Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-03

anu nc gave IL 10 ulcSS' b'VSS WIN ~
il. II was five dollars. And alter that
did wrong; for we went off together on
n jCllifcation, sir. and that's the truth.
ou believe me. mamma. You do, too.
father, oh. say you do, Let me bring
Gregg. He'll tell you it is So"
No doubt" said the Clergyman.
Nevertheless, | do not believe you. /
will leave you here until this evening
when return you must confess OF suffer
punishment. Hester, come with me-"
"Oh, Af,ed!' sobbed the mother,
don't be so unjust! don't doubt our
poor boy! Can't you see it's true? Ned,
darling, know itis."
But the strong hand ol the clergyman
drew his wife from The room, and turned
the key upon the boy. who stood staring
after them with despair in his great black
eyes.
In his heart Mr.. Ho,brook felt assured
that his boy was both a thie( and liar.
But the mother knew better. The
poor, loving, broken.hearted mother,
who wepl and prayed together. and felt
that at last indeed God had deserted her.
The day passed on. The dinner was
served aud sent away uutasted. The
evening lamps were lighted. The cler-
eyman arose from bis chair aud went
/ toward an old fashioned chimuey.c'osct,
and took from thence riding wuip. The
mother gave n scream, and flew toward
him. and clung TO his arm. He put her
aside and passed out of the room. and
stood Tor q few moments alone In his
study.
The boy had been weeping. He lifcd
his swollen eyes 10 his fathers lace, and
spoke:
Father. don't mind q nogging
That's not It. deserve one for playing
lruan,. perhaps; but tell me you know I
am not thief and then WON'T care how
hard the blows are. Toll me that,
father
You will not confess. then'" replied
the clergyman.
II did not steal The money" said the
boy.
God hears you" said Mr. Ilolbrook.
Il know II, said Edward.
Edward" said Mr.. Holbrook, 81 ain
strong man. You are not able 10 bear
the whipping | will give you II viii!
come TO confession at last. Spare us
both"
For answer The boy cast OF his Jacket.
Good" he said. Il am ready. You
whip mo to death it you like. I'll never
call myself thief
il sounded like defiance. and the drst
blow fell. With the Grst blow all the
evil passions that lay dorman. in either
breast awoke. The violent obstlnacy OF
Tho boy, his unainhing reception OF The
blows. made tho father furious. every
stroke drove The good angels further
from the boy.
Suddenly lood OF rage. that passes
all description. filled the young heart, and
an oath burst from his lips. Following
the oath came such blow as no Christian
ever gave an unmanageable horse.
blow with the dubbed handle Of the
whip, and he fell TO the floor Ike one
dead.
The father bent over him for a moment
and then opened the door. The mother
trembling and sobbing. rushed In. The
old servant woman followed.
The clergyman. sick at heart. siaggor.
ed into thel parlor; he sat down in The
Turkish chair, and looked vacantly al the
figure Of his little busy girl at the table.
She brought into the parlor little box
which she had dubbed her baby house
and unconscious of what had taken place
in the study was furnishing it to her
hearts content.
Now all WAS ready for The reception OF
the doll. aud she pu, ont her liLllo hand
and plucked her fathers sleeve.
Papa" shO said. Ills got bed. and
pillows. and stove. and picture. Look
at my picture, papa"
Absently still, the clergyman gazed
into the baby house. In moment more
au awful look swept over his face.
Your picture = he cried. "Is that
what YOU call your picture? Where did
you get ''
"Off the table" said Tho child. "SIy
pretty green pictures. hung it up with
pin"
Il was the five dollar bill that WAS
pinned against the wall ol The dolls
parlor.
Ii was the bill that had been lost that
morning. Lily, in her Ignorance, thought
OF pennies ouly as money. She had
never had anything else given to her, but
her passion for pictures was great. limo
Gently she had taken this pretty green one
Tor her own.
People sometimes ask why the Rev.
Mr.. liobrook, who was SO useful in his
congregation, breaches no longer. and
lives in lonely little country place apart
from all who ever knew or admired him.
One woman knew, his sad, yet lorgiving
wife. As for the poor idiot who crawls
about the house, mole piliful one to
listen TO, he knows nothing. He has
never known anything since the last fatal
blow. of which the father dreams per-
| ,nnInnllr nnInh oil fnl. him