Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1899 — PATHETIC, YET LUDICROUS. [ARTICLE]

PATHETIC, YET LUDICROUS.

A Deaf and Dumb Father’s Punishment of a Bad Boy. “I witnessed something the other day that made me feel bad, and at the same time there was a laughable phase to the affair,” remarked a Denver resident. “Out a few doors from where I live a deaf and dumb couple have been living for several years, and seem to get along with their neighbors better than any of ns. The husband has good employment and the wife is a frugal and prudent woman; so, taking everything into consideration, they have gotten quite a nice little home for themselves and some money ahead. But they have one thing that is not a credit to them, and that thing is in the shape of a great, big, overgrown boy, that is one of the meanest evidences of humanity on earth. Some day, if he is not checked, the hangman will get him, but that has nothing to do with the story. “I was passing by the house yesterday morning, and I noticed that the old man was angry at the boy. Now, the latter can talk and hear as well as anybody, and rather seems to enjoy getting a crowd of boys together and then cursing the old man, just so the other boys will laugh. This time, however, the old man was mad, and did not propose to allow his wayward boy to have his own way. Just as I was passing he motioned me to stop, and then, pulling his hand from behind him, brought to light what shone out in grand style as a newly purchased rawhide. Then I knew there was going to be some fun, and I walked Inside the yard. Well, sir, he just grabbed that boy, nearly as large as he was, jerked him into a half upright position, and then began laying on the leather. The boy began to swear and use language that would shock any neighborhood, but, of course, the father did not hear a word of it. “The father quit a second and then, coming over to where I was standing, took out his pencil and paper, and asked me in a line or two to tell him what the son said. I wrote out the brutal swear, words just os I beard them. He read the words as I wrote them down, and then, fairly shaking with rage, returned to the boy and began anew the work. It was fully ten minutes before that boy was conquered, but when he did give In he was the most penitent fellow you ever saw. Before the old man had finished half of the neighborhod was present, and congratulated him on taking the boy in hand. Here is what he wrote on a slip of paper when they suggested thanks to him: “‘I know he Is a bad boy, but the Lord has made me without hearing, so I cannot know these things like you can. I got a letter from a neighbor woman this morning shying that he said bad words about his mother. That Is what I punished him for. Please tell me when you hear him say bad words, and help me to make a man of him.’ ’’—Denver Times.