Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-14
THE BOYS FATHER.

ueriy as any one, except, perhaps, you,
his mother"
But you're inclined to be very harsh
with him. To be sure, he is In pecu-
mary difficulty" the lady insisted, tear
tully, as many boys are in our set,
ana very often. But you are his faith
err"
Now, Mary, see here!" the white
whiskered gentleman resumed, it NAV
as well be confessed a trife notly, too.
VINO am |? l am the boys father.
But am / nothing else in this world?
L I'm your husband, and YOU have
claims upon me. l am a citizen of
some responsibility, 1 trust, in this city,
Il the world has claims upon me. 7
am the head Of our business house.
ana mat Is my duty, too. l am a sen
atcr, and the state has rights In me
Is my only business in life to be the
father of that boy? The young scape-
grace! Oh, heaven pity us. / could
Ole Tor my SONNY only son. But if l
I'VE, L have something else to do be-
SIDES simply FOSTERING as his daddy"
In the next the young man in
question sat on the edge Of his chair;
MS hair was tumbled, his face puffy,
u pale and his eyes blood-Shot, and
his whole appearance that of solicitous
distress.
He was a fast young man-ver
Y01nU tNn-nnf nNnr ninhTnnn 70 hp-n
spent so much money, and have had SO
many eScapades.
This is the way he reasoned:
They are having a hot time over me
this bout. Fathers voice is high. But
mOther-dear, tender, foolish mother
who never spanked me in her life, she
will prevail. Mother is all wrapped up
In me. Mother is a jewel She would
part with her last penny rather than
see me suffer. Oh, she is a lovely
woman, my mother! Hear her soft
voice now Now, / think she is crying.
That will bring father to terms. That's
the way she cOnquers him every time.
He can't resist mothers tears. But
that is more than | can say. | can
resist her tears-haye often, shall often
again. That's the difference between
father and me. / suppose the way to
explain it is that father loves his wife
than love my mother. BY jove!
And yet III bet mother loves me better
than she loves father. At any rate, it
looks so. She'll do anything for me.
And that's more than she'll do for
father. She never neglectS me, but /
must confess she often neglects father
is not as true to his interests as she
is to mine.
Hot words or my account! He
needn't be so naughty. What has he
made all this money for, If not for me?
He can't spend it There's more than
mother could make away with, If she
tried ever so hard. To be sure, father
is a merchant; but that is a mere Incl
dent-his main vocation in life Is TO be
my father. To be sure, he is a senator;
but that is a small affair, after all, in
comparison with being my father. He
will give way. l shall be all right.
They won't want to be disgraced by
me; they would lose more money by 1t
than l should. BOUNDS! l haven't
much to lose. They are the ones. I've
got 'em. I'll light a cigar and wait"
And how true it is that the little dis
solute wretch had got 'em! The re
spectable merchant cannot hold his
head up if this boy is put in prison
The senator will be the butt OF all
pity and sneers if his only sons debts
are being hawked from usurer to
usurer. The grand madame, wife and
mother. leader In society and peer
among all the fine ladies, can she ever
20 out again if this affair is not hushed
M. He's got EN-" sure!
Good heaven have pity on such par
onis for such children seem to have
mo pity! What an iron grasp 1t Is,
that grim necessity to settle up Il
fast boys "scrapes." Talk OF the grip
of poverty, of consumption, OF death IL
self. These are merciful, In compari-
son. as tie clasp Of an Anglers hand
Never mind what honor you have
adhered. sir, through a long and mob
life. -FOUR boy can tarnish 1t an hour.
Never mind what lofty errands a you,
vCur scape-grace of a son Is down at the
nolice station waiting for you, n
ror must go. You may be the governor
IF your state, and the legislature may
he waiting for your message o the
state debt, but all that is nothing IN
comparison with the boys debts. a
your coachman; hurry away. Your
main business in life is to be this little
scoundrel's father. Isn't 1t bou SO,
when you come to boil 1t down?
Your best brain work is done for that
son. Your hardest tasks have been
for him. Your finest skill has been
exerted for his good. You have worn
vourself cut for him as you have not
for ou the world besides. A thousand
duties to other people you have neg
Iected for one mean, d~isagreeabie, re-
nnIsiye. vet inexorable necessary duty,
done for your son. You have estranged
your best friends, you have made inn
nIacable enemies for the sake or that
boy. Isn't it sof
And this little wretch, after all, Is
not vour friend. His vices have Killed
his natural affections" as ST. Paul
himself says. He looks upon you simp-
" as n convenience. On the Whole, ne
would rather have you live and manage
the estate as a sort Of steward Tor MN.
than die and hand 1t over to MIN. he