The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-26
Select Story.
ONLY a CENT.

- ""S ohiJ a. WIN, 1ou 5dl
"Yes'm," said the old woman, meek
ly. "Only cent. 'Tisn't the value oil
the money. I'd not have come for that
but when little Master Harry took il
out of my till, you know, ma am, it was
a theft all the same as if it had been a
dollar"
Absurd" said Mrs. Rose. "The
boy is ouly six years old. He's a mere
baby. There's another cent. OF course
I'm willing to give it to you"
81 don't want the cent" said the old
woman, half crying. "What 1 want is
to have him properly punished"
"You revengeful wretch % said Mrs.
Rose.
"Tain't revenge" said the woman.
ITS love for the child. When my
Ann was a nursery. maid here seen d
heap Of him, and l liked him SO much,
a pretty dear. Please do, ma am, pun.
ish him and learn him not to steal. It's
a mothers duty, ma'am. 'Tisn't only
poor boys that turn up bad"
"This is upbearable," said Mrs. Rose.
"Punish that little fellow for picking
up q cent. How did he know to whom
it belonged. And you--a person like
yoa--to talk to me Of my duty. 1t is
too preposterous.
so, do hear me, ma'am," said the old
woman. "'Twasn't picking up a cent
| was in my back room aud saw through
the curtain. He came in on tip toe,
watching and peeping, aud he slipped
around the counter and took the penny
from the drawer. Then he knocks, and
says he, when comes,
II want cents worth of lemon
drops"
"And l took it away and came to tell
you; not for the Value"
"Take your cent aud Co." said Mrs.
Rose. "After the presents l have sent
you, and kind as was to Ann-gave
her her wedding dress and q set of
china, when she married-to 90 on SO
about paltry penny. Bridget, open
the door. l suppose that Mrs. Jones
don't see it: I've requested her to 60 so
often. And after this, Bridget, when |
send you for trimmings, there is the new
shop TO go to. Quite a decent sort of
person keeps it. Ishall patronize her."
ut was just because Of your kind.
ness, ma'am, that / want Master Harry
to DO cured Of being thief" said the
old woman. "'Twasn't innocent child.
ishness. 1t was sort O. bad way as
iftheft was in him." said the old woman.
"Can you understand 7"
81 understand you are impertincnt,"
said Mrs. Rose. Bridget, give that wo.
man her precious cent, aud lock the
door after her. Here, Harry, pct, come
to mamma. When Harry wants a cent,
don't ask any one but dear papa and
And tho young mother kissed her
darling fondly.
He was a beautiful child, but not a
frank looking one, and his mischief al-
ways developed itselfin secret forays on
the cake box and preserve jars. fo be
sly was natural to him, and tho servants
knew this, If his mother did not.
OF course, he vas not punished. In
decd he seemed to himself rather hero
than a culprit, and the next opportunity
which offered to help himself to that
which did not holnng to him, was seized
upon with ayidity.
He helped himself to knick knacks
IN friends houses, and TO toys belonging
to neighbors children. Ii his mother
forgot her purse upon her dressing
table, he rifed il of change.
Generally he contriyed TO conceal the
depredations and when discnvored,
friends feared to offend the indulgcnt
parents, and contonted themselves with
putting portable property out of Master
Harry's reach when they had tho plea
sure of a visit from that small, but trop-
blcsomc individual.
As for his mother, she thought the
child "too cunning TO scold," and only
shook her head at him when ton cent
pieces dropped ir9m bis jacket pockets,
Or his aunt's missing bracelet was found
in his boot
HSueh things always wear Of. she
said 'sChildren outgrow them"