Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-28


as it was when Caesar double-crossed
the Rubicon.
II believe that every man must be
his own judge about the management
of his family. Jimuelson strikes me
as an excellent citizen, and he should
be successful parent. If he finds it
necessary to wear out a buggy-whip on
his heir, l have no doubt that the
provocation is sufficient f his policy
is wrong he is pretty SUR to realize it
before long and change his tactics;
meanwhile outsiders have no reason to
butt in, and the idea of calling the pO-
lice is perfectly ridiculous.
my father was an old-fashioned
man who believed that an ounce of
birch was better than a ton of educa-
ton. He kept small sapling behind
the kitchen door and applied it to my
person whenever / violated the by
laws governing our happy home.
think he probably carried his theory
to extremes; whipping me became a
sort of dissipation with him. But
am willing to admit that his treatment
did me good, and / can't imagine what
would have become of me but for it.
''NIy mother believed in moral sua-
sion, and used to plead and argue with
me, but can't remember that her ten
der eloQuence ever prevented me from
breaking into a melon patch or fishing
in forbidden waters. Her method
probably would have been successful
in many cases. There are boys who
are responsive to such appeals, but l
was headstrong as a government mule
and when l wanted to do something it
took more than gentle counsel to head
me off.
81 had a profound respect for that
sapling behind the door. 1t always
seemed to be quivering with impa-
tfence to get at me, and my father re.
garded it with loving glances. 1t used
to mystify me how he heard of every
thing l did. There was no such thing
as concealing a crime or misdemeanor
from him.
"Pd swipe a few apples from farm
er's orchard, for instance, and would
be willing to make an affidavit that no.
body had seen me. l took all possible
precautions against discovery Yet in
the evening, when / got home, my
stern parent would meet me at the
door and say, so you have been rob-
bing Farmer Dofunny's orchard, hey?
You are fully aware that rObbing or
chards does violence to the peace and
dignity of the state, and is contrary TO
the provisions of the revised statutes.
Come, therefore, and receive the pun
ishment prescribed by Solomon ana
other law givers.'
"He always explained that it caused
him the most poignant sorrow to pour
the birch into me, but l couldn't be-
lieve in his sincerity, for his eyes SPAR
killed. with unseemly Joy at such times,
and if he had used the same enthusl-
asm when saving wood, he'd have
whacked up two or three cords In an
hour.
81 don't know to this day how he
found out everything did, unless ne
did some quiet sleuthing with raise
whiskers and dark lantern, but ne
always did discover everything, and
when fully realized that fact l de-
cided to reform and became model
young man. l was so extremely good
that my father couldn't dig up an ex-
cuse for chastising me, and a settled
melancholy fell upon him and he pined
away until he died. I'll never forget
the reproachful glances he used to
cast upon me, as though asking wheth-
er | considered my course honorable
or generous. I got into the habit OF
being good, and have never been able
to break away from It,"