Part 5 (1/2)
”'Why not, father?' I asked, for I had become so fond of going with him, that to be denied the pleasure was a real privation.
”'I have good reasons for not wis.h.i.+ng you to go, William,' my father replied, 'but do not want to give them now. I hope it is all-sufficient for you that your father desires you not to accompany Mr. Jones again.'
”I could not understand why my father laid upon me this prohibition; and, as I desired much to go, I did not feel satisfied in my obedience.
On the next day, as I was walking in the fields, I met Mr. Jones with his fis.h.i.+ng-rod on his shoulder and his basket in hand.
”'Ah, William! you are the very one that I wish to see,' said Mr. Jones, smiling. 'I am going out this morning, and want company. We shall have a beautiful day.'
”'But my father told me yesterday,' I replied, 'that he did not wish me to go out with you.'
”'And why not, pray?' asked Mr. Jones.
”'I am sure that I do not know,' I said; 'but, indeed, I should like to go very much.'
”'Oh, never mind; come along,' he said. 'Your father will never know it.'
”'Yes, but I am afraid that he will,' I replied, thinking more of my father's displeasure than of the evil of disobedience.
”'There is no danger at all of that. We will be home again long before dinner-time.'
”I hesitated, and he urged; and finally, I moved the way that he was going, and had proceeded a few hundred yards, when I stopped, and said,--
”'I don't like to go, Mr. Jones.'
”'Nonsense, William! There is no harm in fis.h.i.+ng, I am sure. I have often been out with your father myself.'
”Much as I felt inclined to go, still I hesitated; for I could not fully make up my mind to disobey my father. At length he said,--
”'I can't wait here for you, William. Come along, or go back. Say Yes, or No.'
”This was the decisive moment. I was to make up my mind, and fix my determination in one way or the other. I was to say _Yes_ or No.
”'Come, I can't stay here all day,' Mr. Jones remarked rather harshly, seeing that I hesitated. At the same moment, the image of my father rose distinctly before my mind, and I saw his eye fixed steadily and reprovingly upon me. With one desperate resolution, I uttered the word 'No!' and then turning, I ran away as fast as my feet would carry me. I cannot tell you how much relieved I felt when I was far beyond the reach of temptation.
”On the next morning, when I came down to breakfast, I was startled and surprised to learn that Mr. Jones had been drowned on the day before.
Instead of returning in a few hours, as he had stated to me that he would, he remained out all the day. A sudden storm arose; his boat was capsized, and he drowned. I shuddered when I heard this sad and fatal accident related. That little word NO had, in all probability, saved my life.
”'I will now tell you, William,' my father said, turning to me, 'why I did not wish you to go with Mr. Jones. Of late, he had taken to drinking; and I had learned, within a few days, that whenever he went out on a fis.h.i.+ng or gunning excursion, he took his bottle of spirits with him, and usually returned a good deal intoxicated. I could not trust you with such a man. I did not think it necessary to state this to you, for I was sure that I had only to express my wish that you would not accompany him, to insure your implicit obedience.'
”I felt keenly rebuked at this; and resolved never again to permit even the thought of disobedience to find a place in my mind. From that time, I have felt the value of the word NO; and have generally, ever since, been able to use it on all right occasions. It has saved me from many troubles. Often and often in life have I been urged to do things that my judgment told me were wrong: on such occasions, I always remembered my first temptation, and resolutely said--'No!'
”And now, my son,” continued Mr. Howland, ”do you understand the importance of the word _No_?”
”I think I do, father,” replied Thomas. ”But is there not danger of my using it too often, and thus becoming selfish in all my feelings, and consequently unwilling to render benefits to others?”
”Certainly there is, Thomas. The legitimate use of this word is to resist evil. To refuse to do a good action is wrong.”
”If any one asks me, then, to do him a favour or kindness, I should not, on any account, say no.”
”That will depend, Thomas, in what manner you are to render him a kindness. If you can do so without really injuring yourself or others, then it is a duty which you owe to all men, to be kind, and render favours. You know, also, the precept, 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye so to them.'”