Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-17

"Oh then, mother dear" cried Johnny
in a winning tone, "pleose 10 let me be q
little boyf' We will join poor Johuny
heartily in this petition. Please, mothers,
let your sons be little boys while they may.
Time is bringing on apace life's tolls and
cares. Let them have free and happy
childhood that when your heads are low
in the grave, they may point backto these
days and say "We were happy children,
for there was always sunshine where our
mother was"
PRIDE CONQUERED BY KINDNESS.
May was a pet and beauty. Her father
had a fine house, and rich gardens full of
fruit and flowers, bird-houses, and fish
ponds. On the other side of the high
fence, where a board has been taken out,
stands the cottage Of Giles Brown, the
gardener. This man has a little girl of
Mays age-a gentle child, and her only
near companion. They might have been
very happy together, had not May, silly
child, fancied that she was too good to
play with Maggie Brown. Sometimes,
when very lonely, she would call her
through the opening in the fence ; but if
she had any other company she would treat
her very scornfully.
Giles once brought home two yellow
kittens. He gave one to May, and one to
Maggie. They were exactly alike, and
May put her own coral beads, with a gold
clasp around the neck of hers, which she
named "Bessie." She loved it very dear
ly. One day, a few weeks after the gift,
Maggie called through the fence, "May,
wont you please to let your kitty come
here and see her little sister ?" "Ne y
cried May, who had a little friend with
her from the city ~ don't allow Bessie t.
play with poor peoples cats !" Maggi'
ran into the cottage as if IN arrow hat
pierced her, and May saw no more of he
for a longtime.
One day, Bessie having ventured to
near the kennel ofLion, the watch dog, h
, snapped at her throat with his cruel teeth
When May found her pet there ccvere
with blood she forgot how she had treate
Maggie and ran to the fence calling her i
piiful tones. Maggie, too, forgot ht
wrongs, and coming out washed the bloc
from off poor Bessie's head and neck, bu
it was all in vain-she was dead. Ma
wept as if her heart would break.
Maggie loved her own kitty so dear
that she knew how to sympathize with he
She wiped her eyes and said, "Wa
there a minute till | come back" 81
darted through the opening in the fenc
but returned very soon with her own pu
sy, upon whose neck she had clasped t
beads of the poor lost Bessie. Laying t
pet on Nays bosom, she said, "There, y
shall have Jenny for your own. Try to
lieve that it is Bessie, and forget all abe
cruel old Lion"
"Ob, Maggie" said May, dropping |
swollen eyes to the ground as she huge
the kitten up closely show can you
so kind when l treated you so cruelty
last time | saw you. l have so many P
and you have none. | cannot take Jer
for nothing. I'll give you a canary
her"
"No, l wont sell her, but l will gii0e
to you cheerfully, May"
Glow can you forget my unkindnes
asked May.
"Pve been taught by mother never
get a kindness, but to try very har
forget all Injuries to return good for
and Z love to do it," said the good cl
Maggie buried Bessie under a vim
the end of the garden, ana ever after
and May were warm friends. Love
gentleness had conquered pride.
A PROFITABLE FL0GGING.
l had one just aogging. When l
about thirteen, | went to u sheen;
and begged him to take ne as his apl
tice. He, being an honest man, imm
tely took me to Bowyer, who got i
great rage, knocked me down, and
pushed Crispin rudely out Of the roo
Bowyer asked me why | had made n
such a fool? to which l answered, t
had a great desire to be a shoemaker
that hated the thought of being a CT
man. "Why SO 2" said he, "Becat
tell you the truth, sir" said l, 81 q
in6del !" For this, without NOR,
Bowyer logged me-wisely, as l thi
sonndly, as l know. Any whiniu
piping sermonizing would have gratifed my
nging ty, and confirmed me in my absurdit
hues it was, | was laughed at, and got b
to the ashamed Of nay folly olerldge.