Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-08-14
Berries and Sunday.

|
Berries and Sunday.
Two boys had been sitting upon
the steps Of tie porch for some time
and looking wistfully over the fields
where they knew the blackberries
grew in great abundance, while the
mother rocked the baby back and
forth, and was striving to comfort
him.
Continuing the conversation, Mrs.
Max field said, 81 am surpri sed that
you should ask me, Alfred, when
you remember that it is the Sab,
BATH"
"To:morrow the blackberries will
he gone, for they are dead ripe
now,' suggested Alfred, in tone
of voice far from amiable.
81 do not think they will fail you,
my 10y, and even if they do l can
not help it. One of the most I'M
portant of Gods commandments is,
Remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy 1t is wrong to do
any work in the time that God has
hallowed."
"You work." said the boy.
Yes, necessary work; 1 have
to provide food for you all to eat;
but 1 always try to make my labors
us simple as possible. However the
question is not in regard to my
duties, but your amusements; and
it is not respectful for you to speak
as YOU have done: so let there be
an end of it. l will not allow you
to pick the berries, either on this
Sabbath or any other"
Alfred took marble from his
pocket and began to toss it up and
catch it; but he did not speak of
the berries again.
After while lie said, Mother,
can Isaac and I go down to the
stilc I"
AS the berry field was in an op-
posite direction, Mrs. Maxfield
gave her consent, and away the
boys started on a run, as they gen.
orally did.
"Say, Ike, let's get some berries
only for ourselves, you know"
What 7 mother said we couldn't"
answered Isaac.
"What of It'll She won't know
you little pretty kitten. Even if
she did, the baby isn't well, and l
don't believe she would really care.
Come on-she won't see U.S."
"But God will" answered the
more conscientious boy, and Pm
more afraid of him than mother"
"Not much. 1 guess lie has
something better to do than to he
bothering about our getting a few
berries. Come On."
But Isaac, remembering the moth
er's talk about how God could see
everywhere and at all times, refus.
ed to 20. And when Alfred left
him he lay down upon the grass,
and, looking up to the blue sky
above, fell to wondering about God:
bow it was possible that he could sec
every little thing; and believing in
his heart that if he was not sure
that his mother always told the
truth, that it would be the easiest
thing in the world to believe that it
was all a mistake.
And then when the heavy black
clouds began to roll up from the
west, and the distant thunder was
heard, he thought that perhaps God
was angry with him for thinking
such things, even way down deep
in his heart; So he jumped up and
ran to the house as quickly as posi-
BILE, to get mothers sympathy.
Very soon q tremendous crash
was heard, and then the rain CON-
menced to fall in torrents; and Mrs.
Maxwell was really anxious about
Alfred, who had not returned home.
And when he did come, he was
drenchcd with the rain, which had
quite failed to wash off the black
stains of the berries from his hands;
but he never seemed to think Of
them as he ran quickly into the sit
tug room, where. to the astOnish-
ment of all he tainted entirely away
When he was well again and safe
ly tucked in bed for the uight, his