Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-02-02
geGQet gale.
The Patient Apprentice.
A TALE WITH A MORAL.
BY MRS. HUDSON.

1t was Saturday evening" about O'Clock
Mary Gray finished mangIing, and had sent
home the last basket Of clothes. She had
swept up her little room, stirred the fire, aud
placed upon it sauspan of water. She had
brought out bag of oatmeal, basin and
spoon, and laid them upon the round deal ia
bic. Fireplace. though very scaDtily fur
nshed, looked altogether neat and comforta-
BILE. Mary now sat idle by the fire. She
was not often idle. She was a pale, delicate
looking woman, of about thirty five She
looked like one who had very anxious, care
worn expression. Her dress showed signs
of poverty, but it was scrupulously clean and
neat. As it grew later she seemed to be list
ming attentively for the approach of some
one; she was ready to start up every time a
step came near her door. At length light
step approached and did not 90 by it stop
ed and there was gentle tap at the door,
Mary's pallid face frightened, and in mo-
ment she had let in a fine intelligent young
lad about thirteen years of age, whom she
welcomed with evident delight.
You are later than usual Tonight Ste
phen, she said
Stephen did not reply; but he threw off
his cap, and placed himself in the seat Mary
had quilted.
You do not look well tonight said Ma
ry anxiously; is any thing the matter =
L am quite well mother replied the boy
: Let me have my supper. l am quite
ready for it,
As he spoke, he turned his eyes from Ma
rvs enquiring look. Mary without another
word, set herself about preparing the supper,
OF oatmeal porridge. She saw that something
was wrong with Stephen, and that he did not
like to be questioned, so she remained silent
In the meantime Stephen had placed his
feet on the fender, rested his elbows on his
knees and his head Oh his hands. His hands
covered his face, and, by and by, few large
tears began to trickle down his fingers
then suddenly dashing off his tears, as though
he was ashamed of them he showed his pale
agitated face, and said, in a tone Of indigna-
ton and resolve:
Mother l am determined l will bear it no
longer
Mary was not surprised. She finished
pouring out the porridge; then taking stool
she seated herself beside HIM.
Why Stephen, said she, trying to speak
checrfully, how many hundred times have
you made that resolution B at what is the
matter nowl Have you any new trouble to
tell me off,
Stephen answered by silently removing
with his hand some of his thick curly hair and
showing beneath it an ear bearing the too ev-
ident marks of cruel usage.
My poor boy = exclaimed Mary, her tears
starting forth. Could he be SO cruel?
1t is nothing, mother replied the boy
sorry to have called forth the mothers tears.
I don't care for it. 1t was done in a pas
sion, and he was sorry for it afterwards
But what could you have done. Stephen,
to make him SO angry with your
was selling half qulre of paper TO lady:
he counted the sheets after me and found
thirteen instead of twelve-they had stuck
together so that took two for one. l tried
to explain bnt he was in a passion, and gave
me blow. The lady said something to him
about his improper conduct and he said that
| was such a careless little rascal, that he
had lost all patience with me. That hurt
me great deal more than the blow. 1t was
a ralsehood and he knew it-but he wanted
to excuse himself. felt that was going in
to a passion too, but thought of what you
are always telling me about patience and for
bearauce, and l kept down my passion
know he was sorry for it afterwards, f:om
the way he spoke to me, though he didn't say
So
i have no doubt he suffered more than
you, Stephen, said Mary he would be vex
ed that he had shown his temper before the
lady, vexed that he had told lie, and vexed
that he had hurt you when you bore it so pa
tienily.'
Yes, mother, but that doesn't make it ca
sier for me to bear his i'll temper! I've borne
it now for more than year for your sake,
and I can bear it no longer. Surely | can
get something to dol am sturdy and healthy
and willing to DO any kind Of work
Mary shook her head, and remained for a
long time silent and thoughtful
At length she said. with a solemn earnest
ness of manner that almost made poor Ste
phen cry
You say that, for my sake, you have borne
your masters unkind treatment for more
than a year; for my sake bear it longer, Ste
phen Your patience must and VIII Be re-
warded IN the end. You know how | have
worked day and night, ever since your poor
/ father died, when you were only little in
/ fan, in the cradle, to feed and clothe you, and
to pay for your schooling, for | was determin
ed that you should have schooling you know