The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-19

o
about-this one laughing. that one crying.
Tho mother sat in the midst, with the in
FAINT peeping upon the scene from the shell
ter of her wing.
"Now, John, you naughty boy you
know what your father says--no battle
dores here Ellen, / am astonishcd at
yo"-lay down that ball this instant bless
me, children, you'll drive me distracted
But never mind if your father does not
hear of this tonight. You shall suffer for
it. ~
Poor Mrs. Smith, her whole convcrsa-
ton throughout the day was in this style,
she thought she was worried and plagued
out OF her life" by her children hut she
was quite mistaken. She was in her ma
tural element, and would have been miscr-
able without these same urchins screaming
and tearing about her.
"Now John, YOU naughty boy," she be-
gan again, elcvating her voice into
Scrctch above the distracting din, when
crack Johns bali struck and topplcd
over the vase, the precious vase
Then there was alarm in the camp-thc
very little ones being awed by The looks of
their elders, and the distraction of the mo-
ther. Her first impression was to set the
child down,sie her son John, and thrash
him soundly-all of which she carried in-
to effect. John roared like great spoiled
BOBBY and presently the mother relented,
and said she would see what she could do,
though he did not deserve it. 1t was found
that in its passage to the floor, the vase
had been interrupted by a chair on which
there was a cushion, and that it had roll
ed from this chair to the ground without
much damage, except that it was broken
quite through into two pieces at its
small and fragile waist.
A council was held. A cement that
James Smith had made for the repair of
broken china, was put into requisition-
The broken surfaces fitted each other ad-
mirably, the fracture being clean one
that is, straight through and without frag-
ments. The cement was applied The
result called for the cheers of the infantine
group, as the vase was re-cStablshcd over
the Fireplace, and the mustn't tell father"
passed from the one to the other.
James Smith came home, and little
dreamed he that day, or the next, or many
days after, that any such petty deception
had been practiscd against him.
But one fine afternoon, Mrs. Smith had
retired to an up stairs bedroom, to over
look her little museum Of baby-linen, and
the children were at play in the back gar
den.
They were at play in the garden, and
having exhausted their present mcagrc
sources of interest, they sat in n row lazilv
against the housc-wall, with minds unocc,i-
pied and ready for mischief. An apple
tree tree spread itself out before them on
its palinG, and tempted them with its mel
low clusters. John rose and passed it a
time or two-he then vcntured to point
at rosy apple with the end of stick he
carried, looking the same knowingly and
wickcdly at his brothers acd sisters. At
this the others interchan@cd with each o.
ther gIancos of recognition, and looked
what they wished, while their countcnan-
ces expressed fear of the consequences of
disobedience. John now tapped the APP
pie, and they laughed more loudly. Rich
ard started up, and he must strike it
Mary, two must give it a touch, At length
Johu, cmboldencd into harlihood, gave it
knock which brought it down. Down
it rolled, and its red checks and yellow
sides caused the eyes of the juvenile de-
linqucnts to glistcn while they gave shout
the gladness of which was marrcd bv
sense of guilty fear. They nestled togc;h-
er in group; one bit out piece, and an
other eagerly clutched the apple for a NOR
sci, the little one holding up its tiny hands
anA whimpering for share. They laid
their heads togcther,and the mother, made
suspicious by the ovainous lull in their
noisy gambols, popped her head out of
the window. She cspied them in deep
conspiracy, and heard nothing but don't
tell mother-don't tell mother" echoed
in whispers from one to another.
1t was but an apple to be sure! But
IL was from the ono appIc-,rvo in the car
den. The tree had been planted too by
the father, on the birthday of his hopeful
son, John. The fruit was to be gathered
on Richards natal day, when the young
sters were to have treat for their good
behavior in not disturbing the apples han
ging so temptingly within their reach. No
wonder, under all the circumstances, and
considering that the tree was young and
unable to bear great deal, that the APP
Piles were numbered and even individually
known--and no wonder as they were of
fine description, that James Smith should
wish to lay an embargo on them, till they
were quite ripe and good. The children
knew too well how distinctly John had
transgressed his fathers orders.
Wroth was Mrs. Smith, can assure YOU
to think that her own children to whom
she was so kind, could thus deal so deceit
fully by her. Out she ran, selling in her
passage a stick which had once formed
the shank of birch broom. Armed with
this she flew after John, whose conscious
made him flee before her, round and round
the gravel walk. At length she overlook
l. L L II