Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-06-30
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From the New YORK Observer.
THE STOLEN MARBLES

'NOW, Wnere are w Fluai pios Soisst "a
claimed Johnnie Lindsay to his yonns; play
mate; Il had six just 11ow, and here.afe only
four. You've got them, T know you have,
Charlie Meadows, for I saw you put your
hands in your pocket. Give them to me-
he added, bursting into tears, as he saw
Charlie turn to walk away; give them'to me,
will have them
Il don't want your marbles said Charlie,
continuing to turn away.
At that moment MI. Meadows turned the
corner of the street, on his way home, at the
dinner hour. Seeing Johnnie was in trouble,
he inquired into the cause. why, said he,
sCharlie has taken my two marblesand won't
give them to me-
CHARLES, have you taken his marblesp
asked his father.
mo SIR said Charlie, assuming an air Of
Indifference. -
Il thought not said Mr.. Meadows
There's some mistake Johnnie, my boy;
they've rolled away among the grass; look
round and you'll find them
So saying, Mr.. Meadows, with his mind
pre-occupied with..what seemed at that mo-
ment of more Importance than two missing
marbles, took his sons hand, and walked
homeward.
Charlie grew more and more thoughtful
as the day wore on, and when by chance he
caught the eyes Of any member of the family,
he felt as if they knew something about him
which he wished they did not. At dinner
he cast furtive glances, first at his father,
then at his mother, aud felt very uneasy
This was the effect of a guilty conscience,
which inevitably produces cowardioe. In
reality, everything went on as usual, and
when the hour of the evening meal arrived,
Charlie was quite himself again.
As they drew around the evening !freside,
Mrs. Meadows exclaimed, Charlie, my child,
do come to me ; at the same time drawing
him towards her. Charlie, without know
ing why, felt timid, and shrank back. His
mother, however, retained-her hold, saying,
s'Why, my son, do you continue to fill your
pockets in this unsigbtly way? I have often
forbidden it. You quite disfgure yourself
Saying this, Mrs. Meadows drew from the
protruding pocket variety Of articles. Last
of all came his handkerchief, and with it
too marbles. -
Charles ..sprang forward to save them
from observation. In doing so he caught
the eye of his father, who did not seem to
notice them. In a few moments, however,
Mr.. Meadows rose and left che room. Char:
ley felt relieved and quietly pocketed the
marbles No sooner had he done so than
the door of the adjoining room opened, and
Mr. Meadows, in very impressive tone,
called, Charles come to me-
1t was then that poor Charles trembled,
and again felt himself guilty coward. He
entered the room with downcast eyes, while
bis father in calm voice, uumingled with
any tone of anger, bade him sit down.
Mr.. Meadows walked the floor in silence
for few moments. Then turning to his
son, he said "Charles, you have this day
caused me more gnief than in all our life
before--a deeper sorrow than I felt when I
saw you sick infant, trembling on the verge
of another world
Charles asked no questions. BE burst
into tears What would he not have given
at that moment to have spared his dear faith
er the pain he had caused him. But it was
too late. The deed uas done.
'Where did you get chose marbles, my
son p -,
Itook thens,' said Charles, from Johnnie,
this morning. And oh papa, I am SO sorry
That is not enough, my boy said his
father Come to me, Charles
Mr.. Meadows took the hand of his son,
and looking him in the face, repeated with
emphasis, You tools them! Charles con-
tinued he, 'what is he called who takes what
does not belong to him?' -:
"A thief faltered poor Charles, trembling
with agitation.
sAnd what is he called who denies what
he has done?
"A har,' answered Charles, amost heart
broken.
These are hard names,' said Mr.. Mead
ows, 'but they apply at this moment, and
justly, to my son, to Charles Meadows. They
are sins this day recorded against him by
his God. Things should be called by their
right names, Charles, though they. may
sound harshly in our ears, and especially
crimes. Imagine that at this moment you
heard some one say, Charles Meadows is
thief and liar ..&
'Oh! papa, papa! cried Charles, Il did
not know I was half so bad. Do, do, for
give me- -,
sWho can forgive sins but GOD aloneT
asked Mr.. Meadows impressively. 1T is
against Him, my son, you have offended,
and of Him only can you seek pardon. AS
I believe you penitent, promise you my
forgiveness, although the modification, the
disgrace, rest. not only upon yourself, but
upon all your family. Now, having placed
the matter before you in its true light, 1
will leave you for whole hour to your own
quiet meditation upon il. In the meantime,
I charge you to remember that you stand in
the presence of Him from whom no secret
is hid
Poor Charles These quiet meditations
were an agony to him. 'Am then, indeed
he said to himself, $50 fallen and only since