Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-10
0bto Statesnrarr.
.speak Gently 10 The Erring."


day, with a basket of provisions for poor
old Mr. Brownly, she met rough, uncouth-
looking boy. His clothes were sOiled and
ragged, and he was whistling negro melo-
! dy as he walked lazily along.
How are you, Britton?" he said, as he
came toward May.
"Timmy Wilks, you shouldn't call me
Britton you might at least say Miss Brit
ton, if you can't say May; but I've some
| thing l want to say to yOu," she continued
as size changed the basket to the other arm
You have, though? Some of your nice
sermons, 'spose. | don't want any Of 'em
Marin gives me preaching enough in the
week, and / hear enough Sunday too. But
what have you got there!' hecOntinued, us
he tried to remove the napkin that covered
Mays basket.
"Let that alone, Timmy, or | shall &c
back and tell my mother Of you"
"Run along. Isaw all want to. A bot
tie of rum, 'spose-should think you might
give us drink; but you needn't step back
in that sort of way. I'm not going to
touch your basket, though / could take
basket, bottle and all, if had mind to-
"Whata naughty boy you are, Timmy "
II know it, and It's dreadful pity; but
what are you going to do about it?" and
Jimmy began to whistle. May stood mo-
ment, thinking how very badly Timmy be-
haved; and he added, "But thought you
had something to say to me-"
''That is what was going to say-that
| you are naughty boy, and don't obey your
mother, and that you make her very un-
happy"
80 she makes me unhappy. You needn't
call her mother; she isn't my mother, she's
only fathers widder. don't want none of
nho nj, i'm hn,,
never will, if she whips Inc to DEATH"
Does she ever whip you, Timmy?'
81 guess you'd think so. She gives me
some of the hardest whippings you ever
heard of. But I've got a piece of sheapskin
that l wear on my back ali the time, so it
don't hurt as it used to; but it feels rather
hot such a morning as this" and Timmy
began to work his shoulders back and forth.
Il feel sadly about you, Jimmy" May
replied, shaking her head. You used to
be such good little boy. wish you were
as good now, you would be so much hap
pier l don't like to hear people say you
are growing up a wicked man, and perhaps
will be sent to jail.
"'Tis kind O. bad, to be sure,' Tim re-
| piled, drawing down his face with mock So
| lemnity "but it don't trouble Inc much, tor
had just as liet be in Jail as to live with
marm.n
But just think; afteryou have been there
nobody viii ever care for you again.
| Nobody cares for me now, SO | shouldn't
be any worse off,
Yes, Timmy, | care for YOU"
mo you don't; you only preach to me-
so that the minister will praise you for try
ing to do something big"
MIR. Danford never praises me, because
| he knows nothing about what say to you
Now, Timmy, I'll tell you what I'll do. Nv,
got two dollars father gave Inc to buy some
new books and Ill go without them, anC
| give it all to you, ii you will promise M
not to disobey your mother for a month";"
You get out with your money!
wouldn't be so small as to be hired to be
good. l think you are real good girl
May, and should like to accommodate
| you; but it will take more money than yoU
or your father has got to hire me to mint
her. haven't any particular objection tC
being good, as know OF; but never viii
obey that ugly"
'Stop, Jimmy did ever you think how
| your mother in heaven would feel, if sht
could look down upon you when you are
so naughty and impudent?"
May had touched the right chord this
time, and Timmy replied in a tremulous
voice, after a moments silence: There
don't say anything about her; don't want
to hear it. She used to be good to me, and
used to love me, and she is the only one in
this whole world that ever did love me-
And Timmy drew his soiled jacket-sleeve
across his eyes. 81 know I'm great big
baby to cry; but l can't help it, never
can when think Of her, and she died Just
when got big enough to love her. But
must 90 now; goodbye, May"
stop minute, don't go yet; is there
anything | can do for you to help you tc
become better bOy?" -.
Eyes, there is one thing that you can do
he replied, as lie brushed away the great
drops that stood on his cheeks, "that I've
liked to speak about"
"What is it? DO tell me-" eagerly asked
May.
well, don't know whether it is best tC
tell you or not. | don't suppose it will dc
any good but you won't say anything tC
anybody about it, only your father"
"1ou needn't be afraid to trust me; III
promise to keep your secret"
"Well, May, ask your father to hire me
to pick stones or hoe on his place. l think
if | could get away from home, l shoult
perhaps have some courage to try to do ;
little better.
"rll ask him tonight, and think he viii
do it,"
"That's good, May. You don't tell any
body l cried, will you? | know Pm too bis
to be such baby" y
"You're not baby to cry. It is gooC
sign. 1t shows that you think about you
mother in heaven. You know it isn't any
thing to me, Timmy, if you grow up
wicked man, it won't hurt me bit; but
| hanr to nh Of for ealy