The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-04

ASoWs go, quickly. L LII AL Aoily
For all this Impotence and authority
on the part of Mr.. Belknap, John
Thomas moved away at a snail's pace,
and as the former, in a state of consid.
cradle i%rritability, gazed after the boy,
he felt strongly tempted to call him
back and give him a good logging, in
order that he might clearly compre,
bend the fact of his being in earnest.
But, as this hogging was an unpleasant
kind of business. and had, or all pre-
vious occasions, been succeeded by q
repentant and ~self-accusing state, MIR.
Belknap restrained his indignant i'm.
pulses.
'If that stubborn, incorrigible boy
returns In half an hour, it will be a won.
der" muttered MI. Belknap, as he
came back into the sitting room. 81
wish | knew what to do with him.
There is no respect or obedience in
him. / never saw such q boy. He
knows that I'm in q 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 ar elderly lady, with a mild. open
face, and clear-blue eyes from which
goodness looked forth as from an angel.
She was a valued relative, who was
paying him a brief visit.
Aunt Mary let her knitting rest in
her lap, and turned her mild, thought
tul eyes upon the speaker.
What is to be done with that boy,
Aunt Mary?" Mr.. Belknap repeated
his words 'tTve tried every thing
with him; but he remains incorrigible."
"IIave you tried -"
Aunt Mary paused, and seemed half
in doubt whether it were best to give
u~tterance to what was in her mind,
Tried what?" asked Mr.. Belknap.
"May I speak plainlyp" said Aunt
Mary.
ITO me? why, yes. The palmer the
better"
Have you tried a kind, affectionate,
unimpassioned manner with the boy?
Since / have been here, I notice that
you speak to him in a cold, Indifferent,
or authoritative tone. Under such
quickly in TIE sunshine of affection,
grow hard and stubborn"
The blood mounted to the cheeks
and brow of Mr.. Belknap.
Forgive me if l have spoken too
plainly" said Aunt Mary.
Mr.. Belknap did not make any re-
spouse 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 a
sobered face. II needed that sug-
gestion, and thank you for having
made it."
Mrs. Hewitt has a line which beau.
tifully expresses what ] mean," said
Aunt Mary, in her gentle, earnest way.
sit is:
For love hath reader will than fear.
All, if we could all comprehend the
wonderful power of love! 1t is the fire
that melts; while fear only smites, the
strokes hardening, or breaking its un-
slightly fragments. John Thomas has
pany good qualities that ought to be
made as active as possible. These,
like goodly fnwers growing in a care
fully-tilled garden, will absorb the
latent vitality in his mind, and thus
leave nothing from which inherent evil
tendencies cam draw nutrition"
Aunt Mary said nj more, and Mr..
Belknap's thoughts were soon too busy
with a new train of ideas to leave him
in any mood for conversation.
Timb moved steadily on. Noarly
half an houA had elapsed, in which
period John homas might have gone
twice to Leslie's store. and returned;
yet he was still absent. Mr.. Belknap
was particularly in want of the ham
mer and nails. and the delay chafed
him considerably; the more particu-
larry as it evidenced the Indifference
of his son to his wishes and commands.
Sometimes he would yield to a
~momentary binding fash 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 also a good deal
strengthened in his purposes by the
fact that Aust Mary's eyes would be
upon him at the return of John Thorn
as. After her suggestion, and his ac-
acknowledgement of its value, it would
hardly do for him to let passion so rule
hinsas to act in open violation of what
was right-to wrong his son by harsh
Treatment, when he protested to desire
only his good.
The fact is, Mr.. Belknap had already
made the discovery that, if he would
govern his boy, he must first govern
himself. This was not an easy task.
Yet, he felt that it must be done.
There m that boy now" said
he. as he glanced forth. and saw John
Thomas coming homeward at a very
deliberate pace. There was nor o
impatience in his tone of voice than he
wished to betray to Aunt Mary, who
let her beautiful, angel-like eyes res
for a moment or two, p~enetratingly,
upon him. The balancing power O
that look was needed; and it performed