The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-04
AUNEpNARY'S ADVICE;
Or How MIR. Belknap Secured More
Willing Obedience.

JOHN THOMAS" Mr.. BelknaI
spoke in a firm, rather authoritative
voice. 1t was evident that he antici.
pated some reluctance on the boys
part, and, therefore, assumed, in the
outset, a very decided manner.
l John Thomas, a lad between twelve
and thirteen years of age, was seated
! on q doorstep, reading. A slight
movement of his body indicated thai
: he heard; but he did not lift his eyes
from the book, nor make any verbal
response.
John Thomasr' This time the voice
of MI. Belknap was loud, sharp and
imperative.
Sir" responded the boy, dropping
the volume in his lap, and looking up
with a slightly flushed, but sullen face.
'DidE.s you hear me when I first
spoke9" said Mr.. Belknap, angr y.
Eyes. sir"
tTben, why didn't you answer me?
Always respond when you are spoken
to. I'm tired of this ill-mannered, dis
respectful way Of yours"
The boy stood up, looking, now,
logged, as well as sullen.
go and get your hat and jacket"
This was said in a tone of command,
accompanied by a side toss of the head,
by way of enforcing the order.
What forp asked John Thomss,
not moving a pace from where he
stood.
go and do what I tell you. Get
your hat and jacket"
The boy moved slowly, and with q
very reluctant air, from the room.
Now don't be all day." Mr.. Belknap
called after him. 'sIm in a hurry.
Move briskly."
How poWerless the fathers words
died on the air. The motions of John
Thomas were not quickened in the
slightest degree. Like a soulless au-
tomaton he passed out into the passage
and up the stairs; while the impatient
Mr. Belknap could with difficulty re-
strain an impulse to follow after, and
hasten the sulky boy movements with
blows. He controlled himself, how
ever, and resumed the perusal of his
newspaper. Five, ten minutes passed,
and John Thomas had not yet ap-
peared to do the errand upon which
his father designed to send HING Sud-
denly Mr.. Belknap dropped his paper,
and going hastily to the bottom of the
stairs. called out:
You, Johni John 1homas!n
''Sir" came aprovokingly indiffer-
ent voice from n of the chambers.
Didn't | tell you to hurry-say?"
Il can't find my jacket"
"You don't want to find it. Where
did you lay it when you took it off last
nightP' &
Il don't know. I4orget."
IF you're not dolFn here with your
jacket on, in one minute, I'll warm
your shoulders well for you"
Mr. Belknap was quite in earnest d
this threat. a fact plainly enough APP
parent to John Thomas in the tone OF
his fathers voice. Not just wishing
to have matters proceed TO this ex-
tremity, the boy opened a closet, and,
singularly enough, there hung his
jacket in full view. At the expiration
of the minute, he was standing before
his disturbed father, with his jacket
on, and buttoned up to the chin.
Where's your hat?" now asked Mr..
Belknap.
II don't know, sir.n
Well, find it. then"
"Tve looked everywhere"
Look again. There! What is thai
on the hat rack, just under my coat?'
The boy answered not, but walked
modify to the rack, and took his hal
therefrom.
Ready a4 last. / declare I'm out Of
patience with your slow movements
and sulky name What do you stand
there for, knitting your brows and
pouting your lipsp Straighten cntyoul
face, sir! won't have a boy of mine
po1 oA odCAA IOutitSIIslC5
The lad, thus angrily and insulting
ly rated, made a feeble effort to throw
a few rays OF sunshine into his face
But the effort died, fruitless. All wa.
too dark, snllen and rebelious within
his bosom.
See here!' Mr.. Belknap still spok,
in that peculiar tone Of command which
always STILES self-respect in the n te
whom it Is addressed. do you gt
down to Lesiie's and tell him to SEM
me q good claw hammer and thre,
pounds OF eightpenny nails. And &,
quickly"
The boy turned off without q wort
OF reply, and was slowly moving away
when his father said, sharply:
N Look here, sir
John Thomas paused and Iooket
back.
Did you hear lneP''
Yes, sir.
What did Itch you to dof,
To get you Il claw hammer aus
three pounds of eightpeanynails.n