The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-04-27
A Mutual Reform.
BY BRITSMATE.

| An early caller who had happened to
drop into the usually CHEEKY breakfast
parlor of the Hildreths, one morning in
December, would have found something
forbidding and uncomfortable in the air.
Not exaltly a family jar" for the Hill
dreths were too we'll bred for such a mis-
hap still the family equanamity was
| somewhat disturbed. Mr.. Hildreth
usually grave and stately, looked very
stiff and stern Mrs. Hildreth looked
sad, and had suspicious moisture in
her eyes; Miss Hildreth looked half
vexed and wholly grieved and the cause
of this little unpleasantness," hand
some, reckless Owen Hildreth, sat with
sullen, defiant look upon his usually
| too merry face, that i'll replaced the
smiles for which the laughing mouth,
and flashing black eyes seemed made.
Something Of remorse, too, was in
his look, although his pride struggled
hard too couceal it. His sister, as she
in the face of her idolized brother, but
his mother did not see it F.; n or his faith
er; if he had, perhaps his voice and
manner would have been less stern when
he spoke to Owen.
''And now SIR he concluded a pre-
vious exhortation, II want you to un~
derstand that this sort of thing must
cease You are disgracing your family,
and running your prospects for life; at
the rate at which you are now progress
ing, you will be a worthless RoUE by
the time you are thirty. I have coun-
selled you and entreated you to abapd-
oued your dissipated habits advice and
entreaty have done no good, and I shall
now command you to make an imme-
date reform"
And Mr.. Hildreth rose and walked
stifly from the room followed by his
meek better half
Owen remained gloomily silent, with
his curly head resting upon his hands,
and feeling an uncomfortable wish that
his sister would say something, com
blned with an equally uncomfortable
feeling that she would not. Presently
pair of caressing arms stole about his
neck, a soft cheek was laid against his
pushed brow, and his sisters sweet
voice whispered gently:
"Owen, dear, don't feel so papa is
right, you know he is. Owen"
Owen made DO reply but bent his head
little lower, while perceptible tremor
shook his frame. Kate smoothed his
dark curls, and whispered again:
Now, Owen, you know you'v been a
naughty boy, and you should not be
angry at papa. You know how much he
hopes from you
He expects too much - replied Ow-
en- sharply. HE seems to think a fell
low ought to develope into man of
business as soon as he leaves the col
lege -
", O"Ou 2! demonstrated Nate
you kno wbetter, you know papa Doesn't
expect more than you ought to be will
ling to do. Why don't you listen to
reason %
III listen to anything from you
Kate, " lifting his head and looking into
her sweet face,
Kate laughed, and taking seat be~
side him said coaxingly:
All that papa asks 6f you Owen, is to
give up the society of fast young men
with whom you go about too much.
Abandon designations into which YOU
.re falling, and try to form sober and
ste ady habits
owen said nothing. and Kate urged.
NOV won't you try, dear Owen?o
Owen looked euriously at her. as he an
sUered:
Kate, I'll make you an offer. I'lIre
form if you will"
IF L will?' queried Kate puzzled.
YES. replied her brother with