Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-12-12

ssPoor child ~ r sighed. ssHis
heart ID almost broken; / ought to have
said yes or no, and then all would have
I been settled
ssCome," said /, after Q few mo.
ments, reaching my hand towards the
child, slet us 60 down and look out
for father. He will soon be home"
Ispoke kindly and cheerfully. But
he neither moved nor looked up, nol
gave the smallest sign that he heard
me
80, well," said /, with some impa-
thence in my voice, lit doesn't matter
at all. If you'd rather sit there than
come down in the parlor and look fol
dear father, you can please yourself. .
Turning as I spoke | left the cham
Der, and went down stairs. Seating
myself at window, l looked forth and
endeavored to feel unconcerned and
cheerful. I saw nothing but the face
Of my grieving child, and could think
Of nothing but his sorrow and disap-
pointment.
Nancy" said to one of my do
mcstics, who happened to come into
the parlor and ask me some questions,
Il wish you would run down to the
store next block, and buy Neddy a
wagon. His heart is almost broken
about one."
The girl, always willing when kindly
spoken to, ran off to obey my wishes,
and in little while came back with the
article wanted.
"Now," said 1, ego into my room
and tell Neddy that Tve something for
him. Don't mention the wagon; l
want to take him by SURPRISE
I Nancy went bounding up stairs, and
| placed the wagon in the centre Of the
room, where it would meet the child's
eyes on the moment of his entrance, and
then sat down to enjoy his surprise and
delight.
, After the lapse Of about minute, l
heard Nancy coming slowly.
''Neddy's asleep" said she, looking
in at the door.
"Asleep!" l felt greatly dlsap
pointed.
Yes ma'am. He was on the floor
asleep. I took him up and laid him on
your bed"
"Then he's over his troubles" said
[, attempting to find relief for my
feelings in this utterance. But no re-
/ lief came.
Taking the wagon in my hand, I
went up to the chamber where he lay,
and bent over him. The signs of grief
were still upon his innocent face, and
every now and then faint sob gave
evidence that even sleep had not yet
hushed entirely the storm which had
swept over him. ~
"Neddy! - l spoke to him in a voice
Of tenderness, hoping that my voice
might reach his ear.
"Neddy, dear, I've brought you
wagon"
But his senses were locked. Taking
him up, l undressed him, and after
kissing his lips, brow and cheeks, laid
him in his little bed, and placed the
wagon on the pillow beside him.
Even until the last hour at which
retired on that evening were my feel
ings oppressed by the incidents which !
have described. My "may be So" ut
tered in order to avoid giving the d.
rect answer my child wanted, OCCASION
ed him far more pain than a positive
refusal of his request by any means
could have done.
II will be more careful in FUTURE"
said I, as lay thinking about the oc-
currence, chow l create false hopes
My yea shall be yea, and my nay,
nay. Of these cometh not evil.''
In the morning when l awoke /
found Neddy in possession Of his wagon.
He Was running with it around the
room, as happy asif tear had never
been upon his cheek. 1 looked at him
for many minutes without speaking
At last seeing that I was awake, he
bounded up to the bedside, and kissing
me, said:
''Thank you, dear mother, for buy
ing me this wagon. You are good
mother ~
/ must own to have felt some doubts
on the subject of Neddy's compliment,
at this time. Since this little expert
ence have been more careful how |
answer the petitions Of my children
and avoid the 'may be so, ''I'll see
about it," and other such evasive an
swers that came so ready to the lips.