Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-10

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Bf HARRIET NJ. q. MILLER.
II was a quiet Sabbath evening among Ga,
granite hills and as twilight gave place 6,
darkness, and the stars one by one showed
their sparkling faces, | retired 20 % cham el
with my little prattler of some four and
half years, 20 talk with him, and seek TO d.
rect the little mind in its first uuiolling,
was oudeayoring this evening to give him
some idea OF the commandments, which he wa,
learning to repeat aud in order to explain
the meaning of the words Thou shalt not
steal, used little stories as familiar iustra.
tions. Many question he asked which |
could hardly answer, such as" Mother
would | be a thief If took -omethiu. that
knew folks wanted out of the way2' At
last, after hearing his prayers, left him to
think over the subject and for half hour
his little prattle about the thief" could be
heard, as he communed with himself and
then he was hushed Ia the land Of childhood s
sweet dreams.
The next day he Went to school, and at
roon came bounding in with the ejaculation
" Mother pa must get me a new hoop. and
stick to roll it with, just like Georgy IIol.
brooks
assured him he should have a hoop, but
it was not convenient to get IL that day.
When he came from the evening session. he
ran to me with forced laugh not his usual
one and hoop in his hand, with
" Sec, mother, have found q hoop So
pa won't have to buy me one, will he2"
| saw from his manner, that there was
something wrong, but thought | would not
notice it, but let it come out, as | felt sure it
would SO | answered him Well, darling
you have hoop, aud such a nice one-go
and play with it in the yard and have a good
time
He started, and then came back with
You didn't kiss me, mother, when came
home
Giving me the desired kiss he took his
hoop into the yard ! stood at the window
and watched his movements. He would roll
it little ways, then take it up and look at it,
as though it went wrong; be evidently seemed
to be thinking of something besides the enjoy
ment Of his play Soon the hoop and stick
were carefully put away in the shed, and he
came in and seated himself by my side, with -
PLEASE read to me, or tell me story,
mother, | think I'm too tired to play any
more tonight"
/ told him long story about little how
that did wrong, aud did not tell his dear
mother: how unbannv he was and bon
wretched it made her when she knew it, lie
seemed very uneasy, and then said
/ Now please mother tell me one funny
story; not true one ike YOU know but inst
one to make me laugh. like those Cousin
Mary told me-" (alludinp to some of the
" Mothcr-Goose Stories that a friend had
amused him with.)
told him | could not tell him any of that
sort, for | did not think they would make
him feel happy. Well tea time came. and
then his hour for rest. | went to his cham.
Der as usual, TO hear his PRAYERS. and | thougbt
the little heart that had done wrong would
tell me the trouble that / eould see filed /,
But conscience had not whisnered ouite enoncb
and forbore to question him. When cSve
him the goodnight kiss he said;
You do love me. don't YOU. mother ?n
." Certainly. | always love INV darling III.
tie boy"
Well. God loves me. too don't he moth.
er ~
Yes, darling, he always loves oood chill
dren but if they do wrong it prieves him
very much. hone nv little Grenyille
won't do wrong. because he has had a dear
mother TO tell him the RIGHT wov and deor
ornban obil5ron ,bat hod ~ , o,a ' = p'o. ~
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