Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-23
The New Method.

Tread itSrathway 10 the skies.
The New Method.
NJ SAar c. nAHrrrrr.
| fonnie watched his mothers face rs she
sat by the library window looking out upon
the twilight. It was very, very sober face
and the little fellows black eyes grew large
aud anxious as he gazed. Poor Lonnie
lie had been anaughty boy that day and, IA
a punishment, he had been told TO stay in
the house until bedtime.
Ionnie hated TO stay in the house, espe-
cially when the pleasant sunshine, the bright
flowers and the gay little birds all seemed 10
be calling him out-of-doors. lie had resisted
all temptations manfully, however, until he
heard the voices Of two of his young lady
friends. Their merry tones had been too
much for him, and he had yielded Clan
eng furtivcly about, and satisfying himself
that his mother wasn't looking, he had rushed
out into the clover field, and joined his little
companions.
lie had stayed there for an hour but
strangely enough, he had not enjoyed it.
His friends had rallied him upon his sober
face, aud Jennie Lane, who was thought
less little thing, had asked him outright If
he were having another punishment" re-
marking at the same time that she should
| think he'd like 10 be good some Of tho days,
just to try it,"
Lonne made no reply TO this. lie turned
and walked slowly back into the house, fol-
/ lowed by pair Of sympathetic brown eyes
which he did not see lie reached the sit
ting-room unnoticed, aud, for while, CON
graduated himself upon the success Of his
deception.
But when, just after tea, his mother had
called him to her side, and spoken pityingly
and kindly TO him, then suddenly it seemed
| to him that hc had done something mean and
wicked; and, almost TO his own surprise, he
found himself telling her all about it. lie
told it looking up earnestly into her face, his
little hands olasped tightly upon her lap.
But as she listened her face had become
stern aud cold. lonnie might 60 and sit
in his chair until eight o'clock she said.
His punishment must he very severe. She
couldn't tell him about it then"
And poor I.onnie tried to sit very still
lie felt strangely lonesome and forlorn. lie
rocked slowly backward and forward, won
dering why it was that he was such bad
boy, and with a vague feeling Of regret in
his little heart that his mother was so very
good.
As they sat there so quietly the sound of
children's voices came in at the open window
Lonnie recognized them at once, but he
couldn't distinguish the words.
His mother heard them perfectly however
II was Alice Lane, the owner of the sweet
brown eyes who spoke first
IL don't believe Lonnie Whites mother
likes him very much, do you Jennie 2"
"Why-yes-l spose she likes him.
Mother pmishes US sometimes you know
But mother isn't always thinking up
things TO punish US for. | don't"
The lady could bear no more, though she
listened curously
For each Of her sons childish faults it had
been her custom to exact penalty. She
had done it conscientiously, believing it to be
her duty. Why was it then, that as she sat
there the little girls simple words came back
To her so many times In fact, she hardly
thought of anything else until the striking
of the hall clock told her that it was her boys
bedtime.
"Come, Lonnie."
lie rose at once and followed her silently,
with a sigh of relief. Even going to bed
was better than this horrible sitting still.
Lonnie was manly little fellow and
loved dearly 10 wait upon himself. Not even
his mothers hand was allowed to assist him
IN dressing or undressing. She watched his
small fingers as they conquered, one by one
the refractory buttons and the more obst-
nate knots, which, somehow would always
make their appearance in his shoe-strings.
/ When at last he stood before her in his white
"mghte," she could hardly resist the i'm
pulse which bade her clasp him to her heart,
then and there, forgetting and forgiying
everything.
She did resist it, however. Ought she not
to have resisted it? She thought so.
I Na.H md try N
| think Of what you are saying"
/ lie knelt and repeated the words but.
alas the more he tried 10 think of their
/ meaning the more it seemed as if, in his iu-
| dividual case at least, prayer was Of little
avail.
"What do | say that for?" he asked,
/ thoughtfully, as he crept into bed
/ "Why, you ask God To bless you, and
make You a good little boy"
But lie doesn't do it, does lie, mother2"
There was pitiful little tone in Lonnies
voice as he said this. 1t touched his mother.
| She wondered if it We're possible that he had
really tried to be good, and if he felt that he
| had failed. Could it be that he was ever
discoumged-th rosy-cheeked boy of hers,
whose black eyes were gazing so intently into
her own?
"Why, Lonnie," said she, gently, you are
a rery good boy sometimes
d" Am IL"
Ills simple question seemed almost ike
reproach to her. Had she ever given him
word Of real, hearty praise She couldn't
remember.
Then, suddenly, she thought Of his bravery
in telling what she might never have known
but for him. Silence would have made his
pathway comparatively smooth. Speech had
strewn it with thorns. Nevertheless, out of
the depths Of his honest little heart he had
spoken nobly. And she had forgotten to re-
cognize his nobleness in her displeasure at
fault which seemed TO her now of little con-
sequence.
What il he should ever be tempted to try
the smoother path, because she had made the
other way too hard for his little feet2
The thought made her shiver. AS she
looked down upon her boy she seemed all at
once TO realize something of the pitying love
of the Father for his erring children some
thing of the blessedness Of bis forgiveness
without which she herself had been most
miserable
All Alice would never have doubted the
mothers love for her child could she have
seen her now.
There was long silence. "I.onnie," said
she at length, al have thought Of punish
ment."
His heart sank. lie expected nothing less
than week in the house, at least.
You must give me dozen kisses.
want them now, this very minute, Lonnie."
He sat up very straight in bed, and looked
wonderingly at his mother.
You don't understand it, do you 2" said
she. "Mother must tell you what it means.
1t means that she is proud of her boy. She
is sorry he disobeyed her, but she is 80 glad
- 4 A Q.
ing very good, Lonnie."
"Was it Z"
"Yes; she is so very glad that she cannot
think of a single punishment-except the
kisses, Lonnie."
That's funny way to do" exclaimed
the child
His mother lay down upon the bed beside
him. lie was in her arms in an instant
pressing his rosy lips to her cheek again and