Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-01
152
miscellaneous.
From "Thc Caxtons," by Bulwer.
The Broken FlOwer-POt.

Deauufully the lessons Ot truth anu seli-sacfl-
fee, we extract from "The Caxtons."
My father was seated ON the lawn before |
the house, his straw hat over his eyes, (it was
summer,) and his book ON his lap. Sudden
ly a beautiful delf blue and white china flow
er-pot, which had been set OH the window
sill ofan upper story, fell to the ground with
N crash. aud the fragments spluttered up
around my fathers legs. Sublime in his stu
dies as Archimedes in the siege, he contin-
ued to read " Lnpauidum .feriimt ritiilG !"
"Dcar, dear! /" cried my mother, who was |
at work in the porch, "my flower-pot that ! |
priced so muchl Who could have done this?
Primmins, Primmins"
Mrs. Primmins popped her head out of the
fatal window, nodded to the summons, and
came down in tricc, pale and breathless
"Oh" said my mother, mournihllys 81
would rather have lost all the plants in the
greenhouse in the blight last May-I would
rather the best tea set were broken !--the
poor geranium Ireared myself, than the dear,
dear hower-pot which Mr.. Coxton bought for
me last birth-dayl That naughty child must
hive dons tlis
Mrs Prinimins was dreudfiiy afraid ofmy
father, why, ! know not, except that very
t0kative, social persons are usually afraid of
very silent, shy ones.
She cast hasty glance ut her master, who
was beginning to eviuce signs of attention,
upd cried promptly, No ma'am, it was not
the dear boy, bless his flesh, it was
"Youl how could you be so careless?-
and you knew how priced them both. oh,
Primmins!"
Prinmns began TO Sob
"Dont tell fibs, nurscy" said SMALL
shrill voice, and master Ssty looming out of
the house us bold as brass) continued rapid
Iy, Don't scold Priminins, mamma, it was
who pushed out the ilower-pot"
Hush!p said the nurse more frightened
than ever, and looking aghost toward my ia-
ther, who had very deliberately taken of his
hat and was regarding the scene with serious
eyes, wide awake.
"Hush And il he did break it, mn'am, il
was quite an accident; he was standing So
and he never meant it. Did you, muster Sis
~? Speak this in a whsperl or pa will
be SO angry"
"Wel," said my mother, al suppose il
wns an accident; lake care in future, my
child. You sorry, see TO have grieyed
me. There's kiss don't fret"
"No, mamma, you must not kiss me, |
don't deserve il. Ipushed out the flower-pot
on purpose"
"Ha! and why?" said my father, walking
up.
Mrs. Primmins trembled like leaf
For fun" said l. hanging my head
"just TO see how you'd look, papa and that's |
the truth OF il. Now beat. me, do beat me-" |
My father threw his book fifty yards oil, .
stopped down, and caught me to his breast. /
"Boy," he seid, you have done wrong, you
shall repair it by remembering all your life
that your father blessed God for giving him
sou who spoke the truth in spite OF fear
Oh Mrs. PriInmins the next fable of this
kind you try 10 tsuch him, and we part for
eyer!"
From that time first date tho hour when
i felt that loved my father, and knew that
he loved me; from that time, too, lac began
IA, lIe,x ,n.,I.l No
If he met me in the garden, pass by, and
smile aud nod; he would stop, put his book
In his pocket, and, though his talk was often
above my comprehension, still, somehow,
felt happier aud better, and less OF an infant,
when thought over it, and ried to puzzle
out the meaning; for nc had way OF sug-
ge ting and teaching-putting things into my
head, and then leaving them to work out
their own problems. j remember a special
instance with respect TO that same flower-pot
and geranium. MIR. Squills, who was bach
elor, aud well to do in the world, often made
me little presents. Not long after the event
have narrated, he gave me one far exceed
ing in value those usually bestowed on child
remit was beautiful, large domino box in
cut ivory, painted and gifted. This domino
box was my delight. was never weary of
playing at dominoes with Mrs Primmins,
and slept with the box under my pillow.
"Ah!" said my father ono day, when he
found me ranging the ivory squares in the
parlor, "ah! you like that better than all your
playthings, ehi"
"Oh, yes, papn."
"You would be very sorry if your mamma
was to throw your box out of tho window,
and break 1t for fun" looked beseechingly
at my father, and made no answer.
But perhaps you would he very glad, y
he resumed, "if suddenly one of those good
fairies you read of could change the domino
box into a beautiful geranium in beautiful
blue and white flower-pot, and that you could
have the pleasure of putting it ON your mo-
ther's window-sil ?"
"Indeed, would" said 1, half crying.
"hly dear boy believe you; bur good
wishes don't mend bad actions, good actions
mend bad actions"
So saying, he shut the door and went out.
cannot tell you how puzzled was 10 make
out what my father meant by his aphorisrn.
But know that ! played at dominoes no
more that day. The next morning my ia-
ther found me seated by myself under a
tree in the garden; he paused, and looked at
Inc with bis grave, bright eyes, very steadily.
"My boy" said he, 81 ain going to walk
TO -, Ia town about two miles off, will
you come? and by-the-bye, bring your DOM
ino box. should like to show il TO person
there" | ran for the box, and not a little
proud ofwalking with my father on the high
road, we set ont.
Papa" said ], by the way, there are no
fairies now"
"What then, my child ?"
why, how, then, can my domino box be
changed into geranium and blue and
white tower-pot?"
"My dear,p said my father leaning his
hand on my shoulder, "everybody, who is in
earnest to be good, carries two fairies about
with him--one here" and he touched nv
heart sand hQt. Il q