The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-07-22
Wheat or Tares.

heat or IareS-Whlch are you
sowing, Fanny dear, in the mind of this
little fellow?" said uncle Lincoln to his
niece, Mrs. Howard, and he lifted a
child, not beyond his fourth summer,
upon his knee, and laid one of his hands
amid the golden curls that fell about
his neck, and clustered about his snowy
temples.
"Wheat, / trust, Uncle Lincoln"
replied Mrs. Howard, smiling, yet Sc
rious. cit is the enemy who sows
tares-and / am his mother"
There was glow of proud feeling
in the countenance of Mrs. Howard, as
she said, Il am his mother"
seven a mothers hand may sow
tares," said the old gentleman. 81
have seen it done many times. Not of
design, but in thoughtless inattention
to the quality of seed she held in her
hand. The enemy mixes tares with the
wheat quite as often as he scatters evil
seed. The husbandman must not only
watch his fields by night and day, but
also the repositories of his grains, lest
the enemy cause him to SOW tares as
well as wheat, upon his own fruitful
ground"
Willie" said Mrs. Howard, speak
ing to her little boy, about ten minutes
afterwards, "don't upset my work-bas-
ket, stop!-I say you little rogue %
Seeing that the wayward child did
not mean to heed her words, the moth
er started forward, but not in time to
prevent the spools of cotton, scissors,
emery cushion, &C., from being scat
tered about the floor.
Willie laughed in great glee at this
exploit, while Mrs. Howard gathered
up the contents of the work-basket,
which she now placed on the shelf
above the reach of her mischievous
boy. Then she shook her finger at him
in mock resentment, saying.
"You little sinner! If you do that
again, I'll send you off with the milk
man."
"Wheat or tares, Fanny?" Uncle
Lincoln looked soberly at his niece.
Neither" replied Mrs. Howard,
smiling gayly.
"Tares," said Uncle Lincoln, en-
phatically.
Nonsense, Uncle"
"The tares of disobedience, Fanny.
You have planted the seed, and it has
already taken root. Nothing will choke
out the wheat sooner. The tares OF
falsehood you also throw in upon the
newly broken soil. What are you
thinking about, my child? ?"
The tares of falsehood, Uncle Lin
coin! What are you thinking about p
said Mrs. Howard in real surprise.
"Did you not say that you would
send him off with the milkman if he
did that again? / wonder if he be-
lieved you?"
"Of course he did not"
"Then," said Uncle Lincoln, che
has already discovered that his mother
makes but light account of truth. Will
his mother be surprised if he should
grow up to set small value on his
word.
"You treat this matter too seriously,
Uncle. He knows that am only play
ing with him."
"He knows that you are telling him
what is not true," replied Mr.. Lincoln
"It was only in SPORT" said Fanny
persistingly.
"But in sport with sharp-edged in
struments-playing with deadly pois
on" The old gentleman looked and
spoke with the seriousness that op
pressed his feelings. "Fanny Fanny
Truth and obedience are good seeds
falsehood and disobedience are tarel
from the Evil one. Whatever yol
plant in the garden of your child viii
grow, and the harvest will be wheat o.
tares, Just as you have sown."
Mrs. Howard did not reply, but he
countenance took on sober cast.
Willie," she said, few minutes
afterwards, "go down to Jane, and tel
her to bring me glass of water"
i Willie, who was amusing himsel
with some pictures, looked up on hear
ling his name. But as he did not fee
like going off to the kitchen, he mad,
no response, and let his eyes turn to th'