The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-12-17
FACING A
CRISIS

human"
Gunsackon. who shared the other
mans seat In the suburban train, re-
garded him pityingly. 'Nonsense!" he
said. "A mans got to be the head of
his family, hasn't he? How's he go
ing to be that if he shirks responsible
tiles? It's up to him to discipline the
children if they're boys If they have
to be punished it's for you to do that
instead of your wife,
That's all right" gru1nbled the man
with the straggly mustache. It's all
right to talk, but I've got a tender
heart. can't lick 'em!"
1T isn't your tender heart" said
Gunsackon, scornfully, ITS because
you're trying to get out Of something
unpleasant! It's case of Sinking
your duty!"
That's. all right to talk" repeated
the man with the straggly mustache,
darkly, as he got off at his station.
In view of this conversation it was
coincidence that when Gunsackon
reached home he was met by Mrs.
Gunsackon, wearing face that spelled
a domestic crisis Somewhere in the
dim background of the portieres
lurked Thomas. the eight-year-old son
OF the house. From where Thomas
iurked came a mufI1ed howl now and
then.
Henry" said Mrs. Gunsackon, Civ
ing her husband one of those wireless
signals used by women to convey the
fact that a crisis must be faced, II
have been waiting for you to get
home. Thomas has been very bad
boy, very bad boy, indeed! He took
the telephone all to pieces again, after
the talking to that you gave him the
other time he did it-and I told him
you would punish him."
Gunsackon put on the frown which
the occasion demanded. Come here
Thomas!" he ordered, as he took OFF
his hat and coat I'm surprised at
you! I'm ashamed that son of
mine"
Please, papa. quayered the culprit,
as he slowly emerged. His face was
red and swollen from preliminary
weeping. Gunsackon turned his back
on him. hastily.
''This isn't a case for arbitration %
he declared. 1t isn't as If you didn't
know what mischief you were doing,
for I'd explained it to you before
Thomas, you deserve a good whip
ping."
fNIT5a oS11yO IL I S~,41
room, pursued by the anticipatory
shrieks of his son.
He really ought to catch 1T" muir
INJURED Mrs. Gunsackon.
Eyes, indeed" agreed her husband
I'm a little surprised-that is, why
did you wait till got home, Harriet?
Wouldn't it have proved more effec-
tive If you had punished him on the in.
stant?"
Why, Henry!" exclaimed Mrs. Cum
Backon. I've never whipped Tommy
since he was four and had to be
spanked! He's too big for me to han
die! Anyhow, 1t will do him more
good, coming from you'll"
II suppose so" acknowledged Gun
sackon, Judlc1ally.
''Whe-when are you going to do
TT" asked his wife, little tremulous-
". I'D rather you'd get 1t over. and
! am sure that Tommy would"
Harriet" said Gunsackon, reprov.
ingly, Il thought you knew that
child should never be punished In the
heat Of anger. Wait till all is calm
and then it can be done in cold, even
handed Justice
Well, it's been several hours since
1t happened" said his wife, ''and
was the one who lost my temper.
Still, you can wait till after dinner If
you like"
All through the meal an atmosphere
of nervous restraint enveloped the
Gunsackon table. Tommy, with stifed
sobs, made futile dabs at his plate,
occasionally raising appealing and pa
thetic eyes to his fathers stern face.
Whenever Gunsackon caught one of
these glances he frowned harder and
took a drink of water Mrs. Gun
sackon was pale and shaky.
After dinner Gunsackon sat down
with his paper while the agonized
Thomas hung around.
Henry" said Mrs Gunsackon,
meaningly
Her husband coughed. my head
aches!" he murmured, as though he
had not heard her. Il don't believe
feel very well. I-oh, Thomas! I
nearly forgot you! Don't think you
are going to escape that punishment.
If my head gets better before your
bedtime I'll attend to you-if not, the
first thing in the morning."
Gynsaekon read amid a strained ST.
1ence. AS eight o'clock approached he
was so deeply engrossed that he did
not notice his only sons slipping up
stairs with the stealth of burglar
What! Tommy gone to bed?" he
exclaimed, in great surprise, Is min
utes later well, it's bad to disturb
child that's asleep. I'll attend to
him in the morning!"
Gunsackon was just reaching for his
hat after hurried breakfast when, ap.
narently. he remembered the heinous.