Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12
fur the Aunte Girtle.
--7ALEssoN TO PARENTS.

fectionery, to present mother and the chill
dren. I need not say how delighted the
little ones were at this expression of pater-
nal consideration. On one occasion I had
purchased some remarkably fine apples
After the repast, half dozen were left un-
touched, and my thrifty companion forth
with removed, them to a place of deposit,
where it was her custom to preserve the
remains of our nick-nacks. A day or two
after, when I had seated myself at the Ia
bic to dine, she said to me smilingly:
$50, father has found the way to my
safety-box, has he p
I was at loss to understand the mean
ing, and desired her to explain. s., @..
"Have you not been in my drawer 2"
"What drawer ?" #:. ..s..H. ZIG ,.
"The upper drawer in my chamber bu-
reau. Did you not take therefrom the lar
gest of the pippins I had put away for the
girls?" ..-I -. .. ...
"No-I did notl''
'sYou did mott" ..... - ~.
"Not I I have not seen an apple since
the evening / purchased them"
A slight cloud passed over the counte-
nance of my wife. She was troubled. The
loss of the apple was in itself nothing but
we had carefully instructed our children not
to appropriate to their use, any article what
ever of family consumption, without per-
mission. When the demand was at all rea-
sonable, it had never been denied them, 80
she was 10th to suspect any one of them of
the offence. We had servant girl in the
family, but as she was supposed to know
nothing of the apples, my wife hesitated to
charge it,upon her. She at length broke
the silence by saying: :"
eve must examine the affair. l can
hardly think one Of the children would so
act. If we find them guilty, We must re-
prove them. Will you please look into it"
The girls were separately called into my
presence; the eldest first. "
"Eliza, did you take from your mothers
drawer, an apple"
"No, sir.
"Maria, did you take from your mothers
drawer, an apple?"
"No, sir. " a.a.
"Mary, did you take from your mothers
drawer, an apple p
"No, sir.
"It must have been taken by the servant !:
call her to me" said I, addressing my wife.
"Nell, how came you to take from the
drawer of your mistress, without permis-
sion .he iasseAt Of the apnles she had pla=
ced there ?''i ., H. ~, Z, '5 =. ,i'.'t 80 :. 2.
"Wot apples 2"
"Did you take no apple from the drawer
of your mistress 2" . ......-
"No, sa. ... .......
Now, it was evident that falsehood exis-
ted somewhere. Could it be that one of
my children had told mea lie? The thought
harrassed me-. was not able to attend to
business. I went to the store-but soon
returned again. Meanwhile the servant
girl had communicated to her mistress that
she had seen our youngest 60 into the gar
Fret with large apple, the morning before.
On examination, the core, and several pie
ces of the rind were found upon the floor.
I again called Mary to me, and said to her
afectionately:
'Mary, my daughter, did you not 60 in
to the garret yesterday"
eyes, sir" ...
"Did you 60 there with an applet"
sNo, sir. ......
"Did you notice anything on the floor p
'tNo, sir" ... ...-...
was unwilling to believe my sweet child
capable of telling me a falsehood; but ap-
pearances were against her. The fault lay
between her and the servant, and while l
was desirous to acquit my child, 1 did not
wish to accuse unjustly the negro. there
fore took Mary into aroom, alone. spoke
to her of the enormity of lying-of the ne
cessity of telling the truth-of the severe
punishment I should be compelled to in
hict upon her, if she did not confess the
whole to me, and with tears in my eyes
urged her to say that she had done it, if
indeed she had. Gradually I became con-
vinced of her guilt; and now I felt deter
mined she should confess it. My threat
enings were not without effect. After
weeping and protesting her innocence, and
weeping and again protesting, my threaten
ing seemed to alarm her, and falling upon
her knees, she said: "Father, l did take
the apple"
Never shall forget that moment. My
child confessed that she was liar, in my
presence.
Suppressing my emotion, I retired; and
Mary, rising from her position, ran to her
mother, and in paroxysm of grief cried
out:
sMother, did not take the apple. But
father has made me confess that I did,"
Here was new aspect of affairs. Lie
,, multiplied upon lie. Could it be possible
My dear Mary, who had never been known
to deceive us-so affectionate-so gentle
so truthful in all the past-could it be pos
sible that she was a confirmed liar! Ne
: cessity was stronger than the tenderness of
the father. Ichastised her for the first
time in my life-severely, severely chasti:
sed her 1t almost broke her heart-and
I may add, it almost broke mine also.
Yet Mary was innocent! After-events
!. proved that the negro was the thief. She
had coniured up the story of the garret,
knowing that Mary would not deny having
been there, and to make the circumstances
strong AGAINST her, had strewn apple-rinds