South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-05-30


Very we'll. Why didn't you indi-
cate. in some way, that you had heard
me5 Haven't already, this morn.
ing, read you lecture about this ve-
ry thing? Now. go, quickly. I'm in
Hurry
FUr sill this impotence and author.
ity on the part of Mr. Belknap. John
Thomss moved at a snairs pace. and
as the former, in state Of considers.
Ole irritabili,y, gazed after the boy,
he felt strongly tempted to call him
back and give him good ffogging, IN
order that he might clearly compre-
bend the fact OF his being in earnest.
But. as this ioggipg was al unpleas-
ant kind of business, and had, on all
previous occasions, bean succeeded
by q repentant and self accusing
state, Mr. Belknap restrained his in
diguant impulses.
II tibet stubborn, incorrigible boy
returns 10 half an hour, Il will be q
wonder. muttered Mr.. Bslknsp. ~ be
came back into the sitting rcom i
wish knew what TO do With him.
There is no respect or obedience in
him. I never saw such boy. He
knows that TN in hurry. aud vet he
goes creeping along like . tortoise.
and. ten chauces to one II he doesn't
forget bis Grand altogether before he
is halfway to Leslie's. What is to
be done with him. Aunt Mary ?
And SIR. Belknap turned, as be
spoke, to an elderly lady. with mild.
open face. aud clear.blue eyes from
which goodness looked for h as from
an angel. She was valued relative
who VAS paying him brief visit.
Aunt Mary let her knitting rest in
her lap, aud turned her mild, thought.
full eyes upon the speaker.
What is to be done with that boy,
Aunt Mary? Mr.. Belknap repeated
his words. I've tried every thing
with him; but he remains incorri-
gible.'
Have you tried
Aast Mary paused, and seemed
halt in doubt whether IL were best to
give utterance TO what was in her
mind.
Tried what?' asked Mr.. Belknap.
May 1 speak plainls?' said Aunt
Mary.
To me? why yes. The palmer
the better
Have you tried kind, aifectiona,e,
unImpassioned manner with the boy?
Since have been here, notice that
yon speak 10 him in q cold, indiffer
ent, or authoritative tone. Under
such treatment, some natures, tha,
soften quickly in the sunshine of at
fiction. grow hard and stubborn
The blood mounted 20 the checks
and brow Of Mr.. Belknap.
Forgive me if have spoken too
plainly said Aunt Mary.
Mr.. Belknap did OF make any RE
spouse for some tiTe. but sat, with his
eyeaupon the floor, in hurriei self =
examination.
NO, Aunt Mary, not too plainly
said he, as lie looked at her with q
sobered face. Il needed that sugges.
ton, ard thank you for having
made it,
Yrs. Hewitt has line which beau
tifully expresses what | mean, said
Aunt Mary, in her gentle, earnest
way. 1t is:
For love hath reader will than fear
All, if we could oil comprehend the
wonderful power Of love! 1t is the
\ fire that melts; while fear My smites,
the strokes La deDing, or breaking its
unsigttly fragments. John Thomas
has many good qualities that ought
10 be made as active as possible.
These. like goodly flowers growing in
a csrefuIly-tlllrd garden, will absorb
lbe latent vitality in his mind. and
thus leave nothing from which inner {.
en-. evil tendencies can draw nutrition.
Aunt Mary said no more, and Mr..
Belknap's thoughts wers soon too bu-
sy with q new train OF ideas to leave
him in any mood for conversation.
Time moved steadily on. Nearly
half an hour had elapsed, in which
period John Thomas might have gone
twice TO Leslie's store, aud returned :
yet he was still absent. Mr. Belknap
as particularly 10 want of the ham
mer and nails, and the delay ehafed
him considerably; the more partIcu- :
larly as it evidenced the indifference
Of his son to his wishes and commands
Sometimes be would yield to a mo.
menIary binding fash Of anger, and
resolve to punish the boy severely
the moment be could get his hands on
him. But quickly would come in
Aunt Mary's suggestion, and he would
ain resolve TO try the power of kind
words. lie was also q good deal
strengthened in bis purpose by the
fact that Aunt Mays eyes would be
upon linn at the return Of John Thorn.
as. After her suggestion, and his &C.
acknowledgement OF iLs value, IL would
hardy do for him TO let passion so
rue him as TO act IN open violstlon
OF what was rigbt--to wrong bis son
by harsh trea'meut, when he profess
ed to desire only bis good.
The fact is, ar. Belknsp had al
ready made the discovery that, If he
would govern bis boy. be mast first
govern himself. This was not an
easy task. Yet, he felt that it must