The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-08-27
Tho Secret.


Here. bows, 1rr tvrrty shifting, frr each
of yuu, said No Mitchell to his two sons,
CaJrucc aud Edward, on bright winter
morning as thry sut 90 breakfast llr hand.
Ell them each 70 gold piece ! hear that yuu
are ui thr head Di your cIsssc,in French and
Latin, and this Is 90 rNprrs, my satisfaction
90 your progress You are ~ liberty of
course, 90 cNprud it as you please, hp' there
J, 1000 1rt .n sprnding money II mly hr done
s,a,hly ur dl,if,iritsttIly. Il may hr prp.
duct,c 81 happiness or uf bitter memories,
aud though ghr sum bee small hoN Go sprud
IL m1y ho worth learning"
"l.l us something about IL, father" ail
Clarence. after the, hal. both Aukrd him
cordially, (which Nay do you think host?"
Il would rather my sor, that yuu should
reflect upon tho j,ct aud draw your oNu
conr'u,i1u. Wait or pp upportun,tv Co du
Wjsh IL something which your heart approve,
The love OF moucN,NuI know, /, the root OF
ull evil bu money may br made the source
Of good. Use i"as YOU think best"
%, ho,a lu4Sr4 ,pry5 thaugh,fiL The,
wished TINT ur would only slV what be-
Thought best Then th"y npprnrd TO thcit
mother hg, She approved OF their fathers de.
c,,iuu, Co throw the responsibility on th,m.
selves. aud call their own Judgment into cS.
cfg,c.
Some day, afterwards. as the two boy,
were ia their fathers library, hc said t.
them
"You have not told me how YOU spent the
gold pieces"
Edward drew hi, from hi, pocket. There
Ia !, tthrr have not spent it yet.
"Aud YOURS Clarcr"" 2"
"ll is an gone, father
"lndccd' And what have you to show
FOR IL"
Nothing, sir
Clarence bent hi, head modcNly, but with.
out shame, and there vas "a mnuliucss in biz
tone which convinced has father thpt all Wa
right.
venture 10 say my boy has not made an uu
profitable Investment
81 hope not, sir"
"If he had done wrong with il he would
not bc my Clarence said the mother, ten
dcrly.
Clarence looked at her with an expression
Of deep feeling, then went to her silently pu,
hi, arms atlrctionatrly about her neck and
laid his head upon her shoulder. When he
raised it again tear lay upon her robe,
My darling boy"-she embraced him
tcndcrly-"the secret is yours. You have q
right to it, and am sure it is an honorable
one
"Ihnnk you, mother" he whispered in her
ear. Does father think so 2 Is he salts
fcd?"
His mother repeated tho question.
40 be sure, my son. am satisfied,
Come here aud he threw his arms around
him and Kissed hm--"faihcr will trust where
he has never had cause 20 dStruSt"
Clarence could only once more whisper hi,
thanks, II was tenderness, not griei, that
was noble and generous in boyhood. Had
he been otherwise, hal he expended his gin
IN folly or in vice, no ruprouohrs that could
have been uttered would have affected him,
or called him TO bitter repentance like the
cunldence which was rcposed in him aud the
tenderness that had JUST been manifested 10
prove himself worthy of that love and conf
drnce would be henccforth his earthly nmbi-
ton. oh, that all parents would bat under,
stand this, aud appealing to the higher nature
the nohlcr attributes of their children, call
them intC exercise.
Edward wished from his heart that HE
brother would reveal to him what hs had
done, but there was a code of honor in that
household, as there should be in every home
aud il was underNood bv all its members.
Clarence had shown by hi, silence that he
did not wish To be questioned Yet no one
duulHed ihat he had made u right use Of his
money
Aud now, although Clarence supposes his
secret 10 be safe from I'll hut the eye Of his
Father In Heaven, we who have followed
him unseen, and watched him through all,
Wtll relate it IN confidence to our readers.
The day on which he received hi, gin was
bright, clear and frosty. It was December,
and though the sun shune ooudlcrsly in the
blue heavens, Il had no power upon the ioic-
les which irngcd the itop ratings or foil
from the trees ~ showers of brilljaht.. splm.
tered and shvcrod by tho wind The air
va, beuutllu and exhilerpdng to the we'll
clh. bat 10 the poor, unprotected child Of
want il came too kevuly Clarence hurried
ua with his skates hung over his shoulder, 20
join a exciting party II vns vacation now.
Eddie was 10 join them later His hsnds