Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1874-01-08
THE FORBIDDEN PATH.

rOOlu anu linking 50 Hlucu HOlSt ludt
could hardly "hear myself Think when
little Carrie came up to me, her bright
blue eyes radiant with new idea.
"Auntie, does the noise make your
head ache?" eyes dear" / replied
You had better sit down now and see
which one of us can keep the stillest."
They acted upon the suggestion at
once, hut soon became tired and want
ed me to tell them story, real, true
story.
"Yes, darlings, my story will be
true; but the pond is all dried up and
the fences torn down, for the specula-
tors have served my girliSh haunts SO
shamefuly, that were | to give you
descripti' II of what it once was, you
would hardly believe me. There was
beautiful pond beside the road which led
to the district school; and it was always
halfway place for US little loiterer'.
both in Summer and Winter. And
oh. the coasts and slides and paddles
We had there! On the opposite bank
from the road. there was an old rotten
fence. and to show our skill, We would
sometimes venture on the narrow foot
path between that and the pond, hold
ing on to the fence for support, and a
wet foot or soiled dress would soon be
forgotten when we crossed the path
trinmphantly. But mothers heard, as
mothers will, Of these careless tricks,
and their daily cautions kept us in the
right path, though the rotten fence and
narrow footway did look very tempting.
| used to think we had a hard trial
Zone bright, beautiful morning we
took up cur march for school as usual.
tn, BOYS with clean collars and the
girl, with clean aprons; We meant to
behave well and return as neat as We
started Good resolutions kept cOmpa-
nv with all of us as tar as the pond.
where, sad to tell, they bade some OF
our party good-by. The morning vas
So bright and warm aud the banI; by
the rotten fence looked so green and
cocl. overhuug With willows, what
harm coald there be, We thought, in
crossing it? Ga this thought acted a
little boy and girl, for away they start
ed to how they were not so chicken
hearted sS the rest of us.
We al stood III silent admiration
TO see them glide along, though We
could not help whispering, g,-"What
VII their mothers saw On they
went with steady foot and hsnd and
passed over half the distance, laughing
and shouting with glcc at our COW
r.ce. But while they we're rejoicing
| th,v forgot how weak the old fence
was; and very suddenly off sn pped a
r il and down slipped the little girl!
We al screamed. but the little boy
50 zcd her dress and drew her o shore
with much difficulty There she ,tood
amid us, pale and dripping! Should
She return to her mother and tell her
iaH? No, like foolish children, We con
scnted to shield her, and though; We
could coax the old lady who lived next
the school-hou>e to let her dry her
Icothes beside the fire, and ray nothing
sbout it.
we reached the school before it
commenced and the neichbor took the
wet child, wrapped her in dry cloths
while she dried the dfenched one, aud
She did not appear in the schools-room
that day. She looked so ptiful, sitting
N the corner, wrapped in the old LADY,
calico dress. that thought il wouid
not lie very naughty to stay with her;
30 there were two truants from school
that day. The clothes were dried,
ironed and aired and we went home
with the other scholars after school
was dismissed. thanking our starsfor
orr good luck, thinking Of course the
Iold lady would never say anything
Iabout it.
Il don't know how Katy fel' ahCnt
it, but sometimes a feeling Of guilt
would creep over me, even in M play,
lanl ! would resolve to tell mother al,
b ut Il; butt did not, and Fthoaght
Ia might all bo fIgotten in time
"Gne afternoon there was to he a
tea-party in the ncighbcrhood, AID ell
our mothers would be there; and Mrs.
| Greene, the old lady near the school,
house, would be there. too. W. AL
jremJlng'y awaited our trial When
mother came home, | sat in my little
chair sewing. and looking very in
Ida,rrious. Mother came too Ire, and
/. .ookel down upon ne, as supposed,
with anger and gief,a few moments
, | dared not look up, and aft-r eudur-
ing it a few minutes, ! burst into tears
why, what Is the matter, ny dear.
said n. Il was watching your busy
Hide fingers; wbst an Industrious little
girl YOU are
Il looked at her With wonder anC
exclaimed: why, didn't Mrs. Greene
tell YOU ] played trulnt the other day!
NO. ! could not have believed ii d
she had, and | was just thinking b s.
grateful l was, that You We're not SC
d.>obcdieut as little Katie, who crossel
tie pond by the broken fence, and i~i
Iiato the water"
"Oh. mother. and did't you know
staid away from school with herr NJ!
Q mother said lie did not, and weeping
e | told h-r all az obtained forgiveness
NV. little ones. if cool willows iooi
: too tempting and You are for momen
coaxed there, and get into trouble TAX
the sureSt way home; for you viii I'm
T