Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-15
INTO THE SUNSHINE.
Il wish father would come home"

81 wish father would come home"
The voice that said this had a troubled tone,
and the face that looked up was sad.
"Your father will be very angry" said an
aunt who was sitting in the room with book
in her hand.
The boy raised himself from the sofa, where
he had been lying in tears for half an hour, and
with touch Of indignation in his voice answer
ed:
Hell be sorry not angry. Father never
gets angry"
For few moments the aunt looked at the
boy half curiously, and let her eyes fall again
upon the book that was in her hand The boy
laid himself down upon the sofa again, and hid
his face from sight.
"That's father nowr He started up after a
lapse of nearly ten minutes, as the sound of a
bell reached his ear. and went to the room door.
He stood there for a little while, and then
came slowly back, saying with disappointed
air,
at isn't father. / wonder what keeps him
so late. o, | wish he would comet"
"lou seem anxious to get deeper into trou-
ble," remarked the aunt who had only been in
the house for n week, and who was neither very
amiable nor very sympathizing towards children
The boys fault provoked her, and she consider,
ed him fit subject for punishment.
81 believe, Aunt Phebe, that you would liked
to see me whipped" said the boy, a little warm
ly. "But you won't"
81 must confess" replied Aunt Phebe, "that
l think little wholesome discipline of the
kind you speak of would not be out of place
If you were my child, l am very sure you
wouldn't escape"
"Im not your child / don't want to be-
Fathers good, and loves me-"
slf your father is so pond and loves Won en-
well, you must be very ungrateful or a very
inconsiderate boy. His goodness does moi
seemed to have helped you much"
"Hush, will you" calculated the boy, excited
to anger by this unkindness Of remark.
"Phebe" 1t was the boys mother who spoke
now. for the first time. In an undertone she
now added;
"You are wrong. Richard is suffering quite
enough, and you are doing him harm rather
than good
Again the bell rang, and again the boy left
the sofa, and went to the stting-room door.
ats fatherw And he went gliding down
stairs.
"Ah, Richard!" was the kindly greeting, a.
Mr.. Gordon took the hand Of the boy.
"But what's the matter, my sonP You DOM
look happy"
"Won't you come in here ?" And Richard
drew his father in to the library. Mr.. Gordon
sat down, still holding Richards hand.
"You are in trouble, my son. What has
happened?"
The eyes Of Richard filed with tears as he
looked into his fathers face. He tried to an.
swer, but his lips quivered. Then he turned
away, and opening the door Of the cabinet
brought out the fragments of broken statue
which had been sent home only the day before
and set them on table before his father, ovei
whose countenance came instantly shadow ol
regret.
"Who did this, my mp" was asked in ever
voice.
~ did it."
"How?"
81 threw my ball in there Once-Only once in
The poor boys tones were husky and tremu'
lous.
A little while Mr. Gordon sat, controlling
himself and collecting his disturbed thoughts
Then he said cheerfully-
"What is done, Richard, can't be helped
Put the broken pieces away. You have had
trouble enough about it, can see-snd reproo
enough for your thoughtlessness- shall moi
add word to increase your pain"
"Oh father~ and the boy threw his arm,
around his fathers neck. "You are so kind
so goodw
five minutes later and Richard entered the
sitting room with his father. Aunt Phebe look
ed up for two shadowed faces; but did not SEE
them. She was very much puzzled.
"That was very unfortunate" she said, a lit
tie while after Mr.. Gordon came in. 1t wa,
such an exquisite work Of art. 1t is hopelessl,
ruined"
Richard was leaning against his father wher
his aunt said this. Mr.. Gordon only smiled
and drew his arms closely around his boy.
Mrs Gordon threw upon her sister look o
warning; but it was unheeded.
~ think Richard was a very naughty boy"
"We have settled all that, Phebe," was tn,
mild but firm answer of Mr.. Gordon; 'and i
is one of our rules to get into the sunshine al
quick as possible"
Phebe was rebuked; while Richard looked
grateful, and it may be little triumphant; fo
his aunt had borne down upon him rather to,
hard for boys patience to endure.
, Into the sunshine as quickly as possible +