The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-11-24
!. FACING A
CRISIS

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
bis family. hasn't he? How's he TO-
Ing to be that II he shirks responsible.
tiles? It's up to him to discipline the
children II they're boys! II they have
70 DO punished it's for you to do that
Instead Of your wife!"
That's ell right" grumbled the man
with tho straggly mustache. ITS all
right to talk, but I've got q tender
heart. I can't lick 'em!"
1T isn't your tender heart" said
aunsackon. scornfully. Its because
you're trying to get out Of something
unpleasant! It's a case Of Sinking
your duty!"
That's all right to talk" repeated
the man with the stragsly mustache.
darkly. as he got of at his station.
In view Of this conversation 1t was q
coincidence that when Gunsackon
reached home he was met by Mrs.
Gunsackon, wearing a face that spelled
. domestic crisis. Somewhere in the
dim background Of the portieres
lurked Thomas. the eight,year-o old son
OF the house. From where Thomas
lurked came q mufned 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 = crisis must be faced, II
have been waiting for you to get
home. Thomas has been a very bad
boy, q very bad boy, indeed! He took
tho telephone all to pieces again, after
the talking to that you. gave him tho
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 of
his hat and coat. I'm surprised at
you! I'm ashamed that a son OF
mine"
Please. papa" quavered the culprit,
az 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 II you didn't
know what mischief you were doing,
for I'd explained it to you before.
Thomas. you deserve a good whip.
ping!"
Gunsackon walked into the living
room. pursued by the antlcipatory
shrieks of his son.
HE really ought to catch it," muir.
INJURED Mrs. Gunsackon.
Eyes. indeed!" agreed her husband.
I'm little surprised-that is, why
did you wait till l got home, Harriet!
Wouldn't It have proved more effec.
tive II you had punished him on the in.
stant?"
why. Fenry!" exclaimed Mrs. Gun.
sackon. tive 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!"
Il suppose So" acknowledged Gun.
sackon. judicially.
"Whe-when are you going to do
it," asked his wife, little tremulous.
~. I'D rather you'd get it over. and
Pam sure that Tommy would!"
Harriet" said Gunsackon, reproy.
ingly. Il thought you knew that a
child should never be punished in the
heat Of anger. Wait till all is calm
and then 1t can be done in cold, even.
handed Justice"
well. it's been several hours sinos
It happened" said his wife, "and !
was the one who lost my temper,
Still, you can wait till after dinner II
you like"
All through the meal an atmosphere
Of nervous restraint enveloped the
Gunsackon table. Tommy; with stifled
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 slances he frowned harder and
took 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 hs
had not heard her. II don't believe
feel very we'll. I-oh. Thomas! u
nearly forgot you! Don't think you
are going to escape that punishment
II my head gets better before your
bedtime I'll attend to you-if not. tho
FIRST thing In the morning!"
Gunsackon read amid strained ST.
lence. Az eight o'clock approached he
was 30 deeply engrossed that he did
not notice his only sons slipping up
stairs with the stealth Of burglar.
what! Tommy gone to bed?" hs
exclaimed. in great surprise, IL min
utes later. well, it's bad to disturb
. child that's asleep! I'll attend ia
him IN the morning!"
Gunsackon was Just reaching for his