Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-01
affairs, you zee Your'u. you know, sir. So
Mine 7" cried Mr.. HolbrOok.

Mlne cfleu Mr. hOiOr0OE.
''Yes,' said Mr.. Watkins, '.your'n, sir
''Taiu't SO very bad, only don't think you'd
like your young gentleman for to go career
ing about with the Gregg boys Their father
drinks, aud l won't mention their mother
and then to see him arm in arm with 'em,
buying guupowder at old Dixie Decker's and
playing whAt'ser name-dang it oh, bag
gertelle. behind the shop for drinks of ginger
beer Why / didn't think you'd like it, sir"
''Like it!'' cried NJ. Holbrook. "Mr.
Watkins come back in tho study. There-wait
a minute; let me collect myself When did
you see my son at that horrible placeH The
man who keeps it is the worst man in town
You saw him there with the Gregg boys
When?
''Only this morning." said Watkins II
IL was took bad with my knee aud was
obliged TO sit down there to rest, sir; aud
thue tn hoys was, sir Yourn sir had his
books in strap. and it was long after school
opened They bought lots OF eatables and
guOpowdcr and things. and they hired old
Decker's boat and went out into it, and broke
an oar and had to pay for it They spent FIVE
dollars altogether l heard old
Decker say so, Five dOlIars-them three
hoys! Well, feel I'd orter tell"
''Thank you, Watkins said the clergy
man, sadly. ut is bitter news but you have
done your duty"
Aud Watkins departed, leaving his pastor
alone with his thoughts
Five minutes after he had gone the clergy.
mans son flushed with exertion aud excite
mcnt, opened the front door and ran up stairs
to his own door. Ere he reached it his
fathers voice sounded through the house
edward Como here"
Edward obeyed.
He came int" the study slowly, and behind
him followed his mother, with face that de
noted the prcmonition of coming scene.
"Hcster, said Mr.. HoIbrook, ''since you
are here you may stay. but you must not in
terfere. 1t is my duty to he firm. Sit down,
Hester Edward. come here"
The hoy advanced and stood before his
father, swinging his strap of books to and fro
uueasily. He was handsome brown fellow,
gypsey eyes and curly black hair One Of
those boys On whom nature seems to have
stamped Rover" from the first.
''Eon have been playing truant io>day. Ed
ward" said tho father.
On, no v' cried the mother.
Yes" said the boy ~ won't lie abcu' it,
sir, have"
with those young fiends. the Gregg boys"
ing shop of that old iLidel Dick Decker -
dollars, perhaps"
''Ye~," said the boy ''T believe we did :"
land you stole the money from me before
yoa went, rs you pretended, to school" said
the clergyman. '.You stole it from the treas
ury Of the Lord, though, perhaps, you did
not know that. 1t was given to mo or the
church by one who could i'll afford to lose it,
and you stole it,
''Sir!" cried the boy stole it IL steal
from you. or any one? Oh. father, how can
you say such things Z"
Il have given You no money, nor has your
mother, know" said tho clergyman. 81
missed the money after you left home. You
have spent similar sum. | will not tempt
you to falsehood by asking you TO explain.
only tell you this. Confess and prove yours
self penitent. and will kneel down and pray
with you for forgiveness. Refuse to admit
your guilt and will fog you as long as
have strength to lift the whip. will not
spare the rod and spoil the child God would
not hold me guil,less if did"
The mother, who was weeping bitterly, hid
her face in the sofa cushions
The boy, flushing scarlet, drew closer to his
father.
Father" he said humbly, Il know ii
seems as if I took it, but did not. l would
rot do so vile a thing. Let me tell you the
truth. saw the note on the table, and left
it there. Of course. l went to scho i as usual
! meant to go. and on the way met Tom
Gregg; and es We passed the confectionery
shop we saw buggy, with very pretty little
girl-a mere baby-sirting alone in it; and
just then the horses started, and and-it
wasn't anything to do, but | stopped them
and the gentlemau-the chiId's father
thanked me SO much, and said I'd saved her
life, and he wanted to give me the money. and
| wouldn't take it, and he gave it to Gregg
Gregg took it. Itwas FIVE dollars And affei
that did wrouA; forawei went of ttgesbeI
on ajOllifcstion siTl aad that = the d. y.