The national leader., 1889-04-20
AUNT MARY'S SUGGESTION.

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"John Thomas!'' Mr.. Belknap spoke
in a firm, rather authoritative voice.
1t was evident that he anticipated some
reluctance on the boys part, and, there
fore, assumed, in the outset, very de-
cided manner.
John Thomas, lad between twelve
and thirteen years of age, was seated
on the doorstep, reading. A slight
movement of his body indicated that
he heard; but he did not lift his eyes
from the book, nor make any verbal re-
sponse.
John Thomasl" This time the
voice of Mr.. 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.
Didn't you hear me when l first
spoke?" said Mr.. Belknap, angrily.
'Yes, SIR"
"Then, 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.
dogged, as well as sullen.
go and get your hat and jacket. !"
This was said in tone Of command,
accompanied by side toss of the head.
by way of enforcing the order.
"What for?" asked John Thomas,
not moving pace from where he
stood.
$50 and do what l tell you. Get
your hat and Jacket"
The boy moved slowly, and with a
very reluctant air, from the room.
"Now don't be all day." Mr.. Belk-
nap 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 quickened in the
slightest degree. Like soulless auto
maton passed he 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 boys movements with
blows. He controlled himself, however.
and resumed the perusal of his news
paper. Five, ten minutes passed, and
John Thomas had not yet appeared to
do the errand upon which his father de-
signed to send him. Suddenly Mr..
Belknap dropped his paper, and. going
hastily to the bottom of the stairs. call
ed out:
"You, JohnI John Thomasl''
"SirI" came provokingly Indifferent
voice from one of the chambers.
Didn't l tell you to hurry-say2"
''I can't find my jacket
"You don't want to find it. Where
did you lay it when you took it off last
night?"
81 don't know. 1 forget"
''lf you're not down here with your
jacket on, in one minute I'll warm your
shoulders well for you."
Mr.. Belknap was quite in earnest in
this threat, fact plainly enough ap-
parent to John Thomas in the tone Of
his fathers voice. Not just wishing to
have matters proceed to this extremity,
the boy opened closet and, singularly
enough, there hung his jacket in full
view. At the expiration of the min
ute, he was standing before his dis
turbed father, with his jacket on, and
buttoned up to the chin.
where's your hatS" now asked Mr..
Belknap.
81 don't know. sir.''
''Well. find it, them"
"I've looked everywhere"
"Look again. There! What is that
on the hat rack, just under my coat?"
The boy answered not. but walked
moodily to the rack, and took his hat
therefrom.
Ready at last. 1 declare Pm out of
patience with your slow movements
and sulky manner. What do you stand
there for, knitting your brows and
pouting your lips? Straighten out your
face, sirl 1 won't have boy of mine
put on such countenance."
The lad, thus angrily and insultingly
rated, made feeble effort to throw a
few rays of sunshine into his face. But
the effort died, fruitless. All was too
dark, sullen, and rebellious within his
bosom.
''See hereI' Mr.. Belknap still spoke
in that peculiar tone Of command
which always stiles self-respect in the
one to whom it is addressed. ''Do you
90 down to Leslie's and tell him to
send me good claw hammer and three
pounds of eight-penny nails. And go
quickly"
The boy turned off without word
of reply, and was slowly moving away,
when his father said, sharply:
uT oOk here Sirli