
on the hair just tinged with gray and
brought into relief the massive forehead
and stern blue eye. His mouth was
strangely and the hand that
held the carriage-whip seemed shaking
with irresolution. For the first time in
my remembrance father hesitated to do
what he considered his duty, and met
the fearless glance of his only son with
such yearning tenderness on his strong
old face as / had never seen there.
James, my son, do you remember
my commands this morning?"
Eyes, sir"
"You remember the penalty of your
disobediencep"
Eyes, SIR"
'You know that you must suffer it.
do YOU not?n
Eyes, SIR"
take Off your jacket and your vest. :
Jamie obeyed, hung them on peg and
came back to his position before father
with hard, sullen expression on his face
that's bowed aspirit to be won, nevcrcOm-
PEELED by blows. Perhaps father saw
this, for his hand failed to fall in pun
ishment and his great strong arm stole
around the boys shoulders and folded
him closely to fathers side.
"Jamie! Jamie! my lad, why doyou
grieve your old father SOP"
If an angel had spoken we could not
have been more awe-stricken. Father,
who so seldom caressed, who was so Sc
we're, so stern-Fdther Was crying!
Jamie was crushed by this sort OF thing
and stammered his excuses, and when
he felt the tears on his upturned face
his heart melted. "Oh! pa, l didn't
know you could feel so bad. Don't, pa,
don'tr'
boy, did you think that l loved to
whip you? Don't you know that every
blow on your tender flesh makes a
deeper, sorer mark on your fathers
heart? My son! my only sonr'
His voice faltered and broke. l shall
never forget the tenderness that thrilled
every word as he talked.
81 can not break my word, Jamie;
told you if you disobeyed punishment
must follow. Now, my boy, many time
with aching heart have whipped you.
and it seems to have had no lasting
effect. can not whip you tonight,
and dare not break my word. Take
this whip, sir!''
Jamie took the whip, and father
quickly laid aside his worn black coat,
then his vest, hanging them beside
Jamie's; and turning his broad Shout
ders to the wondering lad, his voice
rang like clarion.
James, some one must suffer.
can't whip you. You must whip me.
Strike, sirr'
The boy stood as if turned to stone.
do you hear me, Jamie? Striker
White as death grew Jamie's face;
his mouth twitched nervously. The
whip fell to the floor, and with a cry
that came right from his heart Jamie
went down on his knees. "Oh! pa
you may kill me, but | never can strike
your
How he begged for forgiveness, pas
sionately pleading, Il cant pa! Any.
thing but that"
What promises of future obedience
But fathers will was iron. He would
not break his word. He had said sc
many lashes, and they must be paid
Puzzled and stirred to the depths, wha1
could he do?
What little white-gowned figure il
this that creeps out of the shadows ant
throws itself at his feet, while child.
shrill voice pipes:
"Oh, Papai have been so wicked;
coaxed Jamie; truly. truly, did! WIFI
me, papa, and let Jamie CO."
Now if you think this was not an &C
of hcroism. l am sorry for you; ant
then, perhaps, your father was not ,
minister
He lifted his forlorn little daughte
from the floor, and as no way out Of tn,
dilemma seemed to present itself, Jami
stood by in shame and humiliation
while fathers hand fell in punishment
on his little sister Father carried m
to my room in his arms, and when
icit HIS years SPioSu vi NY naiH, nc'
feeling of love that understands wa
born in my heart.
If Jamie had been writing this recor'
of our long ago, he would have closes
with the announcement that never from
that day did we venture to run ava,
with Eighty, and as our eyes grew &C
customed to see the love written il
every line of fathers face, we grew +
watch for the smile of approval, an,
weep over his displeasure.
But alas, / must add one more ties
timony to the weakness of my sex, an,
! just whisper, how early the next morn
| ing standing on the veranda, where tn
lilacs swung their fragrant cluster
against the study window, l ventures
to say: Jamie, don't you almost wish
when Pas back was right in front @
you SO, that you had just given him
couple of good cuts, he has given yo
so manyP"
Jamie had No chance tn ypnlv for m