Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-17
"Well, Watkins?" ?"
And he came to a halt again.

And he came to halt again.
81 suppose in ant none of my busi
ness," he said. "But l kinder felt Il
orter tell"
:, "Do as your conscience prompts you,
Watkins" said the clergyman.
Eyes, sir" said Watkins. ''But
you see may be you wont thank me-
Other folks affairs you see. Your'n
you know, sir. So, there, it's out"
"Mine?" cried Mr.. Holbrook.
Eyes" said Mr.. Watkins, "your'n.
sir. 'Tan't so very bad, only | don't
think you'd like your young gentle
man for to 90 careering about with the
Gregg boys. Their father drinks, and
| won't mention their mother; and
to see him arm in arm with 'em buy
ing gunpowder at old Dixie Decker S
and playing what Ser name-dang it.
oh, bagertelle, behind the shop for
drinks of ginger beer! Why, l didn't
think you'd like it, sir
Like it cried Holbrook. "Watkins
come back into the study. There
wait minute; let me collect myself.
When did you see my son at that hor-
rible place? 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.
Ill was took bad with my knee
and was obliged to sit down there to
rest, sir; and there the boys was, sir.
Your'n sir, had his books in strap.
and it was long after school opened.
They bought lots of eatables and gun
powder 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
-leastways | heard old Decker say so.
Five dollars-them three boys. Well,
| felt Il orter tell"
''Thank you Watkins" said the cler-
gyman, sadly. at is bitter news; but
you have done your duty"
And Watkins departed, leaving his
pastor alone with his thoughts.
Five minutes after he had gone the
cleryman's son, flushed with exertion
and excitement, opened the front door
and ran up stairs to his own ROOM
Ere he reached it, his fathers voice
sounded through the house
Edward. Come here"
Edward obeyed.
He came into the study slowly, and
behind him followed his mother, with
a face that denoted her premonition
Of a coming scene.
chester" said Mr.. Holbrook, "since
you are here you may stay, but You
must not interfere. 1t is my duty to
be firm. Sit down, Hester. Edward.
come here"
The boy advanced and stood before
his father, swinging his strap of books
to and fro uneasily. He was a hand
some brown fellow, with gypsy eyes
and curly black hair. One of those
boys on whom nature seems to have
stamped Grover" from the first.
"You have been playing truant to-
day, Edward,' said the father.
ooh, noH cried the mother.
YES" said the boy; Il won't lie a
bout it, sir, have"
with those young fiends, the
Gregg boys" said the clergyman.-
"You were at the drinking shop of
that old infdel, Dixie Decker. You
spent a great deal of money there
Five dollars perhaps
"Yes," said the boy; Il believe we
did"
"And you stole that money from me
before You went, as you pretended, to
the school. You stole it from the
treasury of the Lord, though, perhaps,
you did not know that. 1t was given
to me for the church by one who could
i'll afford to lose it, and you stole that" :"
"Sir." cried the boy; ''stole it! II
steal from you, or any one? Oh, father,
how can you say such things"
81 have given you no money, nor has
your mother, | know" said the cler-
gyman. 81 missed the money after
you left home. You have spent sim
liar sum. | will not tempt you to
falsehood by asking you to explain. |
only tell you this. Confess and prove
yourself pentient, and [ will kneel
down and pray with you for forgivness.
Refuse to admit your guilt, and l will
fog you as long as l have strength to
lift the whip. [ will not spare the
rod and spoil the child. God would
rot hold me guiltness if | did"
The mother, who was weeping bit
terly, hid her face in the sofa cushions.
The boy, flushing scarlet, drew closer
to his father.