Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-07-23
Nisceila
AUNT RUTH,
THE FATAL FALsEHOOD.

1t was winters twilight. Shadows
moved about the room with noiseless feet,
while the ruddy light fickered pleasantly
between the ancient andirons. A venera-
BILE lady, whose hair old Time had sill
vered, but whose heart he had left fresh and
young, sat musing in an arm chair, drawn
up closely by the fire side. Suddenly the
door opened, and fairy footsteps bounded
to her side.
"Well Bess" said the old lady, laying
her hands lovingly on the child's sunny
ringlets, shave you had good slides"
beautiful, aunt Ruth, and now won't
YOU tell me one of your stories?"
Bessie was all only child. Her mother
had recently gone to The better land, and
she hal come to visit her aunt, o.
whose heart she at once took possession
by her winning ways and her affectionate
disposition. But aunt Ruth's eyes were
Of the clear sort, and she soon discovered
that Bessie was not only unscrupulous as
10 the truth, but that she displayed little
sensitiyeness when detected in falsehoo d
Now, if there was any one trait for which
aunt Ruth was particularly distinguished,
it was her answering rectitude; if there
was any one thing that annoyed her more
than all Others, it was aught that came un-
der the category of falsities. 1t was the
language of her heart. "a liar shall not
stand in my sight" She determined,
with the help of God, to root out from her
darling's character the noxious weed,
whatever effort it might cost her. Of this
she had been musing, and her resolve was
formed.
"Get your cricket, dear, and come close
beside me- and in moment the child's
blue eyes were upturned to hers.
Il am now Bessie" and she tenderly
stroked that fair brow, "and my memory is
failing. But l can recall the time when
1 was little, dancing, sunny-haired girl
like you. You open your eyes wonder
ingly, but, if your life is spared, before you
know it, child, you will be an old lady like
aunt Ruth"
In those young days, l was in spelling
class at school with little girl named Amy,
a sweet tempered, sensitive child, and a
very good scholar. She seemed disposed
to cling to me, and l could not well resist
her timid advances. Yet l did not quite
like her, because she often went above me
in the class when, but for her, l should
have stood at the head. Poor Amy, could
not account for my occasional GOODNESS, for
/ lad been truthful child, Bessie, but en-
Wy tempted me and l sometimes tried TO
prejudice the other girls against Amy, and
this was the beginning of my deceit. She
was too diffident herself, and so I generally
carried my point.
"One day our teacher gave out to US the
word Belieue. In her usual low voice amy
spelt "b-e-l-i-e-v-e beliepe" Her teacher
misunderstanding her, said quickly, wrong
the next" but turning TO her again, asked
Did you not spell it l-e-i-y-er No ma'am
/ said l-i-e-v-e.' Miss R, still in doubt
looking at me inquired, You heard, Ruth
how was its" A wicked thought occur.
red to me-to disgrace her and raise nv
self. Deliberately 1 uttered gross falls
hood, .Amy said te-i-U-e.' The teache
turned toward her, but confounded by m,
accusation, she was silent; while her flush
ed face and streaming eyes gave her tn
appearance of guilt. amy said tn
teacher, sternly; 4 did not expect Ii
from you. go now to the foot Of the class
and remember to remain after school,
I had triumphod, Bessie; Amy was dis
graced and 1 stood proudly at the head 9
my class, but was not happy.
When school was dismissed, ] pretende'