AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"My old dad used to blame me for listening, and used to say that littlepitchers had big ears, when anyone was there, just to prevent themtalking, but the big ears will be useful now, or I am not fit to be myfather's son."
CHAPTER IX.
TREACHERY.
Zebedee was flushed and excited when he entered the paternal dwelling.
He had been away all day, and knew that he was likely to get a goodthrashing for neglect of his work.
Ezekiel was waiting for him very patiently.
Zeb had taken all in at a glance. There was a thick beechen stickstanding by the chimney corner, and old Zeke was not far from it.
One of his most favored passages of the Bible was the one in which thespoiling of the child is said to be caused by the small use of the rod.
Zeb knew what it meant.
He had often felt the strength of his father's muscles, and he fullyrealized that if he was spoiled it was not because the rod had beenspared.
Only three mornings before Zeb had entered the kitchen, which served asdining room as well, and had partaken of his breakfast standing, and atthe midday meal he still preferred an upright position instead of theone adopted by the other members of his family.
To be accurate and truthful, it was a rare thing for Zeb to be able tosit down with any comfort, for his interviews with his father were veryfrequent and generally of a very painful nature.
He entered the kitchen looking more defiant than his brothers or sisterhad ever seen him.
Zeke did not speak.
He took off his coat and rolled up his homespun linen shirt sleeves.
Then he reached out and got the beechen stick.
Zebedee waited.
He knew that there was a certain formula to be gone through.
His father never thrashed him while angry; he always catechised him,then waited a few minutes before plying the stick or the whip.
"Zeb, did you sort those potatoes?"
"No."
"Did you learn that verse from the Bible the elder told you to committo memory?"
"No."
"Playing all day?"
"Yes."
"Then I must use the rod, or my son will be ruined."
Everything had been calm up to that point.
The other members of the family had gone out.
Zeb was alone with his father.
"Come here."
