The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-10-18
THE SECRET.


My singing birding from its nest is flown;
The little boy used to kiss is dead
| THE SECRET.
BY MISS e. B. BARNES.
IA correspondent requests us to repUb
lish the following story, written sever.
al years since for the New York Ob'
server.
"Here boys are twenty shillings fol
each of you, said Mr.. Mitchell to his
twin sons, Clarence and Edward, on q
bright winter morning, as they sat al
breakfast-he handed them each gold
piece" hear that you are at the head
| Of your classes in French and Latin
and this is to express my satisfaction
at your progress. You are at liberty,
of course, to expend it as you please
but there is an art in spending money.
1t may be done selfishly, or disinter-
estedIy. 1t may be productive Of hap.
| piness, or bitter memories, and though
| the sum be small, how to spend it is
worth learning"
"Tell us something about it father, T"
said Clarence, after they both thanked
him cordially. (Which way do you
think best.
az would rather, my son, tba. you
should reflect upon the subject, and
draw your own conclusions. Watch
for an opportunity to do with it some
thing which your heart approves.
The love of money. you know, is call
ed "the root of evil !" but money may
be made the source of gooG. Use it as
you think best" F"
The bows looked very thoughtful.
They wished that he would only say
what he thought best. Then they ap-
pealed to their mother /; but she ap-
proved of their fathers decision, TO
throw the responsibility on themselves,
and call their own judgment into ex-
ercise.
Some DAYS after, as the two boys
were in their fathers library, he said to
them you have not told me how you
spent your gold pieces.
Edward drew his from his pocket.
There it is, father. 1 have not spent
it yet"
at has all gone, father"
"Indeed! and what have you to
show for it?"
"Nothirg, SIR" Clarence bent his
head modestly, but without shame,
and there was q manliness in his tone,
was right.
"Nothing. Well that may be; but
[ viii! venture to cay my boy has not
made an improbable investment.
hope not, sir. Z"
"If he had done wrong with it, he
would not be my Clarence, said the
mother tenderly.
Clarence looked at her with an ex.
preston of deep feeling, then went to
her silently, put his arms affectiOnate-
ly about her ] eek, and laid his head
upon her shoulder. When he raised
| it apain, tear lay upon her robe.
"Darling boy, she embraced him
| tenderly. "The secret is yours. You
have q right to it, and / am sure, it is
an honorable one"
"Thank you, mother, "h he whispered
| In her ear. Does father think SO? Is
he satisfied?" His mother repeated
his question.
$40 be sure, my son. lam satisfied.
Come here, and he threw bis arms
| around him, and laid his head upon
his bosom" Father will trust, where
he has never bad cause to distrust. F"
Clarence could only once more wtis-
per his thanks. 1t was tenderness, not
grief, that caused his tears. He was a
type of all that is noble and generous in
boyhoOd. Had he been otherwise !;
had he expended his gift in folly, or in
vice, no reproaches that could have
been uttered, would have affected him,
or called him to bitter repentance,
like the confidence which was reposed
| in him, and the tenderness which had
just been manifested. To prove him.
self worthy of that love and confidence
| would hencefOrth be his highest earth
ly ambition. Oh! that all parents
would but understand this !! and ap-
pealing to the higher nature, the no.
bier attributes of their children, call
them into exercise.
Edward wishesi from his heart, that
his brother would reveal to him what
he had done, but, there was q code of
honor In that household. as there
should be in every home, and it was un
derstood by all it's members. Clarence
had shown by his silence that he did
not wish to be questioned. Yet, no
one for moment doubted that he had
made right use of his money.
And now, although Clarence sup
poses his secret tn I've safe from all but
the eye of his Father i'm Heaven, we
who have followed him unseen, and
watched him through all, will relate it
in confidence to our readers.
The day on which he received the
gift, was bright, clear and frosty. 1t
was December, and though the sun
shone cloudlessly in the blue heavens,
it had no power upon the icicIes which
fripged the iron ratings, or fell from
the trees in showers of brilliapts, splin-
tered and shivered by the wind. The
air was healthfiil and exhilarating to
the weli-clad; but to the poor unpro-
tected child of want, 1t came too keen
ly. Clarence hurried on, with his
skates flung over his shoulder, to join a
sktaipg party. 1t vas vacation nov.
Eddie was to join them later His
hads were thrust into his coat pockets
and he pressed on against the wind.
when he felt his arm seized from be-
hind.
"Quick! Quick! Come quick, |"
said little barefooted, and barehead-
ed boy, seemingly half frantic with
grief and terror. believe mother is
| dying. Do come quick.
Clarence obeyed impu sively; while
the child clinging to his coat dragged
him on.
The home, if such it could be called,
was not distant; and the scene which
presented itself on his entrance was
| awful indeed. A woman surrounded
| hv three or fopr children screaminv in
terror, was lying on her miserab.e e bed,
In frightful convulsions. The foam
was on her white lips, her cleDched
clasp, and her aspect was altogether