Year: 1860

"Mother, Joe has just gone up the back
stairs to bed, and hain't had no supper nei.
ther."


1t was that promise to "whip him with
stick" that sent that thrill of pain to its
core.


But she had promised and she must per-
form; SO quietly Withdrawing from the group,
she broke from a peach tree near, a long,
slender switch, and slowly and with sadden.
ed face ascended the stairs and entered the
room Of the culprit.


"Do you remember, Joseph" che said sol.
emnly, "what told you this morning"


"Yes, ma'am."


''Now what shall I do must either
whip you or be guilty of making promise
and breaking it. Which do you think
ought to do g.


"Do as you said," answered Joe mourn.
fully.


The whipping was accordingly given,
while tears streamed down the face of the
executioner. ..,


Joe uttered no cry, but every look told how
much he felt this castigation which was so
severely laid on his lower limbs, made all the
more tender by long exposure in the water.


Mrs. Read felt that it was not her duty to
finch now, as he seemed determined to brave
it out.


When her work was finished, she asked
him to promise her not to run away and 90
in swimming again.


81 don't know, mother, as il will or not.
I'll try not -


The simple child answer, The half cup.
pressed sob, the flooding blue eye, did their
work the mothers heart wns too full for
another word she retreoted leaving Joe to
his reflections, and no doubt his smarts were
all soothed, and he asleep, long before his
mother had decided whether she had "over.
come evil with good"


At breakfast an older brother asked his
mother what she thought Joe had said about
the last nights whipping.


81 don't know" said Mrs. Read, 81 am
sure but do know he did not care half as
much about the whipping as did it did not
hurt him as much but what does he say :"


"Why he says he has been thinking all
about that, and has concluded he would ra.
ther take two such whippings every day and
go in swimming, than to have to stay in that
hot school house all day and hear old Mogg.
scold and not have any whipping or swim,
ming either, so you may 60 ahead with your
whipping, and he'll 90 ahead with his swim.
ming"


Joe had reasoned correctly, if whipping
paid the penalty, and he was ready to take
it, it Cancelled all obligation.


No punishment, as punishment can atone
for wrong done, and unless severe enough to
prevent its recurrence, it becomes simply
vindictive.


Mrs. Read felt sorely troubled. What
should she do next? What would she have
asked Of her own dear mother, now gone to
the home OF the blest -! What most moved
her own childish spirit to obedience in the
days gone by Love, love only love and
tenderness. She stepped into her parlor
alone after breakfast, and called Joe, as he
was busily gathering up his books for school.
He stood before her with a half defiant, half
jolly air, as if he expected 10 be told again,
"if you run away you shall be whipped with
stick" Already was his young heart be.
ginning to be hardened by the endeavor to
overcome evil with evil.


So he was greatly disappointed when his
mother drew him to her. and putting her arm
around him, smoothed back his beautiful
hair, while she said quietly, "do you love me
Joseph" !"


"Why yes, mother, what makes you ask
me that 7"


"Because think If my little boy loved
me, he would not wish to make me feel 80
badly es l did last night"


81 knew you felt bad, mother, for saw
the tears falling down your face and hated
that worse than the whipping, hesp."


"Well Joseph, will tell you what am
going to do. You say you love me, and l
know you do. 1t was because loved you
that it made me weep to punish you last
night II you love me as we'll as I do you,
you will not make me feel so sadly again
think. shall not whip you again. Now
60 to school-if you think you will feel bet.
ter and happier to 60 in swimming and play
trusnt than to be good and make mother
happy and have the consciousness that you
are doing right-go in swimming. leave
you to your own honor and kindness you
already know all the reasons ! can give you
why you should not do so."


"Good morning, my son, may you have
strength to do as you know you ought"


The tears were swimming in his eyes and
his heart was ready to burst. He kissed his
mothers offered lip and bounded away to
his school. Noon passed and no word was
said. But when the evening hour came, the
first bounding step upon the door stone was
Joe's.


"Here I am, mother" he cried, "'the boys
all teased me to 60 swimming, but didn't
want to make you feel bad. wouldn't 60;
| amt going to any more till you tell me
/ may" ........... .........e. ,.,.


Again she drew him to her and thsnked
him from her heart for his resolution and
GOOD intention, and be bounded away 10 bis