A FATHER WHO MELTED.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2992, 27 January 1881, Page 3

A FATHER WHO MELTED.

The other evening a citizen of Detroit beckoned to his twelve-year old son to follow him to the woodshed, and whon they had arrived there he began :

" Now, young man, you have been fighting again ! Ifow many times have I told you that it is disgraceful to fight ?" " Oh, father, this wasn't about marbles, or anything of the kind," replied the boy. " I can't help it. As a Christian man it is my duty to bring up my children to fear the Lord. Take off your coat!" " But, father, the boy I was fighting with called mo names."

" Can't help it. Calling names don't hurt anyone. Off with that coat!" "He said I was the son of a wirepuller." "What! what's that?"

"And ho said you was an office-hunter!" " What! what loafer dared make that assertion ?"

"It made me awful mad, but I did'nt say anything. Then he called you a hireling."'

" Called me a hireling ! Why, I'd like to get my hands on him ! " puffed the old gent. " Yes, and he said you was a political lickspittle ! " " Land o' gracious ! but wouldn't I like to have the training of that boy for about five minutes! " wheezed the old man, as he hopped around. " I put up with that," continued the boy, " and then he said you laid your pijies for office and got left by a large majority. I couldn't stand that, father, and so I sailed over the fence and licked him bald-headed in less than two minutes ! Thrash me if you must father, but I couldn't stand it to hear you abused by one of the malignant opposition ! " " My son," said the father, as he felt for half-a-'dollar with one hand and wiped his eyes with the other, "you may go out and buy you two pounds of candy. The Bible says it is wrong to fight, but the Bible must make allowaTice for political campaigns and the vile slanders of the other party. I only brought you out here to talk to you, and now you can put on your coat and run along."