The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-14

O'Clock, | stopped moment at the window
to look out, for il was still, beautiful night
and the moonlight lay like a thin sheet o
freshly fallen snow all over the earth.
can see just how it glistened on the spire o
the old stone meetin'- house. and silvered III,
tops of the trees, and lay like lace. work OF
the great meadow opposite our house.
And as | stood looking there, / saw Ou
pack'gate open, and small figure came into
the garden and approached the house, an,
then suddenly 1t turned about and wen
down among the ounce trees, and thea
saw It pause before the bell pear tree. MI
fret impulse was to call my father, but
thought OF the dollOr he had promised me
and | was always q brave child, so les
slipped down the back stairs, and out int
the back yard. | stole softly through the
gross and past the ounces close up to the
bell pear tree.
"Who's there !" called quick voice.
knew it.
80, Richard Sears !" II ives all I said.
He held both the pears in his hand; one
OF them was half eaten.
1 saw the blood steal up into bis cheeks
"What brought you out here, Rosnnna q
~, Richard, what would father, say 2"
81 only did it for little fun, Rosanna.' ,
and he offered me the other pear. drew
back.
"l wouldn't touch it for q thousand dol.
lars"
"Dear me, what girl you are -
"And what boy you are to be thief ~
He blushed deeper under the name, and
turned toward the house. He sprang before
me.
"Rosanna, what ere you going to do 7"
81 must tell my father" a
He'll be very angry. He'll sond me
away"
81 know he will, Richard" .-.--t !
Sand | shall be all alone in the world
again. o, don't tell him, Rosy, don't"
"But must. Irll seem asthough help.
ed to steal 'em if don't.
"Was it really stealin' I" and he asked
the question. doubtfully. 10.
"Of course II was, Richard, and God is
very angry with you, for you know he's seen
you. if father hasn't.'
The bay booked up TO the SKY 4 moment,
with . new solemn sexe ii hls face.
~ ohiy thought Il was good sport, Rosy, u
he said.
l stood still looking at him sorrowfuly
and at last he threw the pear on background
Don't tell your father" he said, in ,
voice go full of entreaty that the tears rush.
cd into my eyes. "Don't you remember,
Rosy, the day you went with me to the pond
to get mint, and how you came near falling
into the water, and jest saved you, ond
what good times we've had together all sum.
mer, and how | havn't got any mother or
any friends in the whole world, except your
folks and you ? Do not tell your father,
Rosy"
4 sat down on great stone in the grass
and cried. Richard cried too. At last I
slipped my arm around his neck.
"No, |. won't tell my father, Richard, if
you'll promise never to do SO again, and to
ask God to forgive you for this great SIM"
"I'll ask Hin, but he knows that I didn't
think it was really stealin'," and knew tina,
he spoke the truth. ,.,...... ru Dr.. ~,
. So we went up softly to the house, and
there was o new bond betwxi US, which
neither could forget. Two days afterwart
my father discovered one of the pears lyina
at the foot of the tree--the other had disar.
peared-and he concluded the thief had
dropped 1t in sudden fear of being discover.
ed. He was angry, and Richard, who we.
in the room, quietly slid out OF it, and KEEP,
my eyes very steadtastly fastened on the
book wac not reading. ~.
Well, to make the story short, the winter
went by, and tho birds OF May were singing
once more in the trees, and the boughs were
all frilled over with blossoms.
One day my father came in to dinner-he
had been plowin all the mornin, and os be
sat down and wiped the perspiration from
his forehesd, he said suddenly, "Tbat bell
psaratsee. is covered as thick with blossoms
as II was With ftitses last winter. RI shall
put trap under the {. ee this summer, and
eff that won't find the thief. guess tha,
you didn't try very hard to earn that dollar,
eh, Rosy!" -
,"Well, not so very bord,, futher," ! said
starlin' toward the back door. ~ /,
But before got there voice held me
back. "Don't go, Rosy, I'm goin' to ou,
with the truth now. let what will come, ;
and Richard Sears, who vas whiting ou
au arrow BY the table, sPrang up and wen,
TO my father, and said to him, in an earnest
clear voice, though it shook little al tht
FIRST words, "Yes. Mr.. sMorrisg Rosy did Try
very hard to findaout who 'the thief was
though she wouldn't tell on him, when il
proved to be me, forI picked the pears."
sissI've been sorry enough for it ever since;
but didn't really think i was stsaiing then,
and I've had a dollar laid up. stairs in my
green box too months for Rosy. when l
could get courage to tell the truth" :
i My father was completely dumbfounded;
he opened his lips to speak, and shut 'em
sgaia,. AT last, be said. "Richard." in d