Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-09

LA what a delicious simpleton you are,
Master Morrow - exclaimed the laughing
sprite NOW you shall see the one who loves
you best"
Then, mirrored in the CLASSY fountain, was
a face so calm and beautiful, so loving kind,
and holy. Allen claspcd his hands and sighed,
" My motherl" And gazing down, he seem-
ed to behold, as in panorama, all her loving,
tender care for him all her midnight vigls
her hours Of weary toll her moments Of onx-
iety and pain he heard again her words Of
counsel and reproof, of love and hope, and
confidence. Could he botray that confidence?
disappoint those fond hopes ? return that pure,
unselhsh love with base ingraiitude2 I'M
possible
90 on =" cried Allen, with deep interest;
" show me something more !" and, as il an
swering to his very thought, he bohcld a scene
of such mournful interest that the tears flow
ed, unwittingly, down his checks. II was his
fathers death-bed
." My son." said the dying parent, (Allen
seemed to hear It once again,) "you will not
always be a child; to your loving, thoughtful
care commend this dear mother and precious
sister. God help you TO be their comfort and
protector when ! am gone
This scene vanished, like the preceding
leaving Allen still unsatished
q" Go on, beautiful maiden show me what
came aflerward ; how was that trust fulilledY'
90, this is getting serious, Allen replied
the water-nymph, smiling through her tears !;
b" wish had not nodded with my sisters
mirror But if you will have it, remember,
Fancy, not Truth, holds it before you
Scarcely needing her words, Allen gazad
expectantly into the fountain, when lol all
vanished from his sight, and without thought
of wonder how he came there, he found HIM
self Just balancing upon the ba k bedroom
window-sill, overlooking the wood-shed men,
tally agitating the question whether to go or
not to 90 with Corny.
Il was but a little thing. A harmless frol-
ic on one side-on the other, hum-drum duty.
1t was scarcely worth the anxiety with which
he deliberated upon it. Alas he forgot that
in such case, he who deliberatos is lost, "
that step one way, the right way, is peace
and safety, and honor step the other way
is perdition.
The household was asleep. From his
mothers room which stood ajar, seemed tC
come unspcakablc, holy influences, bidding
him pause. From round the low couch where
Bessie slept in her innocence, angels seemed
to beckon with warning gesture.
But from without came a sound more po
tent than them all I; it was Corny Browns low
whistle, from where the whole truant car
awaited him in the shadow of the indens
| At that magic note, all better thoughts van
ished, and guiding quickly over the low roof
he leaped lightly to the ground and JOINED
them.
Foremost among the frocklickers, mort
madly gay more recklessly bent on mischie
than all the rest, was Allen. Corny himself
who planned the expedition, and "by hook
and by crook literally, had got together
sumptuous little supper, felt his laurels en-
tirely ovcrshadowed.
Some hours later, when Allen laid hi
head upon his pillow it was with a glorious
sense Of having cut his leading strings,
and vcntured for himself
But moonlight is a gay deceivcr, clothing
things ugly and uncanny in charming mys
terry and softening shadows Daylight reveal
all their deformities. At least so though
Allen, as he dressed himself, in spite of a dul
stupid headache, and went down to lat
breakfast. The splendid little escapade Q
the night before, now seemed the extreme G
childish folly nay, more with his enlight
cned conscience he already began to suffer a
the pangs of remorse.
; You are late, Allen" said his mother
pleasantly; then noticing something unusua
in his appearance, What's the matter m
son; are you i'll ? did you sleep well ~
" Headache" was the reply Allen gave
and that, without looking up.
1t was useless to try to eat, and his mothe
in her kindness, arranging the pillows on tn
lounge, insisted upon his lying down. The
darkening the room, she moved quietly abou
her household tasks.
I, But little Bessie, glad to have Ally a
home whatever the cause, drew her rocke
up beside him, and laid her soft little han
on his hot forehead cooling her sweet word
of sympathy in his ear.
1t was too much. Allen turned his face
the wall and feigned sleep. while bitter teai
forced themselves between his shut eyelid
What would he not give only for the courae
to confess and be forgiven
In the afternoon he was better, and wen
to school. But even here conscience pursue
and tormented him. " My son, il sinners Ell
tice thee, consent thou not" stared at hil
from his copy book.
90, what tangled well we weave,
When first practice 10 deceive"
That was the parsing lesson and surely ii
masters glance meant something when
, called upon Allen to give the analysis. Bl
good romp with Corny aud the rest, in Il
r course of the afternoon, did much to restoi
e his spirits; and he finally concluded thi
, il was all nonsense to torment himself abol
f such triAing sins, if sins they could be ealle
9 As Corney said, "Why need boys make o
fogies Of themselves"
Q And so the Rubicon was passed. All'
/. was fairly in the enemy's country, not to Co
quer---but to be conquered not to fight, b
to yield almost without struggle. To ba
\ ter truth and honor for few transient hou
Of giddy pleasure.
q Henceforth Aliens course inclined to CIV
g He yielded more and more the better persu
:. sions of his boon companions. He stiff
q more and more the better voice within. |
# shrank more and more from his mother
earnest glance, treating her reproois, first wi
u Indifference, then with opon contempt
4 lie was to Bessie no longer her ideal heI
though she clung to him with all sistel
!. love. Neighbors shook their heads with OF
inous sighs, and his mother carried in h
/. heart oeaseless burden of anguish.
Allen was fully aware Of it all, but an irr
n sistible fascination lured him on. The Gig
and winc.glass lent their baneiul inhuene
. 90. ~. ....-.I tb,t osta urbau vnuur npor