The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-09-11

Poor child!' | sighed, his hear
is almost broken. | ought to have
said yes or no, and then all would
have been settled Ion,se.3
Come said I, after a few mo.
ments, reaching my hand towards
the child: let us go down and look
out for father! He will soon be
home '-' '|.
Ispoke kindly and cheerfully.--
But he never moved, looked up, MOI
gave the smallest sign that he heard
tme.'
\ oh, we'll, said |, with some i'm.
lpatience in my voice, 1T doesn't mat
ter at all. Ifyou had rather sit there
than come down in the parlor and
look for dear father, you can please
YOURSELF .....-
Turning as / spoke, 1 left the
chamber and went down stairs -
Seating myself by window, look
ed forth, and endeavored to feel un
concerned and cheerful. Isaw moth.
ling but the face of my grieving child
and could think ot nothing bnt his
sorrow and disappointment.
Nancy said | to one of my do
mestics who happened to come in
the parlor to ask inc some question,
4 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 of to obey my
wishes, in littly while came back
with the article wanted.
Now, said ], go up into my room
and tell Neddy that I've something
for him. Don't mention the wagon;
| want to take him by surprise
Nancy went bounding mp the stairs,
and | placed the wagon IN the centre
of the room, where it would meet the
ichild's eyes on the moment OF his
coming and enjoy his surprise and
delight.
After the lapse OF about a minute,
| heard Nancy coming slowly.
Neddy's asleep said she, looking
in at the deor.
'Asleepr Ilelt greatly disappoin-
ted.
Yes, ma'am. He was on the
floor asleep. l took him up and
laid him on your bed
Then he is over his troubles, said
|, attempting to find relief for my
feelings in this utterance. But not
such relief came.
Taking the wagon in my hand |
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 sigh
or sob gave evidence that even sleep
had not hushed entirely the storm oi
Which had swept over him.
'Neddyr Ispoke to him in voice
of tenderness, hoping that my words
might reach his ear.
'Ncddy, dear, | have boughtyou a
wagon.
But his senses were locked. Ia,
king him M, undressed him, and
then, after kissing his lips, brow and
checks, laid him in his little bed, and
placed the wagon on the pillow be
side Lin.
I Even until the late hour which
retired on that evening were my
feelings oppressed by the incidents
have described.
My May be So uttered in order
to avoid giving the direct answer my
child wanted, had occasioned him fal
more pain than a positive refusal o
his request by any means could have
done. r.
! Il will be more careful in future,
said |, as | lay thinking about the
occurrence, 'how create false hopes
;. My yea shall be yea, and my nay
nay. OF these cometh not evil
In the morning when | awoke
found Neddy in possession OF his wa
gon. He was running withit arounC
the room, as happy rs if a tear hac
never been upon his cheek. ! look
ed at him for moment withou
speaking. At last, seeing that
was awake, he bounded up to thu
bedside, and kissing me, said:
Thank you dear mother, for buy
ing me this wagon! You are goo,
motherl"
4 | must own to have felt som
doubts on the subject Of Neddy'
compliments, at the time. Sine
this experience, l bave been NOR
careful how | answer the petition
OF my children; and avoid tho Ma
be so, and I'll see about it, an
other such evasive answers that com
so ready to the lips. The good re
E suit l have experienced in many il