Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-07-04
SELECTED STORY.
A HASTY WORD.

"Harry, said 70 our uVe year Ol0,
will you run and tell Bridget to have
warm biscuits for tear"
he started quickly. and as he started
his foot struck little 'saud upon which I
had placed rare Persian vase. with a
rosebud just unfolding its crimson pet ais
in it. The stand fell over, and tho vase
| "a gift from my motber-was shatser-
ed. !;
"You naughty boy" cried angrily,
"you deserve to be whipped. Pick up
those pieces and put them in the coal
bod. He stopped carefully and picked
up the fragments, carried them away and
was gone for some time. whom he return
ed it was with something tightly olasped
in his hand.
Coming to me he placed Ave-cent
piece in my hand, saying timidly: 49,.
'Will that buy you new vase, NAM
ma?"!
What evil genius possessed me to take
the coin, his sacredly cherished treasure
neighbor had given him, and throw it
from me, I know not.
Harry picked itup with tears running i,
and sat down upon bis stool with his
hands folded so meekly. Presently he
said: !;
Mamma, may I 50 and play With
Eddy Potter?"
II don't care where you Co." said I
crosby, "as long as you keep out Of my
sight"
Harry went to the closet where, his
coat and hat hung put them on and stood
by my side.
:" Mamma, will you please forgive pe7
I'm so sorry!' aud he put up his lips
for kiss. ::
OF God forgiveme. pushed the lit
tie fellow away. He stood by the door
moment looking pitifully at me. it's
twenty-five years ago to-day since be
stood there, but can see him, with his
blue coat and red aud gray worsted ska
ting-cap as the little feet went slowly
down the stairs. I heard him 60 out
and unfasten the gate. Looking out of
the window I saw the little fellow lift bis
face with a smile as he saw me, which
gave place to piti.ul culver of the lips
as he saw took 40 notice. Of him. I
watched the darling down the street with
a strange, underlined. feeling. till tho lit
tie coat aud red mitteus we're no longer
visible. Twice sudden impulse moved
me to call him back, but I crushed it
down. Oh! would God I had. Well, I
seved oil the Winter afternoon. At
four o'clock / put away my work and sat
by the window. Con science begun to
reproach me for my conduct. II don't
care" said I, my beautiful vase is in
ruins"
. What is the value Of all the vases in
the world, compered with our child?
Have you not spoken GROSSLY to that
dear little Harry, who is always so
cheerful and obedient And this is not
the fret time either; and you call your
selfa chri2tain mother. too. Suppose
Harry should be suddenly taken away
from you; would not your cruel words
haunt You forever?
). l co uld bear this no longer. I rose
and picked up the. stray litter about
the room to give it q more tidy appear
ance !.
Then 1 went to the window, peeripg
anxiously through the gloom, but see
ing nothing of my boy. my heart be-
came heavy; this suspense was unbeara
BILE. Hastily throwingsa shawl over my
head. / ran into Mrs. PETERS.
"Have you seen Eddie7" was the
question before entered tho room.
1 "Have you seen Harry?"
He was over here at, haH-past two;
be and Eddie went over. to Josie Gray's
I think"
What she thought I never knew, for
at that moment the door few open and
Eddie rushed in bseathless, screaming
"Oh mother, mother! Harry Loring
is drowned! We were sliding on the
millpond, and there was q hole in the
ice, with snow on it. and Harry didn't
see IL and
rHush. Eddie. said his mother, look
ingSas me fearfully; here is Mrs. Tor
ing"