The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-10-14
ROBERTS ADVICE.
A STORY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.


looking up doubtfully.
mo, WON'T" be replied promtiy,
interested at the prospect of sharing a
secret.
"Well"-and here Bessie drew a
long 'breath-"I went to get a drink
of water, and there was one of those
thin fancy tumblers, you know, on the
table. | wanted much to drink out of
it, because mothers so afraid about
them that she never lets me. l was as
careful as l could be; but@hen was
just going to put II back on the table,
somebody opened The door. | thought
v was mothef, and l was so frightened
=, Al, - drop on the floor,
and" Bessie then stopped to c-~..-
back rising sob.
event all SO smash, did it?" in
quired Rob, sympathetically. Bessie
nodded ruefully.
"Whewv' whistled Rob. "What
did mother say ?"
"Ol it wasn't mother at all. 1t
was only Bridget. o, Rob do you
think l shall have to tell mother? /
would only make her feel vexed if she
knew one of them was broken; if 1t
don't tell her, perhaps she won't miss
it, and won't feel grieved about it.
I'm sure | don't want to vex her."
This was quite plausible view of
the matter, and Bessie longed to hear
Robert approve of it. At last he said,
"Do you really want my advice,
Bess?"
"Yes, what would you do?"
"Well, if were in you place, Bess,
I'd tell her. You know that's the on
ly honest thing to do, really. There
are several resons why it is better to
be honest about anything of that kind.
One is, perhaps she'll forgive you." And
SO Robert took up his boat again, feel
ing that the minister himself couldn't
have given better advice in the case.
AS for poor Bessie, she rather resented
Roberts tone of superiority, and said
quickly, II don't much believe you
would tell her, after all, Rob. 1t isn't
half as easy as You think"
Perhaps it isn't easy. Who said it
was? But hope l should be honest
enough for that" And self-righteous
Bob brought down the hammor with
all his might on the knife with which
he was splitting piece of wood. Alas
for him 1t struck on an unseen nail,
which snapped off the slender point in
a trice. When he drew out the point
less, blunted blade, he gazed at it in
dismay; while Bessie, in spite Of her
trouble, couldn't help laughing little
at the sudden changes in his face.
This was anything but soothing to
Roberts feelings, and he muttered
that he didn't see what business that
old nail had there" and other not very
amiable remarks to the same effect
"Why, Robp' exclaimed Bessie,
suddenly, ''isn't that fathers new
knife-the one he told us not to touch?''
"He meant you'll" replied Robert,
"but know how to use a knife. |
never hurt knife before in my life,
and this wasn't my fault. 1t was all
on account of that nail; and l don't
know who put that there. 1 didn't.
Robert was about as unreasonable as
unfortunate people are apt to be.
"Well, Rob, said Bessie, at length
"we've both done something now. Let's
! 60 and confess together"
Contest" rejoined Robert, slowly
"why, II don't believe-that is
and without finishing the sentence he
carefully shut the knife, and gcing tc
his fathers tool-chest, put it exactly
where he had foGuu it. Bessie's blue
! eyes opened very wide at this proceed
ing, and Robert could not meet theil
look as he explained, "You see, Bess
Johns going to leave next week, ant
if father doesn't find it out before then
why, he'll think John did it; and, yor
see, it won't hurt John, because hi
won't be here"
As soon as Bessie could say any
thing for her amazement at this speech
she began, "But, Rob, l thought yo'
said if you were in my place" bu
Robert rushed off to the garden, no
caring to hear his own words repeate'
just then.
Bessie stood still on the barn-Aoor
looking thoughtfillly towards the doc
where Robert disappeared. A siLgl
streak of sunlight edged its wa,
r through a crack, making a perfec
glory of her wavy, faxen hair, so tha
, she formed quite pretty little picture
: as she stood in deep thought for ful
' ten minutes. At last light flashe
into her eyes, and she ran out to fin
Robert, She came upon him, gloomi
ly pulling up weeds in his garden.
"Rob," she said, "I've just this me
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