The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-07-31

stances, public opinion, bodily infirmI
ties. law, human and Divine, Arthur
And the sooner we recognize the fact
and make up our minds not to rebel
against it. the better"
.sOh, father" said Arthur. greatly,
disappointed, then there is no such
thing as freedom, glorious freedom, in.
the worldr'
Eyes, there is" replied his father
smiling. ..but not in the sense YOU sun.
pose. 1t is wide subject which bas
been often discussed. / am afraid that
YOU are too young to understand that
to be free is not to do as one pleases al
together.
Il don't understand that at ALL said
Arthur; .'but l know one thing. ID
should like to be allowed to do just as
I please for few months, to 60 out
when and where / please. 90 to school
or not as l please, study when please,
associate with whom l please. Just to
see how it feels and what would come
of it. You know, father he added
archly, ..yod always said the best way
to learn was by experience.
.sSome things" said Mr.. Lee, "are
best learned by the experience of others.
We will try that way tomorrow. Go
to your. studies now. and tomorrow
YOU shall attend cotirt with me-
Mr.. Lee was Judge and next dav
he was accompanied TO the courtroom
by his son; Awretched-looking man.
clad In dirty, ragged garments, was led
in between two policemen and ar
raigned for trial. His face was livid
and swollen from drink; he was sober
but his gait was unsteady and his lands
trembled. He was accused of pickisg
mans pocket;
This IS severe charge, John Mel
low," said Judge Lee to the prisoner,
Il knew your father. He was an up
right man. am sorry to see his son in
= criminal court of justice. What
brought you to this?"
Il see your son near You" answered
the culprit II will answer your ques-
ton. Perhaps it viii serve as warn
ing to him.
..As YOU know. was the son of An
honorable gentleman, and of good
mother, who had but one fault: she
was over-indulgent- Igrew up here in
this large city, surrounded on all sides
BY vice and temptation, but 1 was .
good lad until / was fourteen years old.
Then fell into bad company. l had
kind parents and was allowed plenty OF
rational amusement--~But these boys
told me was kept too strictly under
restraint, and grew dissatisfied.
..My father went away on business.
and then ! persuaded. my indulgent
mother to promise me that for one
month I should have liberty to do IS l
pleased. That month, Judge, brought
me here.
81 began by staying out nights. Tier
l learned to smoke That stopped my
growth and ruined my health. Then ]
commenced to drink, and ] have never
been sble to control the taste for hquor
l contracted then. gave up my
studies and ran away from school. In
short. grew wholly t1nmanageable, and
when the month was up, left home Sc
cretly. But was brought back and
put in reformatory, after every other
means of redeeming me had been found
unavailing. 1t was all of no use.
have never been what was before that
fatal month of doing as / pleased, was
allowed me"
II pity you," said the Judge, land /
will make your sentence as light as pos
sible. 1 heard your story before from
your mother, who died blaming her
self entirely, and. l think, justly, for
your ruin"
Judge Lee spoke other plying and
earnest words to the miserable man;
words full of hope, of warning, of ad-
monition. Then he pronounced sem.
tence, and the man, not unmoyed, was
led away to prison.
II think understand now" said Ar-
thur, after long silence, rs he walked
home with his father. IL think ! UNI
derstand now that it is best not to havo
ones own way, until one has learned to
see what consequences may follow ms
actions"
"A wise conclusion" said Mr.. Lee,
land until that time comes be content
to be guided by those older than your
self, to whom. In some measure, that
power of foreseeing has come, ana
whom Providence has wisely plsced ~
authority over you. "-MdsgdFef q. 80
fer IA School and Home