Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-12-12
m AY B E so.
4 sTOkY FOR MOTHERS.

''Next time you 60 out, you'll buy
me q little wagon, won't you, mother %
said my little boy to me one day.
I didn't want to say no, and destroy
his happy feeling, and l was not pre-
pared to say yes, and so l gave the
cvasive reply so often used under such
circumstances-"may be so,'' and
which was meant ra:her as a negative
than All affirmative. The child was
satisfied; for he gave my words the
meaning he wished them to have. In
little while after l had forgotten all
about it. Not SO my boy. TO him
the "may be 50" was eyes" and he
set his heart confidently ON receiving
the wagon the next time l should 60 out.
This happened to be on the afternoon
OF that very day. 1t was towards eve
ming when I returned. The moment l
entered l heard his pattering feet and
gleeful voice in the entry.
"Where is my wagon?" said he as l
entered, a shade Of disappointment
falling suddenly upon his excited, hap
py face. -
"Wha: wagon, dear ~
"My wagon. The wagon you prom
ised to buy me" T., --- 3 -
81 didn't promise to buy you a
wagon, my son" aZtyfz r.g
80 yes You did, mother. You
promised me this morning"
"Ipromised to buy you a wagon !?
I am sure I remember nothing about
IT." | replied, confidently. ''What in
the world put that into your head 20
"Didn't l ask you % said the child,
the tears now overaowing his cheek.
ayes, ! believe you did ask me some
thing about a wagon !; but I didn't
promise to buy you one." -r
20 yes you did, mother. You said
may be So. -
"But may be So doesn't mean
yes"
At this the little fellow uttered a
distressing cry. His heart was almos.
broken by disappointment. He had
interpreted my words according to his
own wishes, and not according to their
cal meaning.
Unprepared for an occurrence Of
this kind. l was not prepared to SYM
pathise with my child fully. 10 be
met thus at the moment Of my return
home, disturbed me.
81 didn't promise to buy you wag
on; and you must stop crying about
it," said I, seeing that he had given
way to his feelings and was crying in
loud voice.
But he cried on. / went up stairs
to lay off my things, and he followed,
still crying.
"You must hush now," said I, more
positively.
81 cannot permit this. I never
promised to buy you wagon
You said may be so,'' scbbed
the child.
MAY be So and yes are two
different things. If Ihadsaid 1 would
buy you wagon, there would have
been some cause for your disappoint
ment, but / have said no such thing. .
lie has paused to listen, but as
ceased speaking his crying was re-
nowed. as j u Is se eHE
"You must stop this now, There is
no use in it, and I will not have it, 2
said ], resolutely. @
My boy choked down for few mo-
ments at this, aud half stiAed his grief
but overmastering him, it flowed on
again as wildly as ever. I felt impa-
stop this moment, I say 4" and
took hold of his arm firmly. My will
is strong, and when little excited il
often leads me beyond where I would
~ III moments Of reflection. By my
way Of speaking, he saw that | was ii
earnest, and il he did not obey me
puni5hrde6t would follow SO, Will
whatanasthave been 3 powerful effor
in ono s6iyoahg, he stiAed the utter.
snceof his grief. But the storm within
rsgedA mono the less violently, and
could geo his little frame CULVER as h
strove to repress the rising sobs
Turning away from me, he went an,
SGT down on q low seat in the corner o
the room. I saw his form in the glas
- /. otood before It TO arrange nv hair