The Iron Rule

ven to Andrew, and while he meditated some further and long-continued punishment for the offences which

red to protect the latter. This drew upon him the anger of Wilkins, who would have beaten him severely if he had not protected himself in the way he did. Before throwing the stone, I learn that Andrew made every effort to get away; failing in this, he warned

edgment of the fact was out of the question. This would be too humiliating. This would be a triumph for the perverse boy, and a weakening of his authority over him. He had done wrong in not listening to his child's explanation;

received only his deserts. Let him behave himself prope

ived near to heaven. As for himself, he believed that severity toward his boy, and intolerance of all the weaknesses, errors, and wayward tendencies of childhood, were absolutely needed for the due correction of evil impulses. Alas! that he, like too many of his class, permitted anger toward his children's faults to blind his

d received, the boy remained alone i

e servant, returning to the dining-room wh

father, in a tone of indiffere

d to the servant "and tell him

al, for Andrew loved his mother;

umor states of perverseness. If he

appetite was gone. After dinner she went up to Andrew's room with a saucer of peaches and cream. Th

blame! Bill Wilkins was going to bea

he mother, with a gentle gravity that, in love, co

me half to death. And I told him to keep off or I would

ou, Andrew? What did you do

I took the little boy's part; and then he turned on me and said he'd beat the life out of me. I ran from him and tried to get away, but he could run the fastest, and so I took up a

your father of this

dignation in his voice. "And he never will listen to me, mother. He believes every word

n't say that. Don't sp

e don't love me,"

ly dislikes what is wrong in you.

ng. I'm always sorry at first; sorry until father begins to scold or whip me, and then

leaned his face upon his mother's bosom. Mrs. Howland drew her arms closely around her unhappy boy, whil

nice saucer of peach

hem, mother," r

s nearly school-time now, and you'll get

l at all hun

or my sake," urg

more Andrew t

Howland, as she saw that her b

od," replied Andrew; "and you are g

was uttered with

nd do right, Andrew," sai

he boy. "I do try often; but I f

r school. On arriving, his t

father get

w, sir," rep

d he say

k to the floor and

ately," said the teacher, "tellin

his teacher's face, while a sh

ow whether he

si

d delivered the note given him at the dwelling of Mr. Ho

You can tak

to Andrew, th

m Wilkins that your

s,

d him ho

y was

punish yo

teacher saw how it was, and questioned him no farther. From that time he was kinder towa

een inflicted; and he expected, from an innate sense of right and justice, that some acknowledgment, grateful to his injured feelings, of the wrong he had suffered, would be made. There was no thought of triumph or reaction against his father. He had been wrongly judged, and cruelly punished; and all he asked for or desire

ard him. But no such word was uttered. At length he commenced playing with a younger brother, who, not being able to make him do just as

ver saw such a boy! No one can

, for he was very anxious not to be misunderstood again just at

sir! Leave this

have given-what sacrifice would he not have made-to secure a word and a smile of affection f