The Van Buren press., 1871-02-07
MISCELLANY.
Hasty Words.

| well have one Just Ake IL.
| glanced at four-year old Harry whG
had constructed most wonderful edifice
in the middle OF my sitting room.
Il am afraid it would not keep out
much of the snow," said l.
I" But it would be SO nice in summer.
said Harry, laughing merrily, and spring
ing to my side, he threw his little arms
around my neck, saying, "Oh mamma, !
love you"
Harry said l. "will you run and
tell Bridget to have warm biscuit for
tea q He started quickly, and as he did
SO his foot caught in light stand upon
which had placed rare Partisan vase,
with rose bud just unfolding its Grim.
son petals in it. The stand fell over,
and the vase a gift from my dead moth
er) was shattered. t.|.H
=" You naughty boy" l cried angrily,
"you deserve to be whipped. Pick up
these pieces instantly, and put them in
the coal hod." He stopped, carefully
picked up the pieces, scratching his little
fingers against the sharp edges. He car
ried them away and was gone some time
When he returned it was with some
thing casped tightly in his hand.
Coming to me he placed five cent
piece in my lap. saying, timidly, (" will
! that buy you a vase, mammay'
What evil genius possessed me to take
the coin, his sacredy cherished treasure,
Ca kind neighbor had given for some lit
tie ollice) and throw it from me, / know
not. .... .......
He picked it up with tears running
down his face, and sat down upon his
stool with bis stands foldly so meekly.
Presently he said, "May l go and play
with Eddie Porter?"
81 don't care .ghere you co. said
GROSSLY, $50 you keep cut OF my sight"
Harry went to the closet where his
coat and hat hung, put them on, and
came and stood by my side. .t
p" Mamma will you please forgive me ?
I'm sorry" and he put his lips up for a
kiss. O, God, forgive me | pushed
the little fellow away He stood by the
door moment 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 grey worsted
skating cap, and the little red mittens, as
if it were but yesterday. But / looked
coldly at him. The door opened and shut
the little feet went slowly down stairs,
heard him 90 out and unfasten the gate.
Looking out of the window, saw the
little fellow lift his face with smile
when he saw me, which gave place to q
pitiful quiyer Of the lips as he saw took
no notice of him. watched the darling
down the street with strange undeGned
feeling, till the little coat and red mittens
were no longer visible. Twice sudden
impulse moved me to call him back, but
| crushed it down. Oh, would to God
had Well, sewed all through the af-
ternoon. At four O'Clock, ! put away
my sewing and sat by the window. Con-
science began to reproach me for my
conduct, II don't care" said |, my
beautiful vase is ruin" "What is the
value Of all the vases in the world com
pared to your child? Have yon not
spoken cross to that dear little Harry,
who, is always 80 cheerful and obedlent
And this is not the first time either, and
you call yourself q Christian mother,too !.
Suppose Harry should be suddenly taken
from you, wouldn't your cruel words
haunt you forever;'
! could bear this no longer, ! rose
and picked up the stray litter about the
room, to give more tidy appearance.
Then | went to the window; peering
anxiously through the gloom, but not
seeing my boy, my heart became terribly
heavy; this suspension was unbearable.
Hastily throwing a shawl over my head
ran into Mrs. Porter's, =" Have you
seen Eddie 2" was the question before
entered the room. "Have you seen
Harry y lie was over here at half
past two; he and Eddie went over to
Josie Gray's think"
What she Thought l never knew, for
at that moment Eddie rushed in breath
less, screaming Mother, mother, Harry
Loring is drowned! We were sliding on
the mill pond. and there was hole in
the ice with snow on it, and Harry did Mt
see it, and"
"uush, Eddie" said his mother, look
ing az me fearfully. "Hcre is Mrs. Lor-
ing"
There was great silence in the room,
broken only by the blithe sweet voice Of
a canary and the purr ofa Maltese cat.
Presently Mrs. Porter came toward me,
and placed her hand softly upon my
shoulder saying Ella, my poor child y
never moved, but sat with wide open
eyes upon an awful picture. A cold,
gray afternoon; pond, little boys play
ing on it, one little fellow well known to
me, suddenly disappearing through the
treacherous ice. down, down, the little
hands grasping at cruel weeds, tue sweet
mouth full of water. And those wicked,
sinful words ringing through my ears,
Il don't care where you go, SO you
keep out OF amy sight" There was u
mist before my eyes, a ringing in my
ears. remember leaving the house with
blind feeling Of going where my Harry
was Then came horrible feeling Of