Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-21
TIE rOR WORDS.

thing else,o said gentleman the other
day. 81 cannot reckon up all the good
they have done; they were the first
words my mother taught me-"
''lnieed; what were the four little
words you speak of p saii |.
He answered me by relating the fol-
lowing story:
"My father grated pear tree: it
was very choice graft, and he watch
ed it with great care. The second
year it blocmed; but it bore but one
pear Ii was said to be a very nice
kind of pear, and my father was anx-
ious TO see if the fruit came up to the
promise of the man who gave him the
graft. This single pear, then, was an
object of some concern to my father.
He wanted it TO become fully ripe; the
high winds he hoped would not blow of
the pear; and he gave express direc-
tons to all the children on no account
to touch it. The graft was low, and
easily reached by US. 1t grew finely.
4 think that graft will meet my expec-
tations,' said my father many times to
my. mother. Il hope now, there is
some prospect of our having good
pears
Everybody who came into the gar
den he took to the graft; and everybo-
dy said, st will prove to be a most ex-
cellent pear 1t began TO look very
beautiful; it was full and round: rich
glow was gradually dying its cheeks,
and its grain was clear and healthy
SIS il not almost ripel--I long for a
bite" | cried, as followed my father
one day down the alley to the pear
tree. 'Wait patiently, my child; it will
not be fully ripe for week." said my
father.
81 thought loved pears better than
anything else. | used often TO stop
and look longingly up 10 this. Oh,
how good it look used often to think,
smacking my lips--I wish it was all
mine. The early apples did not taste
as good, the currants We're not as rel
ishing, and the damsons, thought.
were nothing in comparison with this
pear. The longer stopped alone un-
der the pear ,ree, the greater my long
ing for it. 'Oh. how wish had it 2
was the selfish wish that gradually got
uppermost in my mind.
"One night, after we were in bed,
nay brothers fell asleep long before |
did; / tossed about and could not go-to
sleep. 1t was a warm, still, summer
night; there was no moon--no noise
except the hum of numberless insects.
Ny father and mother had gone away.
put my head out of the window, and
peeped into the garden. | snuffed
pleasant smells. | traced the dark out
lines of the trees. glanced in the di
rection of the pear tree. The pear
tree.-then the pearl My mouth was
parched-i was thirsty: | thought
how good a juicy pear would taste |
was tempted
81, in few moments found myself
creeping down the back stairs, with
neither shoes, stockings, nor trowsers
on. The slightest creaking frightened
me. | stopped on every stair to listen.
Nancy was busy somewhere else, and
John had gone to bed. At last, | felt
my way to the garden door. 1t was
fastened. 1t seemed to take me ages
to unlock it, so fearful was | of max
ing a noise, as the bolt grated. | got
it open, went out, aad latched it after
me. 1t was good to get out into the
cool air. l ran down to the walk
The patting of my feet made no noise
on the moist earth. | stepped mo-
ment and looked all around, then turn
ed in the direction of the pear tree
Presently | was beneath its BRAN
ches
ssFather will think the wind has
knocked it off-but there was not a
breath of air stirring. Father will
think somebody has stolen it-some
boys came in the night and robbed the
garden-he'll never know. trembled
at the thought of what | was about to
do. Oh, it will taste SO good-and faith
er will never know it; he never would
think | took it.
'sOn tip-toe. with my hand uplifled
and my head up, beheid star looking
down upon me through the leaves
Thou, God, seest mcp could not help
saying over and over again. God SEEM
ed on every side. He was looking me
through and through. | was afraid to
look, and hid my face. 1t seemed
as if father and mother, and all the
boys, and everybody ia town, would
take me for theif. 1t appeared as
though all nay conduct had been seen
as bv the light of day. 1t was some
time before dared ID move, SO vivid
was the impression made upon my
mind bv the awful truth in those few
words-sThou, God, seest me- lknew
he saw me.
81 fastened hom the pear tree; moth
ing on earth would at that moment have
tempted me to touch the pear. With
very different feelings did creep back
to bed again. | lay down down be-
side Asa, feeling more like criminal
than anything else. No one in the
house had seen me, bat ah. it seemed
as if everybody knew it, and should
never dare 10 meet my fathers face a.
gain. 1t was a great while before l
went 10 sleep. | heard my parents
come home, and involuntarily hid my
face under the sheet. But ! could not
hide myself from the sense of God's