Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
RALpH's APOLOGY.

| Dul Dy the TINE fHe ldSI 0au 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 go to
Silas Ashton's on an errand, and his
mother had urged him to make haste back,
reminding him that it was Monday, and
water must be brought from the well for
washing.
| Ralph had expected to he away little
more than an hour, fos it was only two
miles to the Ashton farm; but after at
| tending to the errand he had gone to look
at Luke Ashton's rabbits, and then to try
shooting at target with brand new pis-
tol, which proved such interesting sport
that the time slipped away without his
being really conscious of it. The recollec-
ton of his mothers charge to return as
soon as possible did not occur to him until
he heard an impatient neigh from Dolly,
grown weary of standing at the hitching-
post. He left them without further delay,
but his conscience troubled him very much
on the way home; and the discovery that
it was II o'clock filled him with dismay.
Not only did he feel sure of severe whip
ping 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, locking anxiously down the
road.
Ralph, nay dear boy" she said, as soon
as he came within speaking distance. ~
have been SO worried about you. What
kept you SO long7" az got shooting at
target with Luke, and forgot all about the
time, mother" answered Ralph in low
voice, his face expressing his shame and
contrition. Mrs. barrow was silent a mo-
ment, and then, as Ralph sprang from the
saddle, she laid her hand tenderly upon
his shoulder. ~ am glad, very glad, for
your sake, Gear, 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 a
long breath of relief. But-who drew
the water, mo;herY 81 drew it, my
son." "Oh, mother, and carried it all to
the house% Yes, my dear, there was no
one else to do it, you know. Your sisters
are too small TO hel p me much"
Not word, not even look, of reproachl
As Ralph led cid 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 a
thrashing he would not have felt so ut
terly wretched as he did now. A whip
ping was no novelty to Ralph, for his father
was stern, hard man, who believed in
the use of the rod as means of discipline.
and never spared it. Ralph was an only
son, and a bright, talented boy, but he
could not recollect ever having received a
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 mercifll.
and shielded him from his fathers wrath
whenever it was possible for her to do so,
Borrowing much that she could not con-
vince her husband that it was better to
govern through love than fear.
As Ralph entered the kitchen after feed
ing Dolly, and saw the weary, worn look
on his mothers face, he felt more con-
scious-stricken than ever, and could not
eat the dinner she set before him. "But
1t isn't as if | was always running off and
having fun" he said to himself, trying to
find excuses for his conduct 81 hardly
ever get an hour to myself. 1t is work,
', work from morning to night, and an awful
crime if Pm idle even ten minutes. And
it isn't fair. | don't believe any other fell
low would stand it a single day. And |
| might beg on my knees from dawn to dark.
and father wouldn't give me pistol
believe he'd thrash me if only mentioned
such thing" And thinking thus, raking
up one by one all the injuries of which he
had been the victim, and comparing his
life with that of several Of his friends,
Ralph at length arrived at the conclusion
that after all he had not been guilty of
anything very wicked in spending the
morning at Luke Ashton's, and that he
had been foolish to allow his conscience to
trouble him for even a moment
And after that, whenever it pricked
| him little, he refused to listen to it, and
felt angry and impatient that he could not
forget the whole matter. And he offered
no apology to his mother. i" So much
wouldn't be expected of me if l were not
| always so willing to work." he thought re-
sentfully. Father ought to have a els
| tern dug, and pump in the kitchen, like
Mr.. Ashton's. Luke never brings water
from well, and don't see why | should"
Two or three days after the visit to Ash
| toms, Ralph had the misfortune to
sprain his right arm in jumping from a
beam in the barn, and in spite of the most
dilligent rubbing with liniment war
ranted to cure all sprains, bumps and
bruises in short order, he suffered great
deal of pain and passed sleepless night.
He was standing in the barn-yard the next
morning feeding the hens, when his father
came out of the stable leading the hand
some black horse he always rode when 60
ing on days journey.
| "This stable is in very bad condition,
Ralph" he said, as he frightened the girths
of the saddle. 1t looks as if it had not
been cleaned for week. Be sure to at
tend to it to-day. The sooner you get at
it the better" "But, father, | have
sprained my arm, you know. | couldn't
handle a shovel to save my life" cried
Ralph. Cant hire old Moses to do it %
"No; it is your work, and you must do
lit" But, father -" "Not another
word, sir" interrupted his father, in a tone
which always sent the blood from Ralph's
heart. I" i want the work done, and l
want you to do it. Your sprained arm is
merely an excuse to be idle If this stable
is not cleaned when l return tonight /
will give you cause to regret it; and /
positively forbid you allowing old Moses
to touch it." He sprang on his horse and
rode off at gallop, needless that his son
had sunk upon a heap of laths, and had
covered his face with his hands to conceal
the starting tears.
Mrs. barrow had been standing by the
kitchen window, and had heard all that
had passed. She now came to where
Ralph lay, and bent lovingly over him.
at would not be possible for you to use
your arm, know, my son." she said. at
would be of no use o.try" ''Oh, mother,
it gives me pain to move it ever so little
But what can do? You know how ter
ribly father viii whip me if the work isn't
done, and he won't believe Pm not able to
do it." Don't worry about it now, Ralph
We will try to find a way out of it. |
want you to go to Greenfield after some
groceries need, and when you return we
viii talk about the stable" Talking
won't do any good, Pm afraid, MOTHER
replied Ralph, as he rose, and went to put
the harness on Dolly. "And l must take
| the whipping, | suppose"
Hedrove to the kitchen door on his return
from the village, two hours later, and
lifted from the light wagon the basket o.
groceries he had brought Where is
| nother?" he asked of his little sister
Jennie, who was skipping rope in the back