Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-09-06
A Lesson to Parents.

~ was 10 where TO De f0un0. -
MY wife was amiabls, intelligent and con-
tented; We were not wealthy, but Provi.
dence had preserved US from want; and we
bad learned that "contentment without
wealth IL better than wealth without con.
tentmsnt"
Nwas my custom, when returning home
at tight, TO drop into one of the mauy
shops that are constantly open in the
onsiness streets Of the metropolis, and pur.
chase some triAirg dainties, such as fruit
OF confectionery, to present to the mother
and children. need not say how de-
lighted the little ones were at this slight
expression Of paternal consideration. On
one Occasion had purchased some remark
ar fne arpl6s.
After the repast, bslf q dozen wore iefI
untouched, and my thrifty companion
forthwith removed them to u place of de,
pusit. where it was her custom to preserve
nieknacks. A day or two after, when
had seated myself at tbs table to dine, she
said to me, smilinglyi
So, father has found the way to nv
safsty-box, has her
was at loss TO understand the mean
ing, and desired her to explain.
Have you not been 10 my drawerf'
What drawerP
The upper>drawer in my chamber bu>
reHu. Did you not take therefrom the
largest of the pippins l had put away fOr
the girIsf'
Mo- did notP
You have not 7?
'NuIl have not seen an apple since
the evening / purchased them
A slight cloud passed over the coun>
tenance of my wife. She was troubled.
The loss of the apple was 10 itself nothing;
but we had carefully instructed our child.
rem not to appropriate to their uss, any ar
ticle whatever of family consumption
without permission. When the demand
was at ell reasonable, it had never beer
denied them. and she wac shocked at the
offence. We had q servant girl in th,
family, but as che was supposed to know
nothing Of the apples, my wife besitated
TO charge it upon her. She at length
broke the silence by saying:
We must examine the affair. / car
hardly think one Of the children would 81
act. If we find them guilty, we must re.
prove them. Will you please look into it
The girles were separately called int
my presence; the eldest first.
Eliza did you take from mothers draw
or an apple 2
No, sir
Maria, did you take from your mother
drawer an sppleP
No, SIR
Mary, did you take from your mother
drawer an appleH'
No, SIR
1t must have been taken by the ser,
want; call her to me- said /, addressing
my wife.
Nell, how came you to take from th,
drawer of your mistress, without permis
sion. the largest of the apples she hsc
places there3'
'WOt apples 2
Did you not take an apple from tn,
drawer of your mistressf'
No, sa'
Now it is evident that falsehood existed
somewhere Could it be that one Of N,
children had told me lieH The though
barrassed me. / was not able 10 attend t
business. went to the store but soon re
turned again. Meanwhile, the servant
girl ha0 communicates TO her mistress tina
she bad seen our youngest 90 into the gar
ret with large apple the morning before
On examination, the core, and severa
pieces of the rind were found upon tn,
floor. | again called Mary to me, and sale
to her affectionately:
Mary. my daughter, did you 60 into th,
garrett yesterday ?
Yes, SIR
Did you 60 there with an a2pleT
No, sir
Did you notice anything Cd the floor p
No, sir
i was unwilling to believe my swse
child capable of telling me falsehood
but appearances we're against her. Tb
fault lay between her and the servsut, ant
while / was DESTROYS to acquit my ehild,
did not wish to accuse Gnjustl the negro
therefore took Mary into q room alone
spoke to her Of the enOrmity of lying
of the necessity Of telling the trutb0o
the severe punishment | shoold be com
PEELED to infiict upon her, if she did no
confess the whole to me, and with tears il
my eyes urged her TO say that she hat
done it, if indeed she had Gradually.
became convinced Of her guilt; and now
felt determined she should confess it. NJ,
threateniDgs were not without effect. AT
ter weeping and protesting her innocence
and weeping and again protesting. M
threateniuk seemed to alarm her aud fall
ing upon her knees. she said, Father,
did take the apple
child confessed she was liar. in my pres
eDce
SURPRISING my emotion, retired; an
Mary, rising from her position, ran to be
mother aud IN parOxysm Of grief, erie
out:
Mother, I did not take the apple. b.
father has made me confess that did,
Here was new aspect Of affairs. Ii
multiplied upon lie. Could it be possible
! My dear Mary, who had never 5eeo know
to deceive us-so affectionate-so gentle
go truthful in ali the past--could it
| possible that she was a confirmed liar
| Necessity was stronger than the tender
ness Of the father. / chastlsed her for til
frat time in my life-severely chastise
her ! 1t almost broke Der heart-and
may add that it almost broke mine also
Yet, Mary was Innocent Afterevent
J proved that she negro was the thief. Sh
bad conJured up the story Of the gsrre
knowing that Mary would not deny havin
been there, and, to make the circumstance
stronger against her, had strewn apple
rincs on the floor. / never think of Ii
event without tears. But it has taught q
q useful Lesson, and that is never
threaten child into lie, when it may B
it is telling the truth. The only lie eve
knew Mary to tell me, myself forced al
on Der by threatening. 1t has also fixed i
my mind the determination TO employ n
servant in my family, when / can POssi6l
do without.
The RuIfng Passion.