12 BY MEADOW AND STREAM. 



of mince-pies and apple-tarts. There were times 

 when we got into trouble. 



My good father was a very strict disciplinarian, 

 though he never had occasion to whip me but once, and 

 then he certainly did not spare the rod. It was, as he 

 believed, for disobedience and lying. He had strictly 

 forbidden me to go a-bathing with some boys who 

 usually went to the river in our meadows. One day 

 I had been fishing for minnows in a "carrier" lower 

 down the river, and on returning homewards up river 

 I came upon these boys in the water. They strongly 

 urged me to join them for a swim. I resisted the 

 temptation, and went home with a sense of being 

 very virtuous. 



What was my surprise then when my father met me 

 with a severe look in his face and a light riding-whip 

 in his hand. He took me into the dairy and locked 

 the door, so that my mother should not come to my 

 protection. Then he gave me a long lecture on the 

 sin of disobedience, and he quoted Scripture to prove 

 to me how necessary it was for him to perform the 

 sad duty of giving me a good thrashing ! 



" But, father," I cried, "I have not been bathing 

 with those boys ! I " 



" Stop ! " said he. " Don't add the sin of lying to 

 that of disobedience. I saw you myself ! " 



He had seen me, at a distance, with the boys on the 

 bank, and he jumped to the conclusion that I had 

 been bathing with them. 



Then the whip was swung with vigour over my 

 shoulders. He certainly spared me not. My back was 

 covered with great wales which tingled for days after. 



