The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-08-07

| jim got up from behind the cmrant bush.
es aud walked toward the gate. i5.o sH.
Aren't you afraid he'l beat you z lie
was ina dreadful rage at you about some
Thing just now" said Freddy. rtalsa
!" May be he will ard may be he won't, :
answered jim. /" But mustn't stop Il
think Of that. Mother is sick and weak
and father will be so cross to her. And
he started off and passed thruLght the gate.
4 Freddy, remembering how his defense
and praise ofJim had cooled Mr.. Har-
woad's anger. said to himself, !" May be
| can do some gopd." and started alter his
fillle friend, resolved to face the drunken
man again in the hope Of turning away his
wrath, t
i Tue two lads entered Inns poor home
together, and stood face to face with Mr..
4 HarwoOd. stt#. af. II y.
% lather!" exclaimed Jim. as he saw,
with glad surprise, look Of almost tender
| pity ou his fathers countenance aa, as he
sppko. he sprang forward and caught his
hand. clinging to it tightly.
This vas Too much for Mr.. Harwo0d,
who was not yet sober enough TO control
his feelings, and be turned away with a
choking sob, trying to draw his hand out
of Iln's; but the boy would not let 90 his
hold. Aud now Freddy spoke out in be-
half If his little friend.
"Jlm'sa good boy, Mr.. Harwood. know
all the hoYs around here. and there ism
one Of them better than jim. Father says
50 TOO and lets me have him over al our
house whenever please"
!" Who said he wasn't good boy !" an
swered Mr. Harwood, turning round upon
Freddy with a half angry manner. I'D
just.like 10 hear anybody speak against him,
/ would !"
And he sat down. drawing jim between
his knees a. he spoke.
A pale. thin, hall.frightened woman.
Jim's mother, nov came il from the next
room. wondering what all this could mean.
Her eager eyes ran hurriedly from face to
face.
DON; be scared, Ellen" said Mr.. Har-
wood, kindly. There isn't any thing
wrong. I'm only having little talk with
these boys"
lie was almost sober now !; excitement Of
feeling had cleared his stupid brain. Look
ing from one TO the other OF the lads, he
could not help noticing the painful Con-
trast; one so Gle n and we'll dressed, the
other sollcd and ragged.
lie knit his bro.s closely. and sat very
still, like one arguing with himself.
I'll tell YOU what II is, mother" aud he
turned toward Mrs. Ilarwood, :" am not
going to have Jim running about Looking
like i begsars child. Hes just A. good a
ans Of the boss around here. and Ill not
have him ashamed to be seen with the best
uf them
jim covered his lace with his hands, but
could not hide tile tears Of joy that came
trickling through bis fingers. Ills father
saw them. Laying his hand on the boys 8
head. he made this promise, speaking in =
solemn voice.
:" will drink nu:hing stronger than tea
or cullee while | live, Cod being my hel-
per y
Oh, thank Cod" almost wildly ex-
claimed Jlm's mother, dropping upon her
knees and clasping her hssband's neck.
oh, thanks be to God = she repeated.
!" lie will be your helper. IN him i all
compassion and all strength; but without
hun our poor resolves arc IS lax 10 tie
lire ~
Freddy stood looking on Iur little
while, greatly moved By what was pass.
Ing then ne walked quietly 10 the door,
and was going cu., when MI. Hsrwood
called 10 him, sayings
Just one word before you 20. I'm sor-
~ 20 say IL: but is 10 my thought now,
and feel IL had better come out. May
be wouldn't cay il another time."
Freddy stopped and turned toward Mr..
Harwood.
"rm sorry TO say II, Freddy. ! am. for
you're q nice boy and have always been