Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-11-25
v instructed our children not to

ly instructed our children not to
appropriate to their use any article
whatever of family consumption,
without permission; when the de-
mand was at all reasonable, it had
never been denied them. She was
10th to suspect any one of the offense.
We, had a servant girl in the family,
but as she was supposed to know
nothing of the apples, my wife l'esi-
tated to charge it upon her. She at
length broke the silence by saying:
1--WE must exemine the affair. l can
hardly think one of the children
would so act. If we find them guilty,
We must reprove them. Will you
please look into it," 81
The girls were separately brought
into my presence-the eldest one
first. 800
ELIZA, did you take from your
mothers drawer an apple?' a''No,
sir.'' - 81 asE-3s8&
s:Maria, did you take from your
mothers drawer an. apple?" mo,
sir.o Z 81 beie
MARY, did you take from your
mother'si drawer an apple?" "No,
sir.''' 42fiiyTqUE - gXTg chi z
at must have been taken by the
servant; call her to me-" said ], adj
dressing my wife. i9.f5nstas if
"Nell, how came you to take from
the drawer Of your mistress, without
permission, the largest of the apples
she had placed there?" 'Wot apples?'
"Did you not take apples from the
drawer of your mistress" NO, sah,'
Now it was evident that falsehood
existed somewhere. Could it be that
one of my children hadtold me'a lie?
The thought harassed me. / was not
able to attend to business. ! went to
the store, but soon returned again.
Meanwhile, the servant-girl- had
communicated to her mistress that
she had seen our youngest go into
the garnet with a large apple the
morning before. On examination,
the core and several pieces of the
rind were found upon the floor. /
again called Mary to me, and said to
her affectionately:
"Mary, my daughter, did you not
go into the garnet yesterday"
Eyes, SIR"
"Did you go there with an apple:"
"No, SIR"
"Did you notice anything on the
fioor?"
"No, SIR"
/ was unwilling to believe my
sweet child capable Of telling me a
falsehood; but appearances seemed
against her. The fault lay between
her and the servant; and while was
DESTROYS to acquit my child, | did not
wish to accuse unjustly the negro. !
therefore took Mary into room
alone; / spoke to her of the enormity
of lying-of the necessity Of telling
the truth-of the severe penalty l
should be compelled to inflict 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 !
/ became convinced Of her guilt; and
now / felt determined she should
confess it. My threatening was not
without effect. After weeping and
protesting her innocence, and weep
ing and again protesting, my threat
enings seemed to alarm her; and fall
ing on her knees, she said, "Father,
I did take the apple"
| Never shall forget that moment.
My child confessed that she was a
liar in my presence!
SURPRISING the emotion, ] retired;
and Mary, rising from her position,
ran to hermother, and in paroxysm
of grief cried out: another, did
not take the apple, but father has
made meconfess that l 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 possible that
she was confirmed Har' Necessity
was stronger than the tenderness Of
the father. ] chastised her for the
first time in my life--seyerely chas-
tised her! 1t almost broke her heart,
and I may add, it almost broke mine
also. a.e
Yet Mary was innocent! After
events proved that the negro was the
thief. She had conjured up the story
Of the garnet, knowing that Mary
would not deny having been there;
and to make the circumstances
stronger against her, had strewn
apple-rinds on the floor. never
think of the event without tears.
But it has taught me useful lesson,
and that is, never to threaten Il child
into lie, when it may be he is tell
4 I. H., 7