The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-19
RALPH'S APOLOGY
BY FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL,

As Ralph Dsrrow rode slowly through
the main street OF the little country town
of Greenfield one September day, feeling
very impatient that the stout oak stick
he carried could not urge old Dolly into
pace faster than iog-trot, he heard
the big clock on the Baptist church strike
twelve.
With the sound of the first stroke the
blood sprsng to his face like flame; but
by the time the last had struck, he was
as pale as it is possible for sun burned
country lad to become. Twelve o'clock
and it was only six when he left home
after his early breakfast to 60 to Silas
Ashton's on an errand, and his mother
had urged him to make haste back, re-
minding him that it was Monday, and
the water must be brought from the well
for the washing. Ralph had expected to
be away little more than an hour, for it
was only two miles to the Ashton farm;
but after attending to the errand he had
gone to look at Luke Ashton's rabbits,
and then to try shooting at target with
brand new pistol, which proved such
interesting sport that the time slipped
away without his being really conscious
of it. The recollection of his mothers
charge to return as soon as possible did
not occur to him until he heard an inn
patient neigh from Dolly, grown weary
of standing at the .hitching-post. He left
then without further delay, but his con-
science troubled him very much on the
way home and the discovery that it was
twelve o'clock filed him with dismay.
Not only did he feel sure of severe
whipping from his father, but he knew his
mother must have suffered great anxiety
about him, probably imagining he had
met with some accident. He was not
surprised as he drew near home to see
her standing at the gate, looking anx-
iously down the road.
"Ralph, my dear boy" she said, as soon
as he came within speaking distance. 81
have been SO worried about you. What
kept you SO long ?"
al got to shooting at a target with
Luke, and forgot all about the time,
mother" answered Ralph, in low voice,
his face expressing his shame and con-
triton.
Mrs. Darrow was silent moment, and
then, as Ralph sprang from the saddle,
she laid her hand tenderly on his shout
der.
81 am glad, very glad, for your sake.
dear, that your father happens to be
away" she said, gently. He left home
just after you did, and will not be back
until tomorrow"
Ralph drew long breath of relief.
"But-who drew the water, mother ?"
81 drew it, my son."
ooh, mother, and carried it all to the
house ?"
ayes, my dear, there was no one else to
do it, you know. Your sisters are toe
small to help me much"
Not a word, not even look, of re.
proacn ! As Ralph led old Dolly to the
barn and threw down some hay from the
loft for her, he almost wished his father
had not gone away, for perhaps if he had
received tbrashing, he would not have
felt so utterly wretched as he did now.
A whipping was no novelty to Ralph
for his father was a stern, hard man who
believed in the use of the rod as a means
OF discipline, and never spared it. Ralph
was an only son, and bright, talented
boy, but he could not recollect ever hav-
ing received word of love or praise from
his father, whom he feared and avoided,
But he loved his gentle, brown-eyed
mother. She was always loving, tender
and merciful, and shielded him from his
fathers wrath whenever it was possible
for her to do so, sorrowing much that she
could not convince her husband that ii
was better to govern through love than
fear.
As Ralph entered the kitchen after
feeding Dolly, and saw the weary, worn
look on his mothers face, he felt more
conscious-stricken than ever, and could
not eat the dinner she set before him.
But it isn't as if was always running
of and having fun" he said to himself
trying to find excuses for his conduct
81 hardly ever get an hour to myself. II
is work, work from morning to night
and an awful crime if I'm idle even ten
minutes. And it isn't fair. don't be
lieve any other fellow would stand it q
single day. And L might beg on my
knees from dawn to dark, and father
wouldn't give me pistol 1 believe he'd