The Iron Rule

ng of the iron hand of authority with which his father sought to hold him back from evil. It is no matter of wonder that he gr

de to control it, Mr. Howland resolved not to fall into this error in the case of the children who followed; and, assuredly, he did not. Through the rigors of unfailing punishment for every act of wrong-doing, they were forced into the way he would have them go, and though rebellion was often

he strict line laid down for him by his father. Daily perceiving the great value attached by his father to external propriety of conduct, Edward made a merit of what to him was easy. This vexed Andrew, who had opportunities for knowing all about the worth of Edward's apparent excellencies, and he sneeringly applied to him the epithet of "Saint," which was

ever did, to reconcile their difficulties, and make them friends, he would listen to Mary's complaints against Andrew, and mark his displeasure by reproof or punishment. Trifles, that would have been in a little time forgotten and forgiven, were raised into importance by the stern father, and sources of unhappiness and enmity created out of the most ordinary, child

nd, from the immediate neighborhood of Mr. Howland, complaints frequently came of his bad conduct and reckless annoyances toward neighbors. In truth, Andrew was a bad boy; self-willed and overbearing toward his companions; a trespasser on the rights and privileges of others; and determinedly disobedient to his father. But for all this his father was to blame. Whil

d he suffered punishment rather than give up her society. Emily, who was about his own age, had grown, by this time, into a tall, graceful girl, and was verging on toward womanhood with a r

things done by Mr. Winters, who was independent in his modes of thinking and acting, had been misunderstood by Mr. Howland, or judged by one of his peculiar standards of virtue. From that time he was considered a bad man; and, although Mrs. Winters, who was a woman beloved by all that knew her, called upon Mrs. How

cheek, vowing, in his indignation, that he would never enter their door again, nor speak to Emily. But it was much easier to keep the first part of this promise than the last. As early as the next day he met Emily on his way to school. She was going to school also, and had much farther to, walk than himself. To enjoy her society, he went with her all the way. This made him late, and he was in consequence, kept in by the teacher, half an hour after his own school was dismissed. But this punishment did not deter him from repeating the act on the next day and on

ation of Mr. Howland, when this event occurred. "Idleness

nds on the subject. Mr. Howland was generally in earnest when he decided a matter, and but little given to change his purposes. And he

phasis unusual to her in addressin

" quickly replied Mr. Howland.

d Mrs. Howland, firmly. "Never, Andrew-never w

ther burst

ish you to understand that I am in earnest. Being fully satisfied that the last hope for Andrew is to send him to sea, I have fully made up my mind to do it. I have a

ected to silence her, as usual, with his broadly asserted ultimatum. "Severe remedies have been tried lo

nd over again? And hasn't it only encour

nces of mild treatment could she remember. The iron hand had been on him fro

my son as well as yours-and his welfare is as dear to me as it is to you. As his mother, I am entitled to a voice

erogative to rule; and he had ruled for years with almost undisputed sway. Not in the least inclined did he feel to give up now, the power which he believed, of right, belonged to

ty to be alone with her son, when she informed him of his father's purpose to send

t to go to s

too young to bear the hard usage that would certainly fall to

" boldly dec

k in that manner," said the

un away

ame into the lad's f

aration, and for a time she hardly knew what to say. At length, in a voice

do you

ny reply. Then he answered, in a low, unsteady voice,

other; for you are the

ve, let me ask you to do one th

s that

, and ask him to take yo

boy's face, and he shook hi

for my sake, Andrew

. And it would n

tually to school. All that is now required of you is to

nt and gloomy by

from school at the proper hour?" asked M

was no

ew?" urged

m. I suppo

acher right in o

ppose

home if you would not obey

oy as

my sake, go back to school, promise to do right in future, and ask to be reinstated. Will not this be b

land spoke, more than the reasons she urge

prevent his doing so but your going back to school. You threaten to run away. That would avail nothing. You are but a boy, and would be

. Howland wept bitterly; and, greatly subdued by his mother's

her boy, and pressing her lips upon it-"go, and secure your own self-approbation and my happiness, by doi

rom the good impulses with which she had inspired his better nature, he went to the teacher, who r

said Mrs. Howland to her husband,

? I thought the teac

him, and promi

di

d with him a long time,

Mr. Howland. He was greatly relieved at this unexpected result; alt