Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-07
Honor Thy moshsr.

all the gold In California.
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Honor Thy mother
"IHere Il The parcel. George; take
II 70 Mrs. Gray, before sohool. and
ask her 10 have tho mendlng all done
for me In q week."
eyes, mother. I'll tie II 10 my new
sled. on my swift ReIndecr's back,
and harness Dash 10 draw II just let
mo find aomo stronger cord for reins."
mo, my son, you can not take
Dash this morning. There is only
time enough for you 10 doyour errand
and reach school In season. Dash
would want u great frolio II no were
10 go-would'nt you. good fellow?"
said Georges mother, turning with
an aflcctionate caross 10 the noble
Newfoundlander that stood by her
side listening so knowingly TO every
word that was said. e ~
10. mother" pleaded the little
boy, "do lot me take him. There's
plenty OF time. and ! won't play with
him to make me late"
mo. dear. you had better leave
Dash at home thistime," was the moth
er's gentle and firm reply. But
George put on sour face, and jerk
cd the parcel out Of her hand. refu-
sing her kind order TO adjust his
school l-books. and replying to her
sweet "good morning, dear" with
o,ly sullen "good morning." that
was little better than no reply at all.
"It's too bad" he muttered 10 him
self as soon as he was out Of hearing;
"Dash might 60 Just as well as not !;
but mother is always so afraid Of some-
thing or other. know I shouldn't
be late, and it's real mean be can't 60.
wish I didn't have to mind" he
continued; '.men don't have to; it's
to bad little boys must. III be glad
when I'm as big man as papa; then
l can do just as | please always" and
from this soothing soliloquy George
went on to consider the great privi-
leges that manhood would bring him.
when, as he imagined. all restraints
would be removed, and he might do
precisely as he pleased. That's
what / shall like. Won't I have a
grand time then % and the anticipa-
ton really quickened his step and
frightened his face as he hurried
along his way.
The errand done, George soon
found himself among the schoolboys.
and in the ordinary interests Of his
studies and his sports, he quite for
got the ill-temper that hao clouded
the morning sky, and the impatient.
rebellious feelings he had permitted
to work unrestrained in his breast
But his mother remembered it all sor-
rowfully.
School closed early that fine after
noon, and groups of merry boys star
ted for Bare Hill to coast. George
hastened home in high spirits, and
bounced into the parlor almost out of
breath. asking eagerly. "May / go
too. mother and Dash ?"
His mother put her arm around him
and drew him to her side. kissing the
glowing cheek which the keen air had
tinted SO richly. Eyes, my dear boy,
| am especially happy to give you my
full consent to enjoy this pleasure and
to take Dash too p
/ Something, George could not tell
what, caused him suddenly to remem-
Der the incident OF the morning. and
a pang of self-reproach accompanied
the thought. But he was eager for
his play. and stopping only to return
his mothers kiss, he went in search
of Dash.
j AT tea that evening, and for an
hour afterward, Georges father and
mother were engaged with company;
SO he and mis- cousin Will stayed by
themselves in the library, telling sto-
ries and playing quiet games. George
was tired after his afternoons play,
and had taken off his boots, wet and
heavy with snow-water. to which he
had carelessly exposed himself in
! coasting, and now he sat in his wet
socks. not because he knew no better,
nor even because 'he didn't think"
but SIMPLIFY because he did not feel
like taking so much trouble as to rub
his feet and change his socks and
put on his slippers. And SO he was
willing to disregard his duty and the
oft-repeated directions of his mother,
by thus exposing his health.
Presently his father had occasion
to pass through the room, and asked
with surprise. care you sitting all
this time without your slippers ? and
your wet feet, too? How is this
George?
go, father, Tm not cold, and my
feet are most dry now"
"Why, my son, how can you be SO
careless >? could not do such thing
without feeling that / was SHINING
against the commands of mother, who
taught me II was wrong to expose my
health. Go Immediately and attend
to yourself" 81
The words were emphatic and Sc.
! riously uttered.
, my father still minding his moth.
! err" thought George; "why, he's
man grown, and old enough tt
have some gray hairs. and his mother
died years and years ago. when faith.
o er wasn't much older than i am.
> Father loved her, I guess, good deal
9 and then he hunted all through tn,
: closet for a missing slipper. .A
r "Sinning against the commands o
my mother" Again the words re
turned to Georges mind as be lait
: his head on the pillow for the night
}. and again his thoughts went back Il
d the morning. when he had so rebellet
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