DISCIPLINE.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 6

DISCIPLINE.

« THE BOY AND THE MAN

A SI.UPLL' STUDY. The lather placed the iiidim-iiljlji-r bail | ncai- id liis eye as one determined to I lake clear, straight views and bowl his' very best. At the lamp-post ; n tho centre nl till' liamiw passage stood the batsman. :i boy i>i six, anxiously waiting In prove his oft-declared exnVrtnc:-:, ill tin- #iini'. He wore leg-guards of brown paper; he muttered 10 himself, "Xow for a sixer!" The father decided io take oli a waistcoat and this elaborate preparation appeared to gratily Ihe boy; he allowed a smile ol superiority to hurry aeross his features on observing that his lather also too,; oil .shirt inuit and collar; here whs open confession e| the lacing of a dife.-u'l task.

"Going to be all night:-" .lonian.'. <d 111" small boy. "Heady?"' "Hern ready lor bowers." "Then 'ere goes!" nnnouie e.l i!■<• father.

voluble shriek so soon as he saw what had happened. His lather had onrttod locall "play!" the ball had not-pitched .straight ; it had come along the ..-round ail the ivav; the first ball was al'.vavs a trial ball: he for his part had not ! ei n ready Io deal with it: the handle of the bat had slipped at tile last liioniei.it. Finally, be himed that while to the careless observer it might appear that tic ball had hit the lamp-post, he. as the man on the spol, felt able to say ilecisivelv that this view was erroneous; a close shave, nothing more. The boy lurther invited bis lather not Io begin the game inallspioiously by cheating. "Keg'lar little argulier. you are."

"No. 1 ain't." "Let's have another go. then. Are yen ready now:-"

"Von play lair this iime." cdv.sed the'bov. threateningly. .NO SI.AVM TO TliK rU'I.KS.

The boy admitted that it was n it by any means a bad catch looked en as :\ eaich. but pointed out that no agicement had been come to arranging that this should be excuse for dismissing the batsman. Thev were within sight oi the large round gasometers and llic sp".\f ol the Ova! p.'rnioalod the neignborhooil: bill the boy appear.'.! to be no slave to tlit- rules and by insisting in a high voice on I lie correctness oi his oivn view, he had to be bowled out three tinges before relinquishing the hat; in crossing to fake the bail he charged his burly lather with nearly every crime except arson and promised 'hat he would new show him what was what. He found a multitude ol excuses for his failure as a howler, complaining ol the mjevenness of I he pavement which | re\enl ed him I nun getting a screw on flic ball, arguing thai his father's bulk prevenied a man from seeing the wicket, thai if it had been possible to at once bowl and act as •„ eket-koep he i-oiilil have put his father out (in round numbers) loitv thousand times. The lather 'did his best to close his innings by Uii"eking up catches and by various other devices; seeing, presently, that the boy was losing temper, lie look a more d.lioiw c so and found himself definitely proclaimed out. on account of hitting ilie wicket. The bov contended that Ihe light was not so bad as to pievcni Vuu inking another innings; his father argued gently, promising to come out the next evening, pointing mil that he had to be at the market by lour o'clock in the morning; beside,, mollier was waiting supper. The boy insi.-led „n his rights.

"Father's hmlt that we're- late,'' announced tliv hoy. entering tin- frontdoor. "What is then- for supper:''' -He plays :i verv good game, mother." said ill.- fullier. washing |,is hands at lie- siid; and endeavoring. W'iilinilt Ml'.-oc.--. lo lore I lie Imv illio making il,- - experiment. '-'He'.--undoubtedly improving. knocked illl'l a co<-!.,| hal. lie di.l." ' Beat him 'nllow." agreed I lie l„,v.

-C. I!, l-'ry ain't in il with liim."' -.Not so nuii'li talk, von two." oiilered the niollier sharply. "I'laoo is like Jiedlam with you.'' The lalln-r made an iii,|i]iry. "(iol. a ueiehlior to fetch ii." sin- answered. "One,- you're sent out nidi the jii- there':, no von hiicli a-ain." ' The hoy Mtl-ve'.rd tile tak-le. •'lilios 1 first e„ a! the watertTOiKcs." lie said. "I iloii'i kiioiv v.-lu-re he eets hi;, lahlc lllanin-rs Iroiii." said tin uiot her. ih--•spaii in-il.v. -fie don't eet 'cm trum mi" and I suppose it's no use Illumine him lor what In- can't help. Crust or ernnili. Tomniv:-" "150 th." answered the l,ov. "Ami plenty ol 'em. Ami cut me oil' same sized pirn- ol chee.se an what von e,v,e lather." •' " - FOR TMK VIOIIY I.A.ST TI.MK."

