Father Forgetsby W. Livingston Larned condensed as in "Readers Digest"

Listen,son:Iamsayingthisas youlieasleep,onelittlepaw crumpledunderyourcheekand theblondcurlsstickilyweton yourdampforehead.Ihave stolenintoyourroomalone.Just afewminutesago,asIsat readingmypaperinthelibrary,a stiflingwaveofremorseswept overme.GuiltilyIcametoyour bedside.

TherearethethingsIwasthinking,son:Ihadbeen crosstoyou.Iscoldedyouasyouweredressingfor schoolbecauseyougaveyourfacemerelyadabwitha towel.Itookyoutotaskfornotcleaningyourshoes.I calledoutangrilywhenyouthrewsomeofyourthings onthefloor. AtbreakfastIfoundfault,too.Youspilledthings.You gulpeddownyourfood.Youputyourelbowsonthe table.Youspreadbuttertoothickonyourbread.And asyoustartedofftoplayandImadeformytrain,you turnedandwavedahandandcalled,"Goodbye, Daddy!"andIfrowned,andsaidinreply,"Holdyour shouldersback!"

Thenitbeganalloveragainin thelateafternoon.AsIcame uptheroadIspiedyou,down onyourknees,playingmarbles. Therewereholesinyour stockings.Ihumiliatedyou beforeyourboyfriendsby marchingyouaheadofmeto thehouse.Stockingswere expensiveandifyouhadto buythemyouwouldbemore careful!Imaginethat,son,from afather!

Doyouremember,later,whenIwasreadinginthe library,howyoucameintimidly,withasortof hurtlookinyoureyes?WhenIglancedupovermy paper,impatientattheinterruption,youhesitated atthedoor."Whatisityouwant?"Isnapped. Yousaidnothing,butranacrossinone tempestuousplunge,andthrewyourarmsaround myneckandkissedme,andyoursmallarms tightenedwithanaffectionthatGodhadset bloominginyourheartandwhichevenneglect couldnotwither.Andthenyouweregone, patteringupthestairs.

Well,son,itwasshortlyafterwardsthatmypaper slippedfrommyhandsandaterriblesickeningfear cameoverme.Whathashabitbeendoingtome?The habitoffindingfault,ofreprimandingthiswasmy rewardtoyouforbeingaboy.ItwasnotthatIdidnot loveyou;itwasthatIexpectedtoomuchofyouth.I wasmeasuringyoubytheyardstickofmyownyears. Andtherewassomuchthatwasgoodandfineand trueinyourcharacter.Thelittleheartofyouwasas bigasthedawnitselfoverthewidehills.Thiswas shownbyyourspontaneousimpulsetorushinandkiss megoodnight.Nothingelsematterstonight,son.I havecometoyourbedsideinthedarkness,andIhave kneltthere,ashamed!

Itisfeebleatonement;Iknow youwouldnotunderstand thesethingsifItoldthemto youduringyourwakinghours. ButtomorrowIwillbeareal daddy!Iwillchumwithyou, andsufferwhenyousuffer,and laughwhenyoulaugh.Iwill bitemytonguewhenimpatient wordscome.Iwillkeepsaying asifitwerearitual:"Heis nothingbutaboyalittleboy!"

IamafraidIhavevisualizedyouasaman.YetasI seeyounow,son,crumpledand wearyinyourcot,Iseethatyouarestillababy. Yesterdayyouwereinyourmother's arms,yourheadonhershoulder.Ihaveaskedtoo much,toomuch,yetgiventoolittleof myself.Promiseme,asIteachyoutohavethe mannersofaman,thatyouwillremind mehowtohavethelovingspiritofachild.