The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-09-19

The boy, flushing scarlet, drew closer to his
father.
"Father," he said, humbly, 81 know it seems
as if l took it, but | did not. l would not do
such vile thing. Let me tell you the truth.
| saw the note on the table, and left it there, of
course. / went to school as usual. l meant to
| go, and on the way l met Tom Gregg; and as
| we passed the confectoner's shop we saw bug
gy, with a very pretty little girl-a mere baby
| sitting alone in it, and just then the horses
| started, and-and-it wasn't anything to do,
| but stopped them; and the gentleman-the
child's father-thanked me SO much, and said
| I'd saved her lite, and he wanted to give me
the money, and l wouldn't take it, and he gave
| it to Gregg. Gregg took it.. 1t was five dollars.
And after that, did wrong; for we went off
together on jolifcation, sir, and that's the
| truth. You believe, mamma. You do too,
father, oh, say you do. Let me bring Gregg
He'll tell you it is So"
mo doubt" said the clergyman. Never
theess, do not believe you. | will leave you
here until this evening, when return you must
confess or suffer punishment. Hester, come
with me-"
ooh, Alfred" sobbed the mother, don't be so
unjust! don't doubt our poor boy !! Can't you
see it's true? Ned, darling, know it is -
But the strong hand of the clergyma drew
his wife from the room, and turned the key up
on the boy, who stood staring after them with
despair in his great black eyes.
In his heart Mr.. HoIbrook felt assured that
his boy was both a tnieS -2-cd liar.
But the mother knew berter Tue f,nor low
ing, Hr~nou-n uarted mother, who wept nd
prayed together, ard felt that at last l--d zoo
had deserted her.
Tho day passed OF. The untastcd dinner
was served and sent away again. The evening
lamps were alighted. The clergyman arose
from his chair and went toward the old fash
toned chimney closet, and took from thence
riding whip. The mother gave scream, and
flew towards him, and clung to his arm. He
put her aside and passed out of the room, and
stood fer few moments alonein his study.
The boy had been weeping. He lifted his
eyes to his fathers face, and spoke:
Father, don't mind fogglng. That's not
it. | deserve one for playing truant, perhaps ];
but tell me you know [ am not thief AID then
| won't care how hard the blows are. Tell me
that, father"
"You will not confess, then?" replied the
clergyman.
ii did not steal the money" said the boy.
"Gcd hears you" said Mr.. Holbrook.
81 know it," said Edward
Edward" said Mr.. Holbrook, II am strong
man. You are not able to bear the whipping
| will give to you. 1t will come to confession
at last. Spare US BOTH
For answer the boy cast of his jacket.
"Good," he said, "I'm ready. You may whip
me to death, if you like. I'll never call myself
a thief"
1t sounded like defiance, and the first blow
fell With the first blow all the evil passions
that lay dormant IN either breast awoke. The
violent obstinacy of the boy, his uufInching
reception of the blows, made the father furious,
every stroke drove the good angel from the
boy.
scrption, filled his young heart, and an oath
came, followed by such blow no christian
ever gave an manageable horse, blow with
the dubbed handle of the whip, and he fell to
the floor like one dead.
The father bent over him for q moment and
then opened the door. The mother, trembling
and sobbng, rushed in. The servant woman
followed.
The clergyman, sick at heart, staggered into
the parlor he sat down in the Turkish chair,
and looked vacantly at 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 uncon-
scious 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, and she put out her little hand and pluck
ed her fathers sleeve.
"Papa," she said, "there is my house."
The father absently nodded, but the child
was not Sd tisfed.
"Look," she said, "it's got bed, pillows. ia
bic, stove and picture. Look a. my picture
papa"
Absently still the clergyman gazed into the
baby house. In moment more, an awful look
swept over his face.
"Your picture he cried.' sis that what yol
v..!i your picture 2" ''Whero d! you geJ iJF-'71
"Of the table," said the child. "My pretty
green picture? l hung it up with PIN"
1t was the five dollar bill that was pinned
against the wall of the dolls paror.
1t was the bill that had been lost that morn
ing. Lilly, in her ignorance, thought of PEN
MES only as money. She had never anything
else given her, and her passion for pictures was
great. Innocently she had taken this pretty
green one for her own.
People sometimes ask why the Rev. Holbrook,
who was go useful in his congregation, preach
es no longer, and lived in lonely little coun-
try place apart from all who ever knew or ad-
mired him.
One woman knew, his sad yet forgiving wife.
AS for the poor idiot who crawls about the house,
more pitiful one to listen to, he knows moth
ing. He has never known anything since the
last fatal blow, of which the father dreams per-
petually, ended all for him.