Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-30
Moral Gales.
"ONLY THIS ONCE.n

"fll be in again very soon, mother,
| am only going around the corner to
sec Whites new billiard rooms ;" and.
cap in hand, Harry was closing the
parlor door when his mother called
him back.
i cannot consent to your going
there, my dcar,' she said you must
know that both your father and my
self disapprove of all such places"
Bat don't intend to play. mother.
only to look on the boys say the ta-
bles are splendid, aud besides, what
could / tell Jim Ward after promising
to go with him! He is waiting outside
for me. Please say yes only this once.
"Tell Jim that we would prefer you
should not 60, and ask him to walk in
and spend the evening" said Harry's
father, as he looked up from the pa.
per.
"Oh, know he won't do that +"
and Harry stood turning the door han
die, till finding that his parents did
not intend to say anything more, he
walked slowly to the front stoop.
Why don't you hurry along" CAL
led Jim, and not keep a fellow stand
ing all night in the cold"
Il am not going. Won't you come
in ? said Harry.
mot going Your mother surely
does not object to your looking at a
billiard table"
"She would prefer l should not 60"
said Harry, and Jim's only reply was
a very significant whistle, as he walk
ed off.
He'll be sure to tell all the boys /"
said Harry. half aloud, as he shut the
front door, with rather more force
than was necessary. 81 don't see
what does make father and mother 80
particular" Then, entering the par
lor, he took the first book that came
to hand from the table, and taking a
seat very far from tho light, looked
exceedingly unamiable.
His father laid aside the paper, and
without seeming to mind Harry's mood.
said pleasantly, II wonder if my son
thinks himself too old for story; If
not, | have one to tell him about only
this once.'" The book Harry had ta-
ken up, and which chanced to be one
of his fathers upon civil engineering.
was returned to the table, but he still
kept thinking Of what the boys would
say when Jim told an exaggerated
story, aud his countenance remained
unchanged.
When l was about your age. Har.
~, we lived the next door to Mr.. Allen.
very wealthy gentleman, who had
one son. AS Frank was good-na-
tured. merry boy, and had his two
beautiful ponies. several dogs, and a
large play ground, he soon made
friends. Many an afternoon did we
spend together, riding the ponies, 0,
playing ball on the play ground. and
one summer afternoon in particular.
never expect to forget, for it seems tc
me now, looking back upon it. as the
turning point Of Franks life but VT
little thought Of such a thing at tht
time. 1t only seemed to US very
warm afternoon. and. becoming tired
Of playing ball, we had stopped to res
ON the piazza. when Frank PROPOSED
that We should take the ponies to
plank road, a few miles from the house
and race them. l was certain tina
his father would disapprovc Of this
and besides. it would have been mos
cruel work ON such warm afternoon
SO tried to make Frank think Of some
thing else he would like to do instead
but all in vain.
| "'I think you might go. Charlie
he said. What's the harm of doin,
it. only this once z just want to se'
if either Of my ponies is likely to b
o fast trottcr.'
For one moment hesitated. bu
in the next came the thought Of m,
fathers displeasure, aud ! shook m.
head.
i "' Very well. just as you please, Nj
Good boy l know plenty who will b
glad Of the chance to ride Jet aud 9
saying. he walked of.
"Frank did find . boy, who was d.