Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-17

lit seems as if | took it, but | did not.
| would not do SO vile thing. Let
me tell You the truth. saw the note
on the table and | left it there, of
course. | went to school us usual. |
ment to so, and on the way | met Tom
Gregg; and us We passed the confec-
toners shop we saw Il buggy, with "A
very pretty little girl-a mere baby sit
ting alonein it; and Just then the horses
started, and-and-it wasn't anything
but stopped them; and the gentleman
the child's father-thanked me so
much and said I'd saved her life, and
he wanted to give ME the money, and
| would not take it, and he gave it to
the Gregg boys. 1t was five dollars.
And, after that, did wrong; for we
went off together on a joliication, sir,
and that's the truth. Iou 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 or
suffer punishment. Hester, come with
me-"
"Oh, Alfred" sobbed the mother,
don't be SO unjust, don't doubt our
poor boy, Can't you see its true:-
Ned, darling. | know it is,''
| But the strong hand of the clergy
man 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 heart Mr. Holbrook felt assured
that his boy was both a thief and a
liar.
Bat the mother knew better. The
poor, loving, broken-hearted mother.
who wept and prayed together. and felt
that at last, indeed, God had deserted
her.
The day passed on. The untasted
dinner was served and sent away again
The evening lamps were lighted. The
clergyman arose from his chair and
went toward an old-fashioncd chimney
closet, and took from thence a riding
whip. The mother gave a scream, and
flew towards him, and clung to his
arm. He put her aside and passed
out of the room, and stood for few
moments alone in the study.
The boy had been weeping. He
lifted his swollen eyes to his fathers
face, and spoke:
Father, | don't mind a fioggiug.-
That's not it. | deserve one for play
ing truant, perhaps; but tell me you
know am not u thief, and then |
won't care how hard the blows are
Tell me that, father"
"Iou will not confess, them" re-
piled the clergyman.
Il did not steal the money!" said the
boy.
God hears you, said Mr. Holbrook.
81 know it, said Edward.
Edward" said Mr.. ITolbrook, Il
am strong man. You are not able to
bear the whipping will give you. It
will come to confession at last. Spare us
BOTH
For answer the boy cast of his jack
ct.
$50 on, he said, Il am ready. You
can whip me to death, if you like. I'll
never call myself thief
Itsonnded like defiance, and the first
blow fell. With the first blow all the
evil passions that lay dormant in eth
er breast awoke. The violent obstina-
cy Of the boy, his unfinching recep-
ton of the blows made the father fu-
rious, every stroke drove the good an
gels farther from the boy.
Suddenly flood of rage, that passes
all description, filled his young heart,
and an oath burst from his lips. Fol-
lowing that oath came such blow as
no Christian ever gave an unmanage-
able horse, a blow with the dubbed
handle of the whip, and he fell to the
ground like one dead.
The father bent over him for mo-
ment and then opened the door. The
mother, trembling and sobbing, rush
ed in. The old servant woman follow
ed.
The clergyman, sick at heart, stag
gered into the parlor; he sat down in
the great Turkish chair and looked
vacantly at the figure of his little girl
busy at the table.
She had brought into the parlor a
little box which she had called her ba-
by-house; and unconscious Of what had
been taking place in the study, was
furnishing it to her hearts content.
! Now it Was ready for the reception