The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-09-06

was entirely different sort of man.
Fred eyed him askance, and came yer
reluctantly to be introduced to him bu
there was something kindly in the min
i.ter's manner as he said to him, afte
the first salutations, "Wss it you say
fee ding the rabbits this morning?"
Fred colored with glow of consciou
pleasure as he said, eyes, sir" and ad
ded, timedly, II tanned them myself"
"Ah !" said the miuister, II shou l.
like to visit them with you by and by
Fred hardly felt satisfied in his owl
mind, as to the propriety Of minister
taking an interest in rabbits; they were
worldly concerns, he supposed and he
had got the idea that everything which
was not religious was sinful. However
he led the way triumphautly when the
minister was ready to visit the rabbits
and could not help feeling kindly lean
lug toward the man who could be in his
company for hours without looki:g OF
speaking reproaches. Ia day or two a
pleasant cor"@;:aiity had sprung up be.
tweel the pastor and the crratic boy and
one evening the latter was delighted and
surprised by the pastors asking him to
20 the next day to show him where the
woods were, for he loved forest rambles.
Fred could hardly sleep that night for
anticipation, and was up at the dawn Of
day. As he passed the door of the min
istcr's room he heard him praying, and
softening his steps aud hushing his
whistling, he glided down stairs more
quietly than he was ever known to do
before. They were off as soon as break
fast was over, two or three miles into the
thick woods, and Fred leaped over the
rocks aud turned aside the refractory
bushes, and moved intruding branches
aud stones from the minister's way he
showed him where the partridges had
their haunts, and the wild rabbits were
to be entrappcd, and the rare wild fow-
crs were to be found, and gathered the
choicest berries on cool green leaves for
his new-found friend.
Do you love the woods and all the
wild things and curious places" he ven-
tured to ask at length, as the minister
mounted high rock which overlooked a
secluded little pond.
The minister replied, "Certainly do;
and ! love good boys company too"
he added, with a smile.
Well, don't think you are much
like old Mr.. Cranston. Thought it was
wicked to love such things" he added,
with boyish bluntuess.
"Come up here, and sit down on this
messy place, and let's talk about it lit
tie, said the minister. "What made you
think it was wicked ?"
"Why, supposed it wasn't serving
God, and it isn't work like making hay
anything of that sort. aud SO, I
thought it might be wicked; or at least
| didn't know that pious people and min.
istcrs ever cared about such things"
Fred replied with little hesitation.
"Did not Jesus 20 out into the fields,
and alone upon the mountains, and often
cross the lake with his disciples in their
fishing boats ?" said Mr. Barry; "did he
not speak of the birds and flowers? God
made them all don't you think he meant
We should love them? 1t says in the
Bible, He hath made everything beauti.
full in his time" and as God has given
us all things richly to enjoy, think We
should be very ungrateful not to enjoy
them
"Well. then, you don't think play is
wicked, do you?'' asked Fred in earnest
ness
"There may be wicked plays" replied
the minister, "but play in itself is not
wicked, any more than eating, aud drink
ing, and running, and fifty other things.
If we have bad thoughts in our hearts,
and act and talk badly, then our play is
wicked; but if we have innocent feel
ings, and play SO as to do no harm to
others, play is not only right, but neces-
sary."
"But have heard people say, Don t
waste your precious time 10 play" said
Fred.
off boy neglects his lessons or du-
ties to play, it would be wasting his
time," said Mr.. Barry; "but when a
childs tasks are done, he ought to play
God has made it a necessary for chill
dren to play; the kitten plays, the
young of all creatures play /; tits natures
way Of developing the mus cles and bones,
and making them strong, aud it is good
for the mind, for it teaches thought
You have mistaken some we'll meant
teaching, my boy" he continued; "but
do your work we'll, and then play in good
earnest; only avoid wrong, and play will
do you good not harm"
~ do play" said Fred, as he leaped
off the rock, for he never sat still more
than five minutes; "but I'm glad you
have told me this, for now l shall not
feel as if l was doing wrong So much as
| did before and he began to toss
pebbles far out on the sparkling water.
The minister sat still thinking a while
longer, AMI then they turned their steps
homewards.
II hope Fred did not quite wear your
patience out, sir" said Mrs. Chase that
evening to the minister, "for he is
troublesome company, generally"
"Not at all, not at ALL" replied Mr..
Barry; on the other hand. l found him
very interesting and agreeable company.
l think he lisa lad Of great promise"
"1ndeed, sir" replied the mother, "I
am glad if you have discovered good iu
him, or promise Of good, for have been
greatly exercised on his account, and SO
has his father. We have found him
nard to manage, and he does not love re.
l,slous things at all, and We have feared
that he was firmly set in the wav to de-.