Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-01
MIscELLAHE Gus.
A FATHERS MISTAKE,

~ I'll Rev. Mr. HoIbrook put the money
~ there, exactly in the middle of the table.
He remembered it distinctly, and lie never
was mistaken But the money was there no
longer. What did it mean?
There stood the little vase Of flowers. the
shadow of the rose bud falling upon the cloth
as he had seen it where he laid the note down.
There were the books aud the little card
basket There. perched up in the great Turk
ish chair, sat his little daughter, making
bed and pillows for her new wax doll. He
had only gone to the front door with the
parishouer who had brought her contribution
for the approaching fair, in the shape of this
very FIVE dollar note, aud now it was gone.
There was no breeze to stir it, for the wins
dows were shut |, was certain that Lilly
sat where she had been seated when he left
the room. PerpIcxed and angry, the father
questioned her.
Lilly, where is that money that laid here?"
Lilly shook her head.
''l1ss Lilly got any money ?"
Lilly nodded
SHOW it to papa"
Lilly lsd down her vo7k-oh, such
crooked little bag, with stitches an inch long
on the edges and letting herself down from
the chair, came slowly across the room, and
stood s0iemnly before her father.
Its in both my pockets" she fsid, and put
a tiny hand into each aud drew out two cents
MS that all ?" asked the clergyman.
YES" said Lilly
''You did not see any on the table ?"
mo- said Lilly; mo, thir," and won't
back to her work again.
The clergyman paced tie room, looked in
to the corners, and surveyed the length of
fl,on H., L.
Chilly, who has been in the room since I
left it?"
Alter awhile, she said
''Ned did"
"Ned?"
Yes, sir"
'What did he do?''
''Ele took flower out of the vase, and
put it in his coat button"
The vase the table," asked the clergy
man.
"Yes SIR" said Lilly, "Then he went
right away to the school,"
This was added because the little creature
saw anger in her fathers eye, and knew that
a great dislike for school, on her brothers.
part, was frequent cause of displcasure and
reprimand.
'.I know" answered the little creature,
soIemnly. "that he runned all the way,
''Aha p said the c!ereymnn-and tbss1t
walked to the window and hid his face
hands He had cold heart, but II was .
pitifuly Just then lie wss teuders6o NOV
but he Ionged to he proud of his son, an
suspicion that was terrible to harbor passessed
him
Ned was wild boy. and an idler. He
shirked Sabbath school and was inattentive
in church He hated study He loves
the company of map>cap boys; his mother
idolzed him and spoiled him so his father
thought he was going straight down to per-
dition, perhaps. Who knew for it seemed
likely to the father that Ned had stolen that
five dollar note.
For the present, however, he kept his
thoughts to himself, merely commanding his
ohedient wife, who came into the room in
few moments. to search it thoroughly aud to
make sure the money vas not to be found
Then he locked himself into his study. and
suffered horribly in silence for four long hours.
when an interruption came in the shape of an
old man. one of the poor of the congregation,
who had doIorous tale to tell of hard times
at home, and of his rheumatism, and his
wife's chills and fever
Relieved with some small change and
large OuDOIe o! tIacIS, thls goOo man was
about to depart, when a thought seemed to
strike him. and he turned towards the pas
tor. opened his mouth. shut it again, and
was about to pass through the door when the
clergyman said:
''Well, Watkins ?"
And he came to halt again
II suppose it ant none O. my business" !"
he said "But I kinder felt I'd orter tell -
DO as your conscience prompts you, Wat
kins." said the clergyman.
eyes SIR" said Watkins ''But you see.
may be you won't thank me. Other folks,