In that moment Andrew promised in his own mind, that in future he would be a more obedient boy.
Unhappily, Mr.Howland attributed this subdued and better state of feeling in his son, to the narrow escape from drowning that he had had, and not to the real cause--the change of his own manner toward him.

Through the feeble moving of sympathy and kindness in his own heart, there was the beginning of power over the perverse boy, and this power might have been exercised, had the father possessed enough of wisdom and self-denial, until he had gained a complete control over him.

But alas! he did not possess this wisdom and self-denial.

He was a hard man, and believed in no virtue but that of force.

He could drive, but not lead.