Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-12
/" Only this Once"

!
"OnIy this Once"
"I'l be 10 again very soon, mother | am
only going round the corner to see Whites
new billiard rooms = and cap in hand, Har-
ry was closing the parlor door when his moth
or called him back
cannot consent to your going there my
dear" she said "you must know that both
your father and myself dsapproye Of all such
/ places"
But don't intend to play, mother only
to look on. The boys say the tables are splen-
did and besides what could tell Jim Ward
after promising to 90 with him ? He is wait.
ing outside for me. Please say Yes only
this once
tell Jim that we would prefer you
should not go, and ask him to walk 10 and
spend the evening said IIarry's father, as
he looked up from the paper.
90, know he wont do that ~ aud Harry
stood turning the door.handle, till finding that
his parents did not intend to say anything
more, he walked slowly to the front step
Why don you iiu.-y lone " called jim
" and not keep fellow standing all night in
the cold?"
"I am not going. Wont you come in 2''
said Harry.
Not going Your mother surely does
not object to your looking at billiard table. -
She would prefer | should not 90, said
Harry, and Jims only reply was very sig
ni(icant whistle as be walked of.
He'll be sure to tell all the boys !" said
Harry, half aloud, as he shut the front door
with rather more force than was necessary
81 don't see what does make father and
mother SO particular :" Then, entering the
parlor, he took the first book that came to
hand from the table, and taking seat very
Ear from the light, looked exceedingly unami-
able.
His father laid aside the paper, aud with.
out seeming to notice Harry's mood, said
pleasantly. 81 wonder if my son thinks
himself too old for story if not have
one to tell him about only this once.
The book Harry had taken up, and which
chanced to be one Of his fathers on civil en-
giueering, was returned to the table but be
still kept thinking of what the boys would
say when Jim told an exaggerated story.
"When was about your age, Harry, We
lived next door to Mr.. Allen, very wealthy
gentleman who had one son. As Frank was
= good.natured merry boy, and had his two
beautiful ponies several dogs, and large
playground We soon made friends. Many
an afternoon did we spend together riding
the ponies or playing on the playground, anC
one summer afternoon, in particular, nevei
expect to forget, for it seems to me now look
ing back upon it, as the turning point o
Frank life; but we little thought Of such q
thing at the time. 1t only seemed to us
very warm afternoon and, becoming tired oi
playing ball. we had stopped to rest on th'
piazza, when he proposed that We should taks
f the ponies to a plank road few miles from
the house and race them. was sure biz
father would disapprove Of this, and besides
it would have been most cruel work on such
a warm afternoon SO | tried to make Frank
think of something else he would like to dc
Instead but all in vain"
(" | think you might CO. Charlie" he said
" What's the harm of doing it only just thii
once just want to see if either of my
ponies is likely to be fast trotter."
For one moment | hesitated, but in th'
next came the thought of my fathers dis
pleasure, and | shook my head
"Very well, just as you please, Mr.. GooC
Boy know plenty who will be glad oi
the chance to ride Jet" and so saying h'
walked off
" Frank did find boy who was delighted
to go with him and enjoyed the race so much
that, Notwithstanding his fathers reprimanc
ne managed to pursue the same sport more
times than only that once"
=" AS soon as the summer was ended Mr.
Allen went to Europe for his health, and
did not see him again for three years, till
left the country aud entered the same colleg,
with him Frank commenced studying very
earnestly but before the first year was ended
the earnestness had passed away. Friends
would induce him to spend his evenings al
their rooms or some public place of amuse
ment, and each time Frank would try and
satisfy his conscience with 1t will be oply
this once. Thus BY degrees his lessons were
.,l L., t,.la