The national leader., 1889-04-20
John Thomas paused and looked


three pounds of eightpenny nails"
Every well. Why didn't you indi-
cate, in some way, that you heard mer
Haven't l already, this morning, read
you lecture about this very thingp
Now. 60 quickly. Pm in a hurry"
For all this impatience and authority
on the part Of Mr.. Belknap, john
Thomas moved away at snail's pace;
and as the former, in state of consid-
erable irritaDillty, gazed after the boy,
he felt strongly tempted to call him
back, and give him good fiogging in
order that he might clearly comprehend
the fact of him being in earnest. But,
as this fogging was an unpleasant kind
of business, and had, on all previous
occasions, been succeeded by a repent
ant and self-accusing state, Mr. Belk-
nap restrained his indignant impulses.
''If that stubborn, incorrlgible boy
returns in half an hour, it will be
WONDER" muttered Mr.. Belknap, as he
came back into the sitting room. II
wish knew what to do with him.
There is no respect or obedience in him.
1 never saw such a boy. He knows
that Pm in a hurry; and yet, he goes
creeping along like a tortoise, and, ten
chances to one, if he doesn't forget his
errand altogether before he is halfway
to Leslie's. What is to be done with
him, Aunt Mary?"
And Mr.. Belknap turned, as he
spoke, to an elderly lady, with a mild.
open face, and clear blue eyes from
which goodness looked forth as from an
angel. She was valued relative, who
was paying him brief visit.
Aunt Mary let her knitting rest in
her lap, and turned her mild, thought
full eyes upon the speaker.
'sWhat is to be done with that boy,
Aunt Mary?" Mr.. Belknap repeated
his words. tive tried everything
with him; but he remains incorrigi-
ble."
'Have you tried"
Aunt Mary paused, and seemed half
in doubt whether it were best to give
utterance to what was in her mind.
"Tried what2" asked Mr.. Belknap.
MAY 1 speak plainly?" said Aunt
Mary.
"To me? Why, yes, The palmer
the better.''
"Have you tried kind, affectionate,
unimpassioned manner with the boy?
Since l have been here, notice that
you speak to him in cold, Indifferent
or authoritative tone. Under such
treatment, some natures, that soften
quickly In the sunshine of affection,
grow hard and stubborn"
The blood mounted to the cheeks
and brow of MIR, Belknap.
''Forgive me if 1 have spoken too
plainly" said Aunt Mary.
Mr.. Belknap did not make any re-
sponse for some time. but sat with his
eyes upon the floor in hurried self-ex-
animation.
mo. Aunt Mary, not too plainly"
said he, as he looked at her with So
bered face 81 needed the suggestion,
and thank you for having made it,"
Mrs. Hewitt has line which beau
tifully expresses what l mean," said
Aunt Mary, in her gentle, earnest way.
ut is:
For love hath reader will than fear
All, if we could all apprehend the won
derful power of Lowell 1t is the fire that
melts; while fear only smites, the
strokes hardening, or breaking its un-
slightly fragments. John Thomas has
many good qualities, that ought to be
made as active as possible. These,
like goodly flowers growing in care
fully titled garden, will absorb the la
tent vitality in his mind, and thus
leave nothing from which inherent evil
tendencies can draw nutrition"
Aunt Mary said no more, and Mr..
Belknap's thoughts were soon too busy
with new train Of ideas, to leave him
in any mood for conversation.
Time moved steadily on. Nearly
half an hour had elasped, in which
period John Thomas might have gone
twice to Leslie's store, and returned;
yet he was still absent. Mr.. Belknap
was particularly in want of hammer
and nails, and the delay chafed him
considerably; the more particularly as
it evidenced the indifference sof his son
to his wishes and commands. Some
times he would yield to a momentary
binding flash of anger, and resolve to
punish the boy severely the moment he
could get his hands on him. But
quickly would come in Aunt Mary'S
suggestion, and he would again resolve
to try the power of kind words. He
was ais great deal strengthened IN his
purposes, by the fact that Aunt Mary's
eyes would be upon him at the return
of John Thomas. After her sugges-
ton, and his acknowledgment of its
value, it would hardly do for him to let
passion so rule him, as to act in open
violation of what was right-to wrong
his son by harsh treatment, when he
professed to desire only his good.
The fact is, Mr.. Belknap had already
made the discovery that. if he would
govern his hoy, he must first govern
himself. This was not an easy task.