The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-01-20
Bertie's Mistake.

Bertie's Mistake.
"Mamma is very busy, and I'm GO
ing to help her," said BERTHE, resolute-
ly, to himself. "Let me see-what will
/ do? I'll wind the clock, first thing
and them
BERTHE pushed chair up to the table,
climbed into it, and from it to the table,
and succeeded in reaching the clock.
He opened the "funny little door," and
after watching the pendulum two or
three minutes, took out the key. When
he thought the clock was wound enough
he tried to get down, wondering what
he should do next, when the chair
tipped and over he went. Mamma
came running in; and there was great
bump for her to bathe-a pair of blue
eyes that looked like violets full of
dew, for BERTHE was little boy, and
could not help crying-a little heart to
be comforted. Mamma did it all and
went back to her work, and Bertie out
doors to play; and nobody thought any
more of the clock till she put her head
in at the door an hour later, glanced
at it, and turned back with little
sigh of relief. ''Not so late as L
thought, by at least an hour! Pm 50
lad! Ishall get through in nice season."
".
"Im hungry may have lunch ?''
Mamma put down her pie-plates,
spread a large slice of wheaton bread
with butter that morning churned, and
had scarcely resumed her work, when
she heard well-known footstep, and
in u moment:
"What bread and butter at this time
of day! BERTHE, boy, couldn't you wait
five minutes for your dinner 2"
"What does that mean?'' thought
Bertie's mamma, as she went hastily
across the room and opened the door
looked at the clock. There were the
hands pointing to ten-just as they had
been, when she looked before.
81 am very sorry" BERTHE heard her
say to papa 'tbut have never known
that clock stop in all the time we've
had it. Ill hurry dinner all can"
"Haven't you a little cold meat of
some kind" he asked.
eyes," she replied. az was going to
mince the corneN beef; but the potatoes
are not boiled enough yet"
''Never mind" said he; "give me a
couple of slices of bread and butter
with cold beef between them, and n
cup of tea, if you can get it quickly;
for 1 must take the early afternoon
train for Milford, on business. I did
not know it when l left home this
morning."
Mamma boiled her kettle as soon as
possible and made the tea.
While waiting, papa went into the
Sitting-room to set the clock, and the
clock wouldn't go! 1t was out of or
der; and little Berthe sorry and
ashamed, but honest, told about his
trying to wind it.
Pono of fret Inol-Hl ,.,, l,o,. ,o,.;.,,,
but he knew his little boys word
would be trusted, and that he had not
willfully done wrong; so he only said
in a gentle tone:
'1Semember this, Berthe; and when
you want to help any one again, look
for the right IcGU to do it. You meant
it well, but you sec you have made
late with her dinner, and it |
will cost dollar or moro to repair the |
clock"
Bertie's lip quivcred, and tears rolled |
down. "Please, papa" he said, "take
the money in my bank to pay for the
enough, isn't there ?''
"Papa doesn't want it, darling. He |
wouldn't take it for the world. He
only tells you about this, to have you
careful in time to come"
And Berthe was careful. The pext
NSA " AtSlp MS llOInef, he
asked her what he should do; and this
he found much the best way. BERTHE ,
had begun to learn truth that we are
all of us, little folks and grown folks,
very apt to ovcrlook-that in order to
be ''harmless as DOVES" we must try :
to be ''prudent as serpcnts!"
lfyou practice this while you are
children, you will form the habit; so
that it will be far easier to do so when
you are grown up. 1t will keep you :
rom doing harm, help you to do real
rood, and save YOU many Il heartache,