The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-10-31
Tomth's I'D par & nm emit.
THE SET KEY.

,r.0.Ioted from the French for the Medallion.]
|# Arc Wheeler, one day, was going to visit
.oJ Before leaving home, she called her daugh
AGATHA TO her, and gave her tho usual directions
| ID osneciaIly advised her to conduct in her alb.
-. os she would were she at home Agatha
# Draised to do so.
NJ, Wheeler had scarcely left the house, when
W ,.bo saw upon the table the hey Of the closet
# i. thought of opening it Immediately occurred to
How mans good things were shut up there
alrs were almond cakes, pot Of cherry comfits,
y ,h,ko Of hazel nuts, ard plates full of biscuits
"a srImacaronies. ... ......
~ ,rY,ba was greatly embarrassed. On the one
" hand she had just promised TO do IN her mothers
~ Aercc. rs she would have line had she heen of
~ A,no. bat on the other, what a favorable opporlu.
4 r,v was now presented to crafty her appetite to
" hr hearts content
# She fixed her eyes, ono after another, on all :he
" fn,ics before her, and the more she gazcd, the
8 more difficult she became.
III At ZENITH she took the pinte of nuts, and went
E kr the nu-cracker to open them. But no sooner
had she found it than her heart beat violently, her
w vmh uemhled, and the nut she would have broIi-
M en- hN tom her hands
M ThsMcident excited her TO reflection. Ar, not
N thou rery foolish, said she to herself, to torment
n brsplr in this wav for the sake ola few nuts If
p the thought only Of doing wrong brings with it
X erh q severe punishment as these agitated feel
n hs how much greater will it not be if the wrong
4 should be actually done Go, continued she, base
3 ntcracser go back to your accustomed resting
pare; and you, We nuts, return to your basket
As for me. shall be able fly with confidence to
heel my mother on her return, and meet her with
4 m fear. And Immediately she locked the closet,
nnrned the key to the table, and her mind
w'O,ed to its usual peace and quietnde
For a timc, she occupied herself with her en-
noidcry; then sat down by the window TO catch
he first glimpse Of her mother on her return. She
n had waited scarcely aquarer OF an hour when her
N vaNr came in sight
N Sic yam Immediately 10 meet her, and having
\ 1hrOHD herself into her arms, overwhelmed her
with caesses, and said to her, "Mother, stay see,
Z here is the close, key which you had forgotten
A "Iis very fortunate" said MIS- Wheeler, s'that
i fell into your hands, because am sure now that
pills safe in the closet
"0h, undoubtedly, mamma"
"You speak in very positive manner about it.
Imy daughter.
Certainly, since have had the care Of them
|Bnt why do you thus fix your eyes upon me? You
Think perhaps, that | have stolen some Of your
Sweet things All, my dear mother, must needs
fell you all that has happened; only be good
enough to believe what say. Let me tell you
Then, that opened the closet have the cakes,
the comfs, the nuts, the buiscuits and the maca-
nnies. | have all; and, as you may well sup
pose, my mouth watered as looked upon all these
deilcacies. have even - Oh yes, must con-
Tess all; took some of the nuts: J looked for the
nut cracker, found ii; when all at once the nut
escaped from my hand,- and a sudden trembling
came over my frame. I tremhed at the idea of
stealing from you; the fear of being unable hereac
Ter TO embrace you without blush. i returned
me nut to the basket, | locked the closet, l sat
A Gown to my work, aud have waited for your re-
urn with tile utmost Impotence; and now | en-
4 oFace You with greater degree OF pleasure than
ever before IN all my life
Mrs Wheeler pressed her daughter to her bosom
N0derY, and said to her, "My dear Agatha, how
a "OCN lam pleased with your conduct 1t is a
sea' truth, my dear, that when we have once
'1'nd 10 govern ourselves, we are then worthy
"s''ern others. From this day forth shall give
T"y you part of my own authority. You shall
s"ern my household with the same power as my
""' Take back this key, which henceiorth is
'0ohded wholly 10 you
agatha was overjoyed with this proof of her
I0'er S confidence and love. From this moment
'"s shared in the domestic empire; and although
,4' was but ten and half years of age, all in the
muse 'elt it duly to follow her directions with as
'D'" respect as those of her mother. .' "a.