The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-02-04
Frank Kinsston's Resolve.

" Hello, Frank where're you bound
for?n cried Ned Hillary to his friend
Frank Kingston.
"Just going home,r said Frank;
"they kept us pretty busy at the shop,
Tonight, we couldn't shut up till late"
well, say, don't stay at home and
NOPE all the evening. It's = splendid
night, let's have some fun"
"What kind of fun?' asked Frank.
"Oh, most anything. \ game Of
billiards, perhaps, to- variety"
Frank hesitated. Heknew very well
that his parents did not approve of his
going to the billiard room, but his fond
ness for the game sometimes overcame
his scrupies.
Well, TH come if IUr,nlesasd
he moved on.
Ned called after him, Don't fail,
that's u good fellow. III meet you at
/ the corner"
1t had been a busy day, and Frank
was tired and hungry. The table was
waiting for him when he reached home,
and his mother met him at the door,
with a smile and pleasant word, but
her voice had IL weary sound which
Franks ear could not fail To catch. He
did not think of it again however, until
having finished his supper, Us he was
about leave the house, his glance fell
on her troubled face. She was rocking
the baby, who was wakeful and wor-
rying the table was vet to be cleared.
and the girl was away on visit to a
sick sister. For an instant Frank de
liberated, then back went the old straw
hat to its nail behind the door, and the
next moment he had coaxed baby from
mothers arnls, and was quieting il as
gently as Il girl. 1t was u pretty pic-
ture they made in the golden twilight
the curly headed boy hushing the
baby sister sleep-and the pleased smile
on their faces told that to her eve, no
painting of any of the masters could be
half so sweet.
Eight O'clock came and baby was
sleeping sOundly. Mother had seated
herself darning stockings, and Frank
was wondering whether 1t was still ear
ly enough to meet Need, when his ia
ther came in with the evening paDers.
"Very busy tonight, Frank?b he
asked. "Myey feel badly and don't
like to use them much. Suppose YOU
read to mother and me-"
1t was something of disappoint
ment, and Frank began the task reluc-
family, but quickly becoming interested
all thoughts of Ned and the evenings
amusements vanished After the read-
ing there was a pleasant chat over the
events of the day, and when Frank
knelt with his father and mother at
prayers, he felt that il had been rest
ful evening.
Heard the news ~ said one of the
shop boys, the next morning.
"What news ~ asked Frank.
Ned Hillary had his eye put out last
niGht-got into quarrel i'm the billiard
Saloon.n
Frank shuddeTed when he Thought
how narrowly he escaped being mixed
up in the same quarrel, and then aud
there, he resolved to have nothing
more to do with tile billiard room.
Had he been at home, making 9TH
ers happy, like my Frank, it would
not have happened she said, with
her loving hand on his shoulder.
Frank hung his head; and then be
cause his sense of honor was too fine
to let him take praise that was unde
served, he confessed how many times
he had been at the billiard room, and
how near he had come to being one
of the party, that night.
"But | shall never go there again.
mother DEAR" he said, seeing the tears
in her eyes.
My boy has no need to pray, Lead
Us not into temptation" she said.
softly. And Frank did pray those
words in way that he had never
prayed them before, and though he
found it hard to refuse an invitation to
play his favorite game. He who gave
hat prayer to His disciples gave him
strength to resist the temptation.