The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-22

iOb
But" remarked, Orchard must learn to
walk before he runs and 1t is all uphill work
vet. If he has superior manners and education,
and among rough people, do not see that ne
should become rough Also"
AZ think association goes great way towards
forming youths habits. i do not say charac:
ter, Tor that, It is to be hoped, is a matter OF
al do not perceive the roughuess you speak
Of" l remarked. r,w ,,.r.
likes to 90 often to places Of amusement, and
much oftener he is kept very late at his business
sometimes till IL or IL at night, and all this
does not tend TO make youth more refined, or
in my opinion, better man. often wish that
YOU we're living near, so that he could be more
under your care"
II was as if had suddenly received heavy
blow, and l sat .stupefed, yet listening to the
old lady with my mind so disturbed that did
not even take in the sense of all she was saving.
That he might be fond OF amusement was
natural, but frequent late hours j did not un-
derstand. IL was ruin. At this moment Rich
ara came in, expecting that had arrived. His
ioyous face was at once overcast at seeing the
gravity OF mine.
"W6st is it, mother?" he asked, in alarm.
Mrs. Reed got up and left the room.
IL have been inquiring all about your habits,
Richard and am veXed that you should be kept
so late in business. 1t is not usual, is it?r
The oonscience-stricken boy colored up to his
temples, and in a moment became ashy pale
81 am sometimes late,n he muttered, and,
taking up his hat said, 81 am in desperate
hurry, and have only a few moments TO spare"
"And those, Richard, you must give to me.
My boy, with whom are you2 Where do you
go? DO not think Mrs. Reed has willingly told
me all this; but have a right to know all.n
took hold of his hand and drew him down
on chair near me, and sald:-
Richard, am your mother, and there is no
one on earth so much your friend. Tell me- my
boy, who are your companions, and where you
spend your evenings. | will not blame you; it
may be only outward circumstances and not
vpp which ia IpQdinp QatraV If I hal
you, will"
Poor Richard Shall ever forget how the
tears coursed each other down his cheek? And
yet not muscle OF his face moved and but for
those tears he seemed turned to stone | drew
my chair still nearer to him and laid his head
on my shoulder, and then / kissed him again
and again. Presently he told me all his oe;
for to youth not hardened in crime these early
troubles were to him as bitter perhaps as any
sorrow of his after-life. He related to me how
some gay companions had seduced him to the
billiard-taDle, where he played almost nightly,
and which mad lett him without resources. Even
his watch and pretty breast-pin were gone.
''And what, my boy, could be the end of this
but dishonesty p
''No, no, mother! a hundred times no."
"But how could you carry this on, Richard,
without some such end"
There was hesitation for a moment. Pre-
sently, as was parting his hair off his forehead,
II should have gone to sea, he almost whis-
pered
l shook from head to foot, and did not speak.
The boy felt my emotion, suddenly GOT up, and,
looking me in the face, shouted, what have l
done? Mrs. Reed Mrs. Reed" But no Mrs.
Reed came. He rushed out of the room and re-
turned in moment with a glass of water, for,
though had not lost my senses, had so far
tainted that looked an image of death. For
the moment was alarmed; the sensation was
new to me, but the cold water Richard was
forcing into my lips, and the cold air from the
window suddenly thrown open revived me.
Then it was that the tears rained down my boys
| a m " hn rnh nu
hands; in his distraction he would have pro-
mised-did promise-everything.
To think OF leaving for a few hours was i'm
| possible; and Mrs. Reed having returned from
her short walk, | hastily made some arrange
| ments for the night, sent a messenger with
| note to Richards employers, and then he and |,
| after al hour had elapsed went out, and in an
| open field near the house we again talked the
matter over. Richard was determined nothing
should ever tempt him to visit billiard room
| again-no, nothing"
"lt is a rash promise, Richard, and one you
| will not be able TO keep
Mamma, do you think have no strength of
| mind?"
mo more than have, or any one else, when
| to do a good action against pleasant tempta-
| ton is IN question. Prayer only will give you
! this strength, and frequently boys forget prayers
| when they leave home"
| looked in his face, which the teltale blush
| had overspread.
| .''When am gone, Richard" continued. "all
| your promises will be as brittle as glass; all
your temptations, strong as magnet TO a nee
| die, will draw you within their influence"
Mamma you think hardly of me. / did not
| know was so very bad, or that you thought me
| So" he said, reproachfHlly.
| 'Rchard, think no harder OF you than OF
myselt. At YOUR age did not gamble, certainly,
but it is my having suffered in another way
| makes me know so well now to feel for you, and
| to know also how weak we all are to help our
selves against temptation. There is but one
| safeguard against it-prayer. Help may not
| come the first hour, not the second, not perhaps
for many hours or days, but 1t will come, and
while you pray you will not sin.
''Do not my boy, rush from one evil to
worse. The sea Is almost 4nexcepuonaoiy tht
romance of every boys lite, but it has depths OF
misery as well as sunlt waves, and one reared
as you have been would feel all the misery IN a
tenfold degree. 1t has never been the one ain
OF your life to become sailor II 1t had been
difficulties and misery would assume othe
aspects. But you wish to fly to the sea as {
refuge from present ttrouble-perhaps from debt
Is it so, Richards" ] asked. ........
| No answer came.
'.Tell me how far you have exceeded your al
loWance, which know has been very Limited
by comparison with that of many others; bu
when you left home you Thought II wealth
You cannot be very much in debt, but much o
little tell me the truth and you shall be helped.
II owe three pounds" was very reluctant
spoken.
''It is large sum, my boy. TO whom do yo
ITO several fellows. have borrowed it a
r "And what for ~ asked, as looked up an
again saw the face no longer blusnlng, opt pos
lively crimson. '"rell me candidly, Richard,
r Won wished 10 be helped out OF your oifhcultS
= This have promised, but must know the pau
d 'i9' "For billiards, mamma" He Kissed II
e "Well, my boy, a gambler is despica6
character | never thought son OF mil