The Western outlook. [volume] (San Francisco, Cal.) 1894-1928, 1915-02-13
LESSON IN PATIENCE
FATHERS STORY OF HASTY
ACTION REGRETTED.
Only a Little Domestic Episode, II
May Be Called, But Really One
of the Big Things That
Influence Life.

ut was wonderful lesson" said a
man the other day, "and I know
shall never forget 1t. You see. was
irritable, as often used to be. That
day / was worse than usual We had
been out late the night before, and
was tired. Then things had gone
wrong at the office-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 were rather multiply
ing.
The explosion came when / passed
a plate to my son, boy.of seven. He
was little slow in taking it, and, as
I thought, almost dropped it when he
did take it, being intent upon some
ridiculously affectionate message he
was telegraphing to his mother. This
was too much for me, so | proceeded
to deliver lecture on the evils of in
attention.
cat that moment 1t 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.
"The boy turned a bit pale, and
look Of something-I 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- I shouted You
people may just as well learn at once
who is the head of this house. And
If there is one thing will not stand
for it is impudent muttering when
boy is corrected
my passion waxed hotter as !
spoke, and again l thought detected
the lips moving in reply. Quite car
ried beyond all reason, rose from the
table and remarked, in tones which
were unmistakable, that the time had
evidently come when 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 a,o Up and g4p flung gGr
daddy! I'll be good, he pleaded;
but no, that w""th had to spend IT.
self.
when / had finished something
seemed to clear from my brain. We
walked down the stairs in silence and
resumed our places at the table. l
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 man in
the eyes of the boy Of seven.
soon we left the table, and ! re-
tired to the library and picked up the
paper. For some time | was left
alone; then, looking up, saw the boy
standing in the doorway looking at
me. The boy! The handsome lad
boosted about to every friend had!
The light of my eyes and the very
warmth Of my heart! 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 we'll say nothing
about it. And then 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 said, I'm going to swear off.
I'm going to conquer my temper.
Well never have disgraceful scene
like that again. I'm all through with
that kind of thing, laddie. I'm going
| to be as much of man as you are
"He drew back and looked me
square in the eye, and saw that |
meant it. Then he whispered in my
ear: All right, daddy, and I'll help
you
That's all there is to it. Only a
little domestic episode! But 1t was
one of the big lessons of life to me.
And. / tell you, it settled accounts
with my temper. It's not the maste'
now, for / am"