Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-25
TRUTH AND FALsEHoOD.
BY CLARA SEYMOUR.

TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD.
BY CLARA SEYMOUR.
Did any of my young readers eve
hear the story of Honestus Woodmar
and his neighboI Cheathim?
Many, many years ago, when L wa:
young, we had school-book, in which
was long story in rhyme about these
two neighbors. / have forgotten the
rhyme, but will try to tell you the story
Perhaps some of Young ngAnaerica's friends
have read it, but there may be many
more who have not.
The little brown cottage of Mr.. Wood
man stood near a wood where this hon
est man went to work every day, cut
ting down the trees for other people who
owned the wood, and who paid him fol
his labor and in this way he bought
food and clothing for his children.
Mrs. Woodman was nice, tidy wo-
man, who kept the children's clothing
washed and mended neatly, and sent
them to school when there was one.
One very cold morning Mr.. WoOdman
went into the wood to cut some fuel for
their own fire. The frost made his toes
ache as he trudged along with his ak on
of peony; but he didn't stop for that;
at last he began to cut the trunk of a
arge oak-tree which stood near the bank
of the river. The tree was large and the
man was strong, but after several hard
strokes of the ak, Mr.. WOodman thought
he would sit down and rest himself; by
this time his work had warmedhis nose
and his toes.
just as he turned around to find a
place to sit down, he hit his foot against
his AK, and down, down 1t slid OF the
frosty bank into the river.
Oh, dear how bad the man felt; for
he had no money to buy another. So
he sat and talked to himself like this, or
somewhat like it:
"Oh, dear! I've lost my ak! l have
had it long time; it seemed like an old
friend to me, and don't know how in
the world 1 shah get another"
Now Young America must be told
that this happened a great while ago,
when there were water nymphs in every
lake and river. Poets tell US that dry
ads lived in hollow trees, and breads
lived on the tops of high hill and noun
tains, and sylphs rode on the wings OF
the wind. You have read enough OF
fables to believe as much as you please
of this.
Well, the good water-nymph, or maid
of the river, heard how badly Honestus
Woodman lamented the loss of his old
ak She arose from the water, and stood
looking at the sorrowful man.
Soon Mr.. Woodman raised his eyes
and saW her looking at him so pitifully
that he felt "bunch in his throat" and
didn't speak word until she asked him
what could be the matter.
So he told the sorrowful Story. She
did not doubt word of what he said,
for truthful people tell the truth so
straight forward that one cannot help
believing them. She told the good man
not to be sad, for size would go down to
the bottom of the river and try to find
it.
She plunged down out of sight, in the
cold, cold water. and very soon rose
again, and held up to his wandering
eyes an AK of silver. How it shone in
the bright sun!
''Is this your ax?" she asked.
"Oh, MOP, said the honest man, and
shook his head sadly.
The nymph laid the ak on the bank,
for she felt sure man who would not
tell a lie for silver ak would not steal
one.
And then she went down again under
the cold water of the river. Soon up
she came, holding in her hand gold
ak. The helve, the head, all was pure,
solid gold.
"Is this the ak you lost?" asked the
good naiad.
Oh, no, no, no, no! 1t is worth great
deal more than mine, but 1t is not
mine"
"Well, let this one. lie on the bank
with the other, and I will try it again."
for she thought man who would not
tell lie for gold ak would not steal
Dne.
Down, down she went, the third time,
and arose, holding up the old ak, and
asked:
"Is this your ak ?" !
"Yes, that is my ak" the woodman
cried as soon as he saw it.
"Well, know it is; and, as you could
not, or would not tell a lie, neither for a
silver ak nor gold one, you are well
come to all three"
Out of sight sank the good genius of
the river, and Mr.. Woodman started for
home. On the way he Glanced to meet
his neighbor Cheathim, who was almost
surprised out of his wits to see poor Mr..
such load of axes. He
soon heard the whole story, and then
passed on his way.
He thought he would 60 and lose his
AK too. He followed in the path to the
wood, and soon went to cutting on the
same tree his neighbor had left. He cut
away awhile, then turned around and
dropped his ak into the stream. Then |
he sat down and tried to mourn in the
same words that Woodman did for his |
Ak.
Soon the besuteous Water Spirit arose
rom the half frozen stream, and ssked
him what was the matter. 1--WE lost |
my AK, an AK valued as do my eyes. |
,old water as l once could; can you not |
lelp me to get it, good naiad?"
"I'll see what / can do" the nymph
'splied, and sunk out OF sight.
When she arose again she held hiQh
n the air beautiful, shining gold az.
"Ah-that's my AK" exclaimed Mr..
Cheathim. "a
mot so fast" said the naiad. ~ am
lot cheated, although you have lied to
lie. This AK is mine; shall lay it upon
ny shelf. No doubt yours is just where
you threw it, and if you want it you
must go down and get it for yourself.
never help those people who will not
tick to the truth. Truth is of more val
lie than all the silver and geld axes In
he world"
do not think Mr.. Cheathim got his
* from the deep river. Don't we hope
he little Woodmans all had new jackets
md trousers for the cold winter, and
lew boots for their feet, and warm nit
ems for their hands, and that they al
Ways followed the example oftheir hon.
st her?-Demorest's Young Ameri-
%, -. fFi.sr Co. ''