But one way and another they got along till
Charley was sixteen and Reuben fourteen years of age. Their father one
day left them ploughing in the field while he went to the village; the
ground was rough and stoney, and by some accident the ploughshare was
broken. When their father came home and found what had happened, he
seized the horse-whip and gave both the boys a terrible flogging.
Neither of the boys had ever before given their father a word; but, when
he stopped beating them, Charley stood up and said: 'You have beaten us,
father, a great many times and for very little cause; but this is the
last time.' That was all he said. His father told him to shut up his
mouth and go about his work. After dinner he went back to the village,
and some business detained him till late in the evening. I remember as
if it were but yesterday how my two boys looked that night when they
came home to supper. After supper they rose from the table, and Charley
said: 'Mother, we are very sorry to leave you, but we must go.
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