Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-30
NO. 2o6.
GOALS OF FIRE,
sSb HOW THEY BURNED.


II l were to tell you whereabouts the vii.
lage Of I----was situated, YOU might still
fail to lind it on the map; so we will saw
nothing about it except that it was a good
sized place, not quite SO struggling and old
fashioned as many villages, and with a few
neat little shops, as well as a street or two
of cottages. e a
In one of these cottages there lived a labor
er and his wife, and their only child boy
ot nlne or ten years of age.
Tommy Ruffhed was. we are sorry tn say.
most troublesome fellow His saucy face
with It's apple cheeks and twinkling eyes, was
khown--not alone in his own village, but for
several miles round-as the face of the most
tireSome. naughty boy in the county.
| Even the dumb animals knew Tommy, and
this not at all in flattering way. Widow
Browns COW, that grazed SO quietly on the
green, and never looked up when other folks
went by, became quite angry and active when
Tommy appeared; and she frightened him on
one occasion terribly, by galloping after him
half way down the street.
The cocks and hens ran away as anickly
as they could, as soon as they saw Tom.
The ducks took to the water, the cats climbed
trees, the dogs ran to their kennels and
gro"led till he was out of sight; and even
the geese stretched out their long necks and
Missed rs he went by. So from all this We
may see that Tom was not favorite in the
village, but that in fact, he was reckoned the
greatest tease and torment in the whole place.
Now, not far from Mr.. Ruffheds cottage
stood small shop kept by a barber, good
OH man who commonly went by the name Of
Father Snip He was both old and good,
but neither his goodness nor his age could
protect him from our Toms pranks. 3as
The barber had neat little garden at the
back OF his house, and fine apple tree that
grew there had long been a great attraction
to Tom. Autumn drew on apace, and the
fruit with which the tree was laden
began to turn rosy and to glisten in the red
sunset, whenever Tom came out of school,
and glanced up with longing eyes The
temptation grew stronger every day, as all
temptations do when they are not resisted,
and soon the boy felt that he could not rest
until he had secured some Of the apples.
One day, when he was quite sure that the
barber was busy with a customer, he stole
round to the back, climbed over the low fence
into the garden, and in moment more was
under the apple tree, and filling his pockets
with the fruit. His pockets held a good many,
and he was so busy stuffing them and little
bag he had brought with him, that he did not
notice that he had dropped his handkerchief,
a smart printed one, which his mother had
lately bought, and marked with his full name
across one corner. When Tom had picked
as many as he could carry, he saw that he
had nearly stripped the lower branches. ssThe
barber will never find out who took them,
said the boy to himself, as he got over the lit
tie fence and set of towards home; but Tom
forgot how many secret things are brought to
light by the oyer-rulipg power of God, and
how many faults are suffered to lead to their
own detection.
Tommy boy" said Mrs. Ruftbed, one
morning week or two after Toms visit to
the apple tree. your hair is growing very
long and untidy, and you had better step in
at the BARRIERS nyour way home from school,
and have 1t CUT Tom of course made some
objections but his mother insisted, and so
there was nothing for him but to put a bold
face on the matter and do as he was told
lie had not courage. however, to go alone,
but after school asked a small boy, friend
of his, to go with him. 81 needn't be 80
afraid, said Tom to himself as the two
/ boys entered the shop togeather ''no one
saw ne take those apples
Father Ships manner was Just as usual, he
was quite as pleasant and chatty as ever, and
! Tom treathd more freely as the old man clip
ped the untidy ends of hair, and talked so
kindly to him.
'Wait one moment" repeated the old man
have something for you:" and opening d
cupboard he took out little basket and ,has,i-
ly left the room After few minutes, how
ever, he returned, and put the basket into
Toms hands.
Il have lately come to know said he
gently. ''that you are fond of apples please
take these home and enjoy them.
Tom stared a moment, but he managed 10
say Thank you" and then ran ont Of the
shop and home as fast as possible.
He carried tie basket up to his rsoni, emp
tho h.A itl,
out fell his handkerchief, of which he had
never once thought since the day that he had
taken it ont. TWAS quite clean, and neatly
folded with the marked side up, and now
Tommy saw how his theft had been found out
and how gentle had been the old mans deal
ing with him.
! A good thrashing would have hurt To;ns
feelings far less than this kind action; as il
was, he was quite overcome, and sitting down
on the side of his bed, he fairly cried with
shame and self-reproach.
There's only one thing l can do" cried
he at length, starting up and drying his eyes.
II must go and tell him wha, kind man he
is, and how sorry am"
Tom did not wait for second thoughts but
sezing his cap ran down stairs and out at the
DOOR and in few moments he stood on the
threshold of the shop. The old man was
alone. and looking up as be entered, he saw
the flushed wet cheeks and eager eyes, TOOK
in the whtle story of repentance and soften
ed feeling which Tom could not express, snd
held out both hands to him.
During the quarter ofan hour which follow
ed the barber talked to Tom as the boy had
never been spoken to before.
We cannot repeat what passed" but IL may
be well to state that Tom never forgot the
lesson of the apples, but thata change began
in his character and conduct, which after
while made every one love instead of dislike