The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-05-25

"What forE" asked John Thomas. not
moving a pace from where he stood.
$50 and do what tell you. Get your
hat and Jacket"
The boy moved slowly, and with q
very reluctant air, from the room.
"Now don't all day." Mr.. Belknap
called after him. "I'm in hurry. Move
briskly."
How powerless the fathers words
died on the air. The motions of John
Thomas were not Guickencd in the slight
est degree Like Il sculle,s automaton
passed he out into the passage and up
the stairs; while the impatient Mr..
Belknap could with difficulty restrain
an impulse to follow after, and hasten
the sulky boys movements with blows.
lie controlled himself, however, and re-
sumed the perusGl Of his newspaper.
Five, ten minutes passed, and .:Ohn
Thomas had no. yet appeared to do tine
Grand upon which his father designed
to send him. Suddenly Mr.. Belknap
dropped his paper, and, going hastily to
the bottom Of the stairs, called ont:
''You, .ohn John Thomas"
"Sir" came proyokincly Indifferent
voice from one of the chambers.
didn't tell you to hurry say"
al can't find my Jacket
"You don't want 10 ind it. Where
did you lay it when you took it off last
night"
81 don't know. forget"
'If you're not down here with your
jacket on, in one minute, I'll warm your
shoulders well for you"
Mr.. Belkuap was quite in earnest in
this threat, fact plainly enough appar-
ent to john Thomas in the tone of his
fathers voice. Not Just wishing to have
matters proceed to this extremity, the
boy opened n closet, and, singular
ly enough, there hung his "a ket in
full view. vt the expiration of the
minute, he was standing before his dis
turbed father, with his jacket on, and
buttOned up to the chin.
"Where's your nat" now asked Mr..
Belknap.
81 don't know, SIR"
"Well, find it, then"
'1've looked everywhere"
''Look again. There, WHAT IS that
on he hat rack, JUS, under my coat?"
The boy answered not. but walked
to the rack, and took his hat
therefrom.
"Iieady at last. I declare I'm out Of
patience with yolr slow movements and
salilr manner. Wha5 DO you stand there
for, knitting Jour 0rows and pouting
your lips. Straighten out your face,
sir! won't have a boy of mine put on
such a countenanee."
The lad, thus angrily and insu!tinglv
rated, made feeble effort to throw a
few rays of sunshine into his face. But
the effort died, fruitless. All was too
dark, sullea, and rebellious within his
BOSOM
''See here" Mr.. Belknap still spoke
in that peculiar tone of command which
always STILES sell respect in the one to
whom 1t is addressed. "Do you 90 down
to Leslies and tell him to send me a good
claw hammer and three pounds of eight
penny nails. And go quickly"
The boy turned oil without word of
reply, and was slowly moving away, when
his father said, sharply:
'Look here, sir,''
John Thomas paused and looked back.
'Did you hear me-"
ayes, SIR"
''What did tell You to do"
''To get you a claw hammer and three
pounds of eightpeuny nails"
Every vel. Why didn't YOU indicate,
n some way, that you heard me2 Haven't
already, this morning, read you lee
ure about this very thing! Now, 90
quickly. I'm in a hurry"
For al this impotence aud authority
the part of Mr.. Belknap, John
'homas moved away at snairs pace:
nd as the former, in a state of consider
bic irritability. gazed after the boy, he
cit strongly tempted to call him back,
nd give him good hogging in order
hat he might clearly comprehend the
act of him being in earnest. But, as
his tiOgging was an unpleasant kind of