The usual i|Uestiou was argued, the Imv declaring that he knew a chap but five years ol age and a hit allowed by parents to take a drill!:; mot her and lather agreeing thai ale was uol nice lor little boys and asserting that thev themselves took il only as a kind of medicine. Whereupon, the hie,-, taking high ground, pushed his plate away and made the niinouiiccini'i:; I hat. unless inwere permitted to take just one sip out oi the glass he would icliise to finish his supper. Tile arguuieiil ciaieil by submission on the part ol the parents, accompanied by a warning that it must be clearly understood this was the very last time such a lavor eouid be expended. The boy took the sip and although his eyes watered and he was unable io refrain from coughing he affected great I'lijoviiieuf. returning the glass with a remark borrowed from his father lo the ell'ect dial he did not now cnvv Hovaltv.

"OH' to bed thi., minute, inv lad," urged his imulier when he had finished and had eaten her crusts. "lOhse there'll be no getting you tip in the morning." "Kiss your mother and say goodnight.'" "(■'iiiiie o' card.- lirst." In- coiiiinaiui-i-I.

I hey rcmmed Lin- :.upper tilings (n - father. ■ ydi-liuc; two well-used packs in the ilrwcr i)l llie dresser slinl'llrvi ami dealt and li-lilinjr Ms pipe sat hack as umpire-, the buy's eyes sparking with i caecrness as they booan. Tile mother ' cried "Snap!" onee liy mistake and the hey promptly enntiseated the cards she had played: lather said lhat was ri-ht and proper and just. The hoy also made an ejaculation presently on tlirmvni" down a Jack oi Hearts when his nieiuer had played a Jack of Diamonds. l,m he declared he had. not cried "Snap!" hut only ' 'Sji—, 1" and the umpire said thai' if the hoy felt ai.snluicly certain he had only said "Sii !" then the incideul couid be :di"wcd to pass without loss; his own impression hail been that the hoy Tried the hill work. I'rcsntlv- "Snap!'' !>!!•: DKriSIO.V OF THK I'iJl'll!!''.. '!''■"' neither dcehu-ed the hoy's (|i,ick-, "'- "I eye lo be simpiv nstonishine; -he h»M.d herseh lialupcleil bv al, ill ■ .■leasiivc dimness by can.!le-li;riil which v-oml I. :oo;ier or l.iler, she supposed. ji'MMM laUin;. to spctachs. \|| ,| H . I -'i sin- did inaineie mere than ome i !■' cry ..in ihe -i..;ia! ol idcntiiicalion j -iiiHihanoMiiMy wish lier son; lie perj .islul thai lie was well in advance, ap- ; :»:d'mj; to Ihe umpire and when ihe I j empire ;:ave decision a-ainst him the mother always said that on considcra- '.!•<■., she had'decided i!io boy wa.s Hold ; I when the mother insisted dtr had e,ain-i--l tne itnijii:-.' felt himsell bound to jd.elaie (hat -he had done noihiner of the kind. "Snap!" screamed Ihe youngster. I --he look him iiiin the hcdrooin' alter : he lu.d .leelined lo ;;ive his father a Kis-. :■•"■! iinlaccl his boots. When she said I choerinlly, 'And now sa\ your pray- ' e;---. hi- answer came promptly. -kelcheci out l!;e IlillllV a ini it illo lilt lo boys who di.l noi 01,.. v ,„,,;,. parents. but lie appeared indilVerent to the prospect ol heat. 11,. aerccd. however. m kneel while hi- mother, reciiine the .-e.penls. asked thai he should "row up a ">nl boy and be kept whiter than -cow; the rec|tiest closed with refer-! eilccs by inline to certain aunts and i uncles, windiiie up with: "And pleii-e bi-ss everybody." He said "Amen" ! briskly and jumped into his little bed; in lb' eortui. Uis mother tucked in: th'clothes. : ••'i'ii"ie'' r. "Trent kmo-h." she .re-, ii'.-nh.'i. in the oiher rooin. 'in brio:'.-! ill", children op properly. I inade li : 'm i. pull In'., boots off himself." They spoke vt hushed voices for fear of awakening hiiit. "Xo two ways about it. is there?" "Great thine is." argued the father. ' ■-o he .io!!y careful not to let 'em have ir all their own way."— Bv W. Pett j KiJgc, in thu 'Daily Mail.'" . ]