The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-01-11
MR. WEMpLE,s TEACHERS.

NIL. " I'LL pie NdS d kluA-iltdIbSu ndD, d
generous provider in his family, and above
all, a professor of religion.
But like legions of other men who, per-
haps, are kind-hearted enough, and make
suitable provision for the needs OF their
families, and belong to the church, Mr..
Wimple was given to exhibiting not a lit
tie Impotence when domestic matters fail.
ed to glide along as smoothly as might be
desired. Then his speech only too often,
when addressing his wife, was not charac-
terized by that courtesy he would have
observed in speaking to other ladies'; and
although Mr.. Wimple was i'll utter ignor-
anee of the fact, his four children, Willie,
Margie, Bessie and Nellie, were in great
danger Of fearing their father more thar
they loved him.
So insidious, however, are the habits Of
fault-fnding and impotence, they fasten
themselves upon a person almost before
he is aware of it. But parents often man.
age to destroy their entire influence for
good, even where they desire to do the
best they can for their children, by yield
ing to these great disturbers of family
peace and union.
One morning, as John, the hired man,
was driving Mr.. Wimple to the station, he
told him that he thought some repairs
were needed at the barn. The roof leaked
badly. and some of the hay was in danger
of spelling from the water which had soak
ed into it already.
Mr.. Wimple, who was in the habit of
remaining in the city all day. said that if
it were possible, he would come home
early in the afternoon and look around.
But as it was uncertain whether he could
get away, John needn't drive over to the
depot for him; he. would walk to the
house.
And Mr.. Wimple did return early, as he
had hoped to do; but as he had taken
lunch in the city, he repaired at once to
the barn and to the loft.
AS he stood there taking a quiet survey,
John looked in, but having seen nothing
Of his master, concluded he had not been
able to return early, and set off for some
field work.
In a few minutes. the four children
trooped into the wide barn, a favorite
place for sport, and as it was evident they
had come for an afternoon of play, Mr..
Wimple kept perfectly still, wondering r
it was not a providential thing that he was
going to overhear them without their know
ing anything Of his presence.
1t appeared that it was.
Now" said Willie, I'm be the father,
and Margie be the mother, and Nellie can
be cur little girl, and Bessie must play
she was Bridget"
why can't Margie be the father ?'
asked little Nellie.
"Who ever heard of a girls being the
father!'' cried Willie. "What put that
into your head, Miss Nellie ?"
''oh, I only thought Margie wouldn't
seem so much like a truly papa" the child
replied.
The man il the hay-loft pricked up his
ears at this reply, which certainly admit
ted Of all uncomplimentary meaning.
Tretty soon the make-belieye house
keeping was well under way, Willie being
duly installed as father, Margie as mother.
"William," began Margie, Il wish you'd
please give me a little money; want to
buy some things for the house."
.syVIa4 +b;nacass rc,ifo1 lN;Iltar, in bic
usual voice.
'Oh," cried Margie, you mustn't speak
like yourself that way; you must speak
growly, like papa does"
"Well," said William, speaking asgruff-
ly as possible, 81 gave you money only
yesterday"
sob, very wcl," replied Margie, meek
ly.
'Here's five dollars" growled William;
.%s'course I'm willing to give you all the
money you want, but do try not to ask for
it always just as I'm going out of the
house!''
The very words Mr.. Wimple had said to
his wife the day beforel "What ears
children have, to be sure he reflected.
Just then there seemed to be some diff
Guilty between Nellie, the little girl, and
Bessie, who was now Bridget.
whats that COMPOUNDED racket in the
kitckensn screamed William, the father
pro tenn.
Goodness thought Mr.. Wimple, IFS
that tha way my strong, hasty speech
sounds to my children and when did my
boy hear me express myself in such Ian
guaget'
ooh, that child is only begging for
something Bridget thinks she ought not
to have. replied Mamma Margie-
Willie Aew to the door Of the supposed
kitchen.
Here, you. Nellie" he cried out at the
top of his lungs, don't you let me hear
neither sound out of your mouth to-day,
you healv'
'sYe-e-s, papa" said the pretended child,
as if frightened nearly to death.