The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-30
LESSON IN PATIENCE
FATHERS STORY OF HAsTY
ACTION REGRETTED.
Only a Little Domestic Episode, n
May Be Called, But Really One
Of the Big Things That
Influence Life

1T was a wonderful lesson" said q
man the other day. "and I know /
shall never forget It. You see. | was
irritable, as I often used to be. That
day | was worse than usual. We had
been out late the night before. and l
was tired. Then things had gone
wrong at the offce-nothing serious
at all, but just a succession of little
annoyances, so that was particularly
chafed.
The children were a little late at
luncheon, and as their mother wanted
to wait for them. l fancied my causes
for irritation we're rather multiply
ing.
The explosion came when l passed
a plate to my son, a boy.of seven. He
was a little slow in taking it. and, as
/ thought, almost dropped 1t when he
did take 1t, being intent upon some
r~idiculously affectionate message he
was ~telegraphing to his mother. This
was too much for me, so | proceeded
to deliver a lecture on the evils of in
attention.
"At that moment II seemed to me
/ nothing could benefit that boy more
than to learn, once for all. that strict
attention to the business of the mo-
ment is the chief accomplishment and
charm of manhood.
1.-THE boy turned a bit pale, and a
look of something thought 1t was
resentment-passed over his face. /
thought, also, / detected his lips NOV
ing, though no words came. I'll teach
you to mutter at me- / shouted. You
people may just as well learn at once
who is the head of this house. And
If there is one thing l will not stand
for il is impudent muttering when a
boy is corrected
MY passion waxed hotter as /
spoke, and again thought ! detected
the lips moving in reply. Quite car
ried beyond all reason, | rose from the
table and remarked, in tones which
we're u~nmistakable, that the time had
evidently come when a lesson must be
given in terms other than words.
Il ordered him up from the table,
dragged him to the stairs, half car.
ried. half showed him up and flung
him upon his bed. Don't whip me,
daddy I'll be good he pleaded;
but no. that wrath had to spend it.
self.
When l had finished something
seemed to clear from my brain. We
walked down the stairs in silence and
resumed our places at the table. /
urged the boy to eat, and my voice
was gentler now. He declined, but
he, too, spoke gently, and as / fur
lively watched him hold back the
tears | saw the strength of a man in
the eyes of the boy of eve
soon we left the table, and | re-
tired to the library and picked up the
paper. For some time l was left
alone; then, looking up, l saw the boy
standing in the doorway looking at
me-. The boyi The handsome lad l
boasted about to every friend ! hadi
The light of my eyes and the very
warmth of my hearti For / adored-
/ worshiped-that lad. l wanted to
tell him how | felt.
And as | looked, suddenly he smiled
and came to me. Placing his hands
on my shoulders, the eyes I loved look
ing into mine, he said: I'll forgive
you, daddy, and we1l say nothing
about it, And her the arms went
round my neck, and the head came
down close to mine, and the tears
which had been held back bathed
my cheek.
Though only seven, he was the big
ger man of the two. and l knew it.
Sonny l said, I'm going to swear of.
I'm going to conquer my temper.
Well never have a ~disgraceful scene
like that again. I'm all through with
that kind of thing, laddie. I'm going
to be as much of a man as you are
He drew back and looked me
square in the eye. and saw that l
meant it. Then he whispered in my
ear: All right, daddy, and I'll help
you.
That's all there is to 1t. Only q
little domestic episode, But it was
one of the big lessons of life to me.
And. / tell you. 1t settled accounts
with my temper. It's not the master
now, for | am"