The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-08-25
Mist&IIaneous Solutions.
A Hasty word and what Followed.

"A TASTY WOIQ ana WQaL Z OllOWed
Harry" said 1 to our little five
year old, "will you run and tel
Bridget to have warm biscuit fol
tea" He started quickly and as ht
started, his foot caught in a little
stand upon which 1 had PLACED g
rare Parian vase, with a rosebud
just opening its crimson petals in it
The stand fell over, and the vase Ia
gift from my dear mother was shat
tered.
"You naughty boyp 1. cried
angrily, "You deserve to be whip
ped. Pick up those pieces instantly
and put them in the coal hod." He
stopped, carefully picked up the
fragments, carried them away, and
was gone sometime. When he re-
turned it was with something tight
" clasped in his hand.
Coming to me he placed a five
cent piece in my hand, saying tim
idly:
"Wlu that buy you a new vase,
mammal?
What evil demon possessed me to
take the coin, his sacredly cherished
treasure, kind neighbor had given,
and throw it from me, l know not.
Harry picked it up with tears run
ming, and sat down upon his stool
with his hands folded so meekly.
Presently he-said: "May 1 go and
play with Eddie Potter?"
81 don't care where you CO." said
], Grossly, "as long as you keep out
ofmy sight"
Harry went to the closet where his
coat and hat hung, put them on, and
came and stood by my side.
"Mamma, will you please forgive
me? Pm so sorry~ and he put his
lips up for kiss. o, God forgive
me! 1 pushed the little fellow
away. He stood by the door a mo-
ment, looking pitifully at me. 1t is
twenty-five years ago to-day since
he stood there; but l can see him,
with his blue coat and red and gray
worsted skating cap and the little
red mittens, as if it were yesterday.
But 1 looked coldly at him; the door
opened and shut, the little feet went
slowly down the stairs. / heard
him 90 out and unfasten the gate.
Looking out of the window, l saw
the little fellow lift his face with a
smile as he saw me, which gave
place to a pitiful quiver of the lips
as he saw 1 took no notice of him.
watched the darling down the
street, with a strange, underlined
feeling, until the little coat and red
mittens were no longer visible.
Twice a sudden impulse moved me
to call him back, but 1 crushed it
down. Oh! would to God I had.
Well, / sewed all through that win
ter afternoon. At four o'clock Il
put away my work and sat by the
window. Conscience began to re-
proach me for my conduct. 81
don't care" said 1 my beautiful
vase is ruin" "What is the value
of all the vases in the world com
pared with your child? Have you
not spoken GROSSLY to that dear little
Harry, who is always so cheerful and
obedient? And this is not the first
time either, and you calling yourself
a Christian mother, too! Suppose
Harry should be suddenly taken
from you; wouldn't your cruel words
haunt you forever?
/ could bear it no longer. l arose
and picked up the stray litter about
the room to give it more tidy ap-
pearance.
Then 1 went to the window, peer
ing anxiously through the gloom,
but seeing nothing of my boy, my
heart became terribly heavy; this
suspense was unbearable. Hastily
throwing a shawl over my head, l
ran into Mrs. Potter's.
"Have you seen Eddie?" was the
question, before l had entered the
room.
aHave you seen Harry2" I in
quired.
"He was here at half past two; he
and Eddie went over to Josie Grays.
I think"
What she thought l never knew,
for at that moment the door flew
omen and Eddie rushed in breathless,
screaming:
'Mother, motherl Harry Loring is
drowned. We were sliding on the
mill pond, and there was a hole in
the ice with snow on it, and Harry
didn't see it, and"
sHush, Eddie!p' said his mother,
looking at me fearfully, "here is
Mrs. LoriDg."
There was a great silence in the
room, broken only by the purr Of a
Maltese cat. Presently Mrs. Potter
came toward me, and placed her
hand softly upon my shoulder, say
ing "Ella, my poor child"
But 1 never moved, but sat gazing
with wide open eyes upon an awful
picture. A cold, gray afternoon, a
pond, a little figure well known to
me suddenly disappearing through