The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-08-04
THE BROKEN WINDOW.


and sister we're there Children ALWAYS love
10 visit their grand parents. Carrie was hav
inc nice time. till one morning. in her play,
she broke pane Of glass in the bedroom
window
"Oh. dear" she exclaimed. bursting into
tears. its grandpa window . What will he
say ="
GRANDPA was away that dav. lie had gone
TO the city early in thc morning. and would
not return I'LL nirht. Carrie sought her grand
mother. and confdcd her trouble TO her.
"Oh. grandma she SAID I" I've broken
orandpas window I'm sorry. Don't tell him
did it ~
How did YOU break it ? inquired grand
ma. quietly.
Il was running round the room" Carrie
answered. land my foot slipped, and caught
~ The rocking chair TO keep me from falling.
The chair rocked. and Tie back went against
The window. Don't tell grandpa will YOU >"
"Hut grandpa must know il" was the re-
plv: "thorr must be new pane Of glass set"
well, don't tell him | did il" urged Car
RE
"What shall wo toll him ?? said grandma
"Tcll him the chair rocked against it," Car
RE answered.
"But he will want TO know what made the
chair rock" SAID grandma.
TEL him one o. the children did it" sad
Carrie: 8" let him think it was Albert or En-
ma; don't tel! linn did it,"
but don't Won see, nv rhi!d,' intcrpo>cl
Carries mother. who lad not vet spoken
",lon't YOU see that this would not he honest:
You do not want to throw the blame of break
inr the window upon YOUR brother or >i>tcr
when YOU broke it yourself, do YOU :"
NO" said Carrie. Il but GRANDPA will Scold
at me if he knew broke it,
IL don't think he will" grandma remark
ed: . think the best way for YOU will be 70
tell him the truth. your,cl',,s soon as he comes
home
"Oh. can't tell him" Carrie cxc(a;mch.
:" But he will So" that the window l. broken.
when he GOES into the bedroom said Car
ric's mother; 4" he will inquire how it was
done. and we shall have 10 tel! him. 1t will
be much better for Won to tell him yourself,
before he knows ANYTHING about IT.
Carrie saw that TIN, was reasonable, but i:
was long time before She could make u]' her
mind r do wha, her mother and grandmother
thought WAS best. At last, after long cry
Ing spell, and great many earnest cndrav
ors to find some other way Of getting out OF
the difficulty, Carrie SAID
Well, mother, HI tel grandpa, myself,
when he comes home
That will be tic best way, said her moth
or. smiling.
That smile encouraged Carrie wonderfully.
She wished that grandpa would come then,
so that she might tell him at once, and have
it over with. But he would not be home be-
fore sunset H. did not come that evening
till after dark. Carrie drew her little char
closer to rran,ma> when she heard the car
ra"" drive into the var'i
IIc'scomr." she whispered. and her hand
trcmslcd. as she Laid it in grandma lap.
. Yes. dear" land his little grand laugh
ter need not he afraid 10 tell him the truth"
Grandpa went and took care ofhis horses
Then he came in, and SIT down in the corner
near the fire
And you're up vet my little girl" he said.
-, kindly. addressing Carrie.
The tears came INTO Carries ewes
Tell him now. dear" whispered Grandma
! Yes. grandpa" Carrie said. E" II sat up
to see vou'
The child hurst into tears
Why, Carrie, what's the matter ineuir
cd grandpa. IN surprise.
"';ranipa," sohhcl the child, I've bro
ken YOUR bedroom window"
AnI Carrie hi! her face in eranlma'S lap
Broken NV bedroom window" sad
grandpa. All how did YOU manage to do
that :"
Carrie explained tho matter as well a. she
could for CRYING. Grandpa listened attcn-
lively, and said, when she had concluded
81 am sorry yon met with such an accident
my child; mus: set new pane of glass
there tomorrow.
And grandpa drew chair to the table
and sat down to eat his supper. How poor
Carries heart was lichtcncd.
"Granlpa didn't blame me bit lie on
: ~ piticd me " She thought.
And ten minutes after she was sound as!cc,
in her bed.
The next morning was clear and frosty. bu'
: Carrie was so ANXIOUS TO see with lrx ow,
ewes the mischief She had done rcmc,lic,i thai
o Grandma bundled her up in a warm hood AID
j. shawl, and sent her up n'o the bedroom
- where grandpa was setting a pai,c Of GAS
r She came out again when the work was done
t with >laIkliHg eyes and ..owinr checks.
" Telling the truth was the best way. after
all. wasn't it Carrie :"
"Oh. much the best. Carrie answered. 9
l. mean to tell the truth always I,>3rr.tof