The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-12-24
No. 1870.

sin, that could hardly force myself to seem
pleased with the visit; and all that long
afternoon my heart ached.
81 am sorry, mother" said my father,
but the apple you wanted so much is
gone"
covered as stood watching my mother
preparing saeetmeats for my little friend
and myseiy. My mother paused with look
Of anxiety, as slls said, Who do YOU sup.
pose has taken it : II was there this morn
ing."
I" am afraid some Of the children"
:" didn't touch il, cried |, before lie had
finished.
Z" No one has accused you, Marcia" said
my father, after interchanging glances with
my mother-"why are you so ready TO deny
before the question is askeds'
said nothing. In little while my father
took me into his work room, to show me a
little toy he had been making for me. NV
cheek still burned, and kept choking back
the tears was suffering the first agony Of
lie unconfussed.
Suddenly my father took my hand, and
drawing me towards him, held up the very
apple core had thrown away.
81 never touched it never saw il; Ididn't
throw it there y | cried in incoherent SEN
tences; then shrcking in my agony, began
to sob and cry piteously.
My daughter-you took the apple" said
my father, in his calm, sweet yoice-and oh
as looked at him saw tears in his ewes, and
his lips, those mild lips trembled. That was
terrible | could have borne his anger-I
longed for him to scold me, and call me a
wicked, lying girl-anything but that look
that look that pitied me So stopped crying,
but thought in the silence that followed, my
heart would burst my eyes were bent TO the
iiOor, and it seemed as il | could scarcely
breathe. | felt his fingers under my chin,
pressing it TO make me look up. heard his
voice, now little sterner saying, "Lift
your eyer up, my chid'-and did lift them,
heavily, to his sorrowiul face. Then he talk
ed with me about my dreadful sin till my
very soul was melted within me till at last.
cried out" Oh forgive me, forgive me
took the apple; l told lie; am very
Wicked shall never care to pray again :"
+" am old now" said the sweet. faced lady
who told this story" am old now, but the
prayer that my father offered TO heaven, that
agonIzing petition, mingled with the sObs Of
strong feeling, seem TO hear it as il it were
a thing Of Yesterday. Days, weeks passed
before felt innocent again. Alas have al
ways, and shall carry to the judgment with
me. the memory OF that first lie. For months
my cheeks tingcd at my fathers glance, and
my heart felt faint when thought Of my sin.
But never since tien-neyer once have been
tempted to falsehoOd. The sting of remorse
left wound, thank God, that bIeeds safresh at
the thought Of wrong. Oh! often think, if
children who are thoughtIessly left to work
out their own lile-probems could have the
benefit Of supervision like that Of my gentle,
praying fathers TO wath for evil, and apply
the remedy, what world full Of angels this
would be! Oh parents-what solemn, awful
responsibilities fall to your lot, only eternity
viii reveal. Watch for the first sin-and
especially let your tears, your prayers, bear
witness TO your horror Of that awful sin, when
your resolute but erring boy-your blue.eyed
/ girl, stand weeping before you, burdened with
1 the guilt Of their " first lie."
/ Noile's Journal