The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-01

qulreu MIN 10 20 steadily forward ana
execute his purpose. There was no
other hope for the boy.
Philip" 1t was thus that he an
nounced his determination. "I am
going to send you to sea with Captain
Ellis It's my last hope. Steadily
bent, as you are, on evil, can no longer
suffer you to remain at home. The
boy who begins with robbing his neigh
boris garden is in great danger of end
ing his career upon the gallows. To
save you, if possible, from a fate like
this, | now send you to sea-"
Very sternly, very harshly, almost
angrily, was this said. Not the small
est impression did it seem to make upon
the boy, who stood with his eyes cast
down, an image of stubborn self-will
and persistent rebellion.
With still deeper denunciation did
the father speak, striving in this way
to shock the feelings of his child and
eXtort signs of penitence. But it was
the hammer and the anvil-blow and
rebound. Very different were the
mothers efforts with the child. Tear
fully she pleaded with him. But Philip
said: "No, mother. / would rather
90 to sea. Father don't care for me.
lie hates me, believe"
that way of your father. He does love
you; and it is only for your good that
he is going to send you to sea. Oh,
how could you do so wicked thing?"
Tears were in the mothers eyes.
But the boy had something of the
fathers stern spirit in him and showed
no weakness.
1t isn't any worse than he did when
he was boy" was his answer.
Philip"
"Well, it isn't, for l heard Mr..
Wright tell Mr. Freeman that father
and he robbed orchards and hens nests,
and did worse than that when they
were boys"
Poor Mrs. Browning was silent.
Well did she remember how wild boy
Jonas Browning was, and how, when
she was little girl, she had heard all
manner of evil laid to his charge.
Very uneXpectedly-at least to Mr..
Browning-the minister called in on
the evening of that troubled day. After
some general conversation with the
family, he asked to have few words
/ with the deacon alone.
Is it true, Mr.. Browning" he said,
after they had retired to an adjoining
room, "that you are going to send
Philip to sea?"
"Too true" replied the father, So
berly. " 1t is my last hope. From the
beginning that boy has been a rebel
against just authority; and though l
have never relaxed discipline through
the weakness of natural feelings, yet
resistance has grown with his growth,
and strengthened with his strength,
until duty requires me to use desper-
ateIremedy for desperate disease. 1t
is a painful trial. but the path of duty
is the only path of safety. What we
see to be right we must execute with
unflinching courage. l can not look
back and accuse myself of any neglect
of duty towards this boy through weak
ness of the flesh. From the beginning,
| have made obedience the law of my
household, and suffered no deviation
therefrom to go unpublished.
Duty" said the minister, " has a
twin sister"
He spoke. in a changed voice, and
with a manner that arrested the atten-
ton OF Deacon Browning, who looked
at him with glance of inquiry.
"She is as lovely and gentle as he is
hard and unyielding."
The deacon still looked curious.
When the twin sister of Duty is
away from his side, he loses more than
half of his influence; but, in her beau
tiful presence, he gains dignity and
power that make his precepts laws of
life to all who hear them. The stub
born heart melts, the iron will is sub
dued; the spirit of evil shrinks away
from the human soul"
There was pause.
1.-The name of that twin sister is
Kindness"
The eyes of Deacon Browning fell
away from the minister's countenance
and dropped until they rested upon the
floor. Conviction flashed upon his
heart. He had always been stern in
executing the law-but never kind.
" Has that beautiful twin sister stood
ever by the side of Duty?-has love
been in that law, Deacon Browning?"
Side by side with the minister stood
Duty and Kindness-the firm, unshrink-
ing brother, and the mild, loving sister
and so his word had power to reach the
deacon's heart without giving offence
to pride.
Kindness is weak, yielding and in
dulgent, and forgives when punish
ment is the only hope of salvation"
said Deacon Browning, little recover
ing himself from the emotions of self
condemnation.
"Only when she strays from the side
of Duty" replied the minister. duty
and Kindness must always act together"
Much more and to the same purpose
was urged by the minister, who made
but brief visit, and then withdrew
that his admonitions might work the
desired effect.
When Deacon Browning came in
from the front door of his house, after
parting with the minister, he drew up a
chair to the table in the family sitting
room, and, almost Involuntary, opened
the large family Bible. His feelings
were much softened towards his boy,
who, with his head bowed upon his
breast, sat little apart from his
mother. The attitude was not so much
Indicative of stubborn self-Will as suf-