The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-09-11
Sslttt Sturp.
MAY DE so.
by T. 8. ARTHUR.

Br IL % AhiHb".
Next time you go ont you'll
buy me a Wagon, won't you moth ,
or?' said my little boy to me one day.
did not want to say mo- end de.
stroy his happy feelings, and ] was
not prepared to say yes, and so |
gave the evasive reply 30 often used
under such circumstancas-'May be
so, and which was meant rather a
negative than an affirmative. The
child was satisfied, for he gave my
words the meaning that he wished
them to have. In little while at
ter | had forgotten all about it. Not
so my boy. To him the may be so
was yes and he set his heart conf.
IDENTIFY on receiving the Wagon the
next time | should 60 out. This
happened to he on the afternoon oil
that very day. 1t was towards eve.
ming when | returned. That mo-
nant le lrd his lattering feet and
gleeful voice in the entry.
Where's my wagony said he as !
entered, a shade OF disappointment
falling suddenly upon his excited hap
ny face.
VIVA. Wagon, dearl' asked.
My Wagon. The Wagon you
promised to buy me me-
i did't promise to buy Wagon
ny son.
'Oh! yes You did, mother, you
promised me this mdrning.'
Tears were already in his eyes, and
his face wore q lock OF distressing
disappointment.
Il promised to buy wagonl
am sure | promised nothing about it,
I'replied, confidently. What in the
world put that in your headP
Didn't | ask youl' said the child,
the tears now ovcrhowing his checks.
Yes, | believe you did ask me
something about a wagon, but | did
mt promise to buy you one
oh. yes you did, mother. lou
said May be so.'
But may be so doesn't niean yes.
At this the little fellow uttered q
distressing cry. His heart was al
most broken by disappointment
lie had interpreted my words accor
ding to his own wishes, and not ac'
cording to their real meaning.
Unpnpared for an occurrence OF
this kind, | was not in the mood to
fully sympathize with my child
To be met thus, at the moment oI
my return home. disturbed me.
i diTt promise to buy you a wa
gon, and you must stop crying about
it, said seeing he had given way
to his feelings, and was crying in d
loud voice.
But he cried on. | went up stairs
to lay of my things, and he follow
ed, still crying
You must hush now, said more
positively. Il cannon permit this
1never promised to buy you wag
on
'But you said may be so,' sobbet
out the child. -.
May be 30 and yes are two dif
ferent things. III had said woul'
buy a wagon there would have beer
some reason in you disappointment
but | have said no such thingl'
He paused to listsn, but as | ceas
ed speaking his crying was renewed
you must stop this now. Their
is no use in it, and / will not have it.
said l, resolutely.
NV boy choked down for a fe,
moments at this, and half fstified hi
srisG; but, ,overmsstering him, It fow
cd on again as wildly as ever. fe
impatient.
Stop this moment, | sayP and
took hold of his arm firmly. My wi
is strong, snty when q little excite
oftenslesds me beyond where ! woal
20. in moments Of reflection, b
my ways of speaking he saw / WI
in earnest, and If he did not ODE
me, punishment would follow. s.
with what must have been q powe
fnl effort for one so young, he stitie
the utterance OF his grief. But tt
storm within ragged none the less v
olently, and | could see his lit
isaps quiyey e. be strro,ye 10 repre-
Turning away from me he we
and sat down on low seat in q
corner Of the room. I saw his for
In the glass as | stood before 1t
srraagamy hair, .ajtes lsyip: ssi'
my hounet; and for the first time y
feelings were touched. There W
;an sbsnd0nMent in hts; Whole at
tTde; sRsir'at grisfabapt hip u
affected me With pityAad tepderpe
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