Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-08-28

to his childish Imagination, seemed &C.
lestial harmony. a painter would have
wished no better study than the boy, as
he stood leaning on one OF the ropes that
surrounded the tent, his fair young face
refecting in the face the spirit of every
tune the uand was playing. Al length
the music ceased; the "show was boul
to begin; and Will, with sigh, was tur-
ming away, when the ticket seller, al
tracted by his uncommon beauty called the
child, and, uncosiug the Silt IN the cam
vass bade him pass In. A flash came TO
Wills cheek; he paused, and was about
to decline the profiered kindness, when
the band struck up a martial air, and
! yielding to a fascination 50 new, SO de-
hghtful, he passed into the tent.
Oh how gorgeous, to his childish Wis
ion, was the scene before him. Twenty
/ lovely ladies' on steeds- white, cream
and parti-coloreG-pTaDced up aud down
the arena, followed ~ twelve cavaliers
as finely mounted. Their White piumes
waved IN the air, the trapping OF their
horses glisiened with jewels and goid'--|
/ Willie had never thought earth contain
ed anything so beautiful. He remem-
bered what he had read Of Queen She
/ ba meeting King solomon, and he lmag-
/ ined the scene must have resembled this
/ that was spread before his astonished
gaze. Each of the cavaliers seemed
miracle of grace, and agility, as feat af-
ter feat babe WIiIe's eyes gIlsten with
/ delighted wonder. The jests of the clown
/ be did not hear, for the continuous swell
of the music wrapped his senses in sort
of intellectual intoXication; and 1t was not
until the band ceased playing, and The
extiugushed lamp and relreauug crowd
aroused him from his trance, that VIII,
dazzled, confused, bewldered with de-
tight, passed out from the region of en-
chantment to the well-known streets OF
the village. Since night had come
storm had arisen. The rain fell III tor
rents, and flash after fash of lightning
shed il blue flame upon his homeward
way.
Like one in a dream he paced slowly
/ along, almost unconscious of the storm,
until a sudden thought atf'rghtened him
as he approached his fathers door, w hat
would his father sayl-that stern old
Deacon, who lived life of rigid recti-
tude, aud hated sinners as he hated sin.
A shudder passed through his frame,
and, an awful dread fell on him as
the voice of that father seemed 10 ring
IN his ear. The son of the Deacon
Mayhew at The circus, among prohigates
and castawaysr' He remembered no
logger the magic cavalcade, The inspiring
music, the bright lamps, the fair vision
OF his eXcl-ed IMAGINATION, but his awful
crime IA what his father thought an ac-
cursed place struck his affrigh ed soul
His dis7bedience IN overslaying his ap-
pointed time had led to the fearful sin he
he felf he had committed IN his fathers
eyes by going to the circus. And then
his lnolher-who plead so earnestly for
The few hours Of pastime he had wIlfuI-
IL oyerstaId-whal would be her anguish
when she knew that her boy was all un-
worthy OF her love. The fate Of the bar
rem figIree and the Improbable servant
seemed to be his doom as drenched, pale
ard trembling, he raised the latch and
stood before his fathers face
$50 you have come back" said the
DIacon, with a stolId composure thai
scarcely disguised his inward passion
"What have You to say?'
= nat am sorry, IdlneT.
because you dread the lash, replied
the stern old man. rising and taking down
a green cowhide from the shelf Of an
adjoining closet.
No father" replied the boy. with a
firm voice, sorry. because | have done
wrong, and grleved my mother"
You should have thought of that be-
fore
i lid think of it; but every one knows
how you whip me, and the bows taunted
me and said | was afraid; 50 | staid to
/ play too long, and then we heard the
music and followed IT, We did not think
of going to the circus, but a man let me
/ in, and | forgot everything until it was
overt was all SO beautiful Beat me
( if YOU please, father; but believe me, for
| have told you the truth
The Deacon made no reply. but mo-
toned the boy 10 take off his Jacket and
shirt. While he rolled up his sleeves and
prepared 20 lay on the lash.
Forgive himi he has told the truth:
forgive him this oace, as you have just
prayed to be forgivedr' gasped the
/ wretched mother, as she grasped the arm
that brandished the uplifted lash.
1T cannot be. He is given into my
hands to be saved from becoming a brand
for the burning. Unloose your hold and
leave the room; or. no-stay--he will
suffer in seeing the affiicsjon his sins
/ cost YOU" With these words he laid
stroke after stroke upon the make and
bleeding bach, of the high spirited boy,
who never WINGED or murmured while
the lash descended upon his shoulder, un-
til, faint and deadly sick, he could endure
no longer, and with groan of anguish
he sank senseless TO the floor.
CHAPTER IL.
Deacon Mayhew was asleep. The
candle, which his wife shaded with her
hand, showed his stern feature at rest.
while his regular breathing showed his
slumber 10 be deep and calm. Swiftly.
vet noiseIessly she stole from he apart
men,, and creeping to her boys bedside,
leaned over him and kissed him.
is that you motherl Oh, have been
so scl!'
My darling! my darling! I though,
YOU would die" said the wretched wo-
man. But it shall never be again,
WIllie-neyer.'
Il am ashamed to look at you. mother.
How could | be tempted TO commit fauii
t.I.o ,,-1t,iI