Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-15

and cried promptly, "No, ma'am, It was
not The dear boy, bless his flesh, it was
"Iou! how could you be so careless -
and you knew how | priced them both. Oh
Ptimmins!"
Primmins began 10 sob.
Don't tell fhs, nursey,'' said a small,
shrill voice, and Master Sisty, Coming out
OF the house as bold as brass,) continued ra-
pidly, "don't scold Primmins, mamma, il
was | who pushed out the fower.pot."
"Hush," said the nurse, more frightened
than ever, and looking aghast towards my
father, who had very deliberately taken of
his hat, and was regarding the scene with
serious eyes vide awake.
"Hush! and il he did break it, ma'am, il
was quite an accident; he was standing so,
and he never meant it. Did you, Master
Si,tyl Speak (! (this in a Whisper or Pa
will be so angry"
"Well," said my mother, al suppose it
was an accident; take care in future. my
child. You are sorry, | see. to have grieved
me. There's a kiss, don't fret"
"No, mamma, you must not kiss me, |
don't deserve it. | pushed out the flower
pot on purpose"
lIa I! and WHY" said my father. walk
ing up.
MIS-. L llln llluS NItlIDltu iihb a tdi
" For fun " said |, hanging my head
"jnst to see how you'd look, papa and
that's the truth Of it. Now beat me, do beat
mel"
My father threw his book fifty yards of,
stopped down and caught me to his breast.
a. Boy" he said, "you have done wrong =
you shall repair it by remembering all your
life that your father blessed God for giving
him a son who spoke the truth in spite of
fear! Oh Mrs. Primmins, the next fable
of this kind that you attempt 10 leach him,
and we part forever"
From that time | first date the hour when
| felt that | loved my father, and knew that
he loved me. He would no longer, if he
met me in the garden, pass by with a smile
and a nod he would stop, put his book in
his pocket, and though his talk was often
above my comprehension, still somehow |
felt happier and better, and less of an infant,
when | thought over it, and tried to puzzle
ont the meaning; for he had a way of sug-
costing, not teaching, putting things into my
head, and then leaving them to work out
their own problems. | remember a special
instance with respect TO that same 1ower-pot
and geranium. Mr.. Squibbs, who was a
bachelor, and well to do in the world, often
made me little presents. Not long after the
event ] have narrated, he gave me one far
exceeding in value those usually bestowed
on children-it was a beautiful large domino
box in cut ivory, painted and gilt. This
domino box was my delight. was never
weary of playing at dominoes with Mrs.
Primmins, and l slept with the box under
my pillow.
"Ah!" said my father, one day when he
found me ranging the ivory squares in the
-. k1.L -, ILL., .bat La,tor ,Io. Ill
your playthings, EN-"
"Oh yes, papa"
"You would be very sorry il your man.
ina was TO throw the box out of the window
for fun" | looked beseechingly at my ia
Their, and made no answer.
"But perhaps you would be very glad"
he resumed, ''if suddenly one of these good
fairies you read of could change the domino
box into a beautiful blue and white flower
pot, and that you could have the pleasure of
putting it on your mammals window SILL"
"Indeed | would !" said |, half crying.
"My dear boy, | believe you but good
wishes don't mend bad actions-good actions
mend bad actions"
SO saying he shut the door and went out.
I cannot tell you how puzzled ] was TO make
out what my father meant by his aphorism.
But | know that | played at dominoes no
more that day. The next morning my father
found me under a tree in the garden; he
paused and looked at me with his grave
bright eyes very steadily.
"My boy" said he, " | am going to walk
to - "a town about two miles off, will
you come I and, bye the bye, fetch your do
mino box, | should like to show it to a per
son there"
| ran in FIR the box, and, not little proud
of walking with my father upon the high
road, we set out.
Papa" said | by the way, there are nc
fairies now"
What then, my child ="
"Why, how can my domino box be
changed into a geraninm and a blue and
white flower-pot !"
MY DEAR said my father, leaning his
hand on my shoulder, d" everybody who is il
earnest to be good, carries two fairies about
with him-one here" and he touched my
heart; and one here" and he touched my
forehead.
81 don't understand, papa"
can wait till YOU do, Pisistratus "
What a name!
My father stopped at a nursery gardeners
and after looking over the flowers, PAUSED
before a large double geranium. "Ah, thi:
is finer than that which your mamma was 81
fond of. What is the cost, sir
"Only rs 3d." said the gardener. NJ,
father butloned up his pocket. " can't a;
ford it to-day" said he, gently, and we walk
ed out.
On entering the town, we stopped agai
at a china-warehouse. Have you a flowel
, pot like that | bought some months ago =
I All, here is one, marked IS Cd. Yes, thu
is the price. Well, when your mamma
r birthday comes again, we must buy her ar
/ other. That is som months 10 wait. An
we can wait, Master Sisty, for truth ths
blooms all the year round, is better than
$ poor geranium; and a word that is never brc
0 ken. is better than a piece Of delft"
My head, which had dropped before, ros
s again; but the rush of joy at my heart almo'
stihed me.