Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-07-13

to . seat, asked his wife TO close the door,
threw himself into large armchair, facing
me, and them with great agitation, bade me
''say on" his wife stood behind him, resting
her head, upon her hand, and both fixed their
eyes upon me With look which perfectly un-
manned me. How could wrong thess
parents' hearts with the bitter anguish which
my revelation of their sons conduct must pro-
duee II was a severe trial, but Il was duty,
and after few moments' silence, I told them
all as gently as could. AS stopped speak
ing the father sprang to his feet, vehemently
cxclaimings
*Whatla Sir. do you say that my son has
been stealing books Z"
1 answered, as calmly as Icould "He hhs.1
"Does be acknowledge it, sir 7"
He does"
Turning, he said, hastily s'wife, ring that
bell" She did so; a servant came of whom
he inquired, Where is H--lY and added
''tell him to come to me-"
As the boy entered tho room he looked
daggers rs me. His father noticed It, and
spoke in loud, voice
What does this mean, sir Come hers.--
Have yOu really been taking books from the
city bookstore p
Tho boy, trembling. replied, .'T have sir"
You have. Whyg Had you not books
enough unread at home Aud if you had
asked, would I not have gratiied you to any
reasonable extent
Yes, sir."
'.Wby. then, did you steal them r.
g For fun, sir.''
.,For. fun for fun ~ repeated his father.
What Boy, could you thus triae with my
good name-and your own-for fun Z"
He lifted his arm aud raised his voise, and
feared that, in his cxcitementj he would
strike terrible blow; but suddenly checking
himself, he cried out:
"GO to the garret. sir-gO, go and stay
| there, until send for you"
The boy ran huttiediy out and up tho stairs,
the father listening until he heard him enter
and close his room door, then fell back into
bis chair, clntched his hair with his hands,
and with scaldiDg tears running down his
checks, exclaimed:
81 had rather heard, sir, that he was dead.
Oh, God Oh, GodI"
The mothers head lay on tho back Of ths
chair as she also wept in bitterness Of sohl.---
It was terrible scene but what could Isay
to comfort those anguish stricken heartsI I
quietly rose aud bade them farewell.
eyes, Sir" said the father, "leave ts now.
Tomorrow viii SEQ you, and We will oohh
suit al to what is best to bo DONE"
The next day he called and placed in my
hands money to pay for all damages done to
the volumes. which tho booksellers had kind
ly permitted me to return. AT his request 1
made inquiries respecting another school for
his sou. But that boy would not bear the
restraints Of any Institution.
He would not hearkcn to his parents voice
or obey their authority. He became very dis.
sipated aud soon fell victim to disease induced
by sinful indulgence.
Parents. read this small sketch, to tho Jet.
ter true, and call to mind the fatal mistake In
the case of this poor youth. Be assured that
your sons cannot safely be absent from thoit
homes after night. It has been said that
Satan accomplishes tho ruin Of more souls bo-
tween eight O'Clock p. NJ, and midnight than
during all the remaining hours Of the twenty.
four. My experience as n teacher Of nearly
forty years, and of hundreds Of yoE;hs, tee.
tifes that it is true. Watch carefully the 20.
sociations and tho companions of your sons.
Keep IN eye over their hours of play. Make
their homes pleasant and keep them there Afs
ter night, lest an hour come whom you may
wish them dead.
SHADE TREEs-Tho practice of planting
shade trees along tho city streets. so commoh
in the West and in some of the Eastern towns
is one that, If properly managed, would add
greatly to tho beauty Of our own city. Such
planting would also serve two other purposes,
affording grateful protection from the scoFoh-
ing heat of summer, and also having sanitary
effect. for we believe that IL is now a conceded
fact that the influence Of trees upon the atmos.
phere of large cities is pre-eminently health
ful one. The mistake we have hitherto made
is that We have planted the wrong species Of
trees. In our eagerDess for rapid growth,
the ailaDthus, and the silver poplar, have
been chosen instead Of tho maple, the talip
poplar or the linden. Tho linden is tho
queen of trees for city purposes. II four
ishes in any soil, and is easily transplShtsd.
Il is cool, clean, sweet, and umbrageous.-
Next to the linden is the. maple Though
the linden or the maple may not start %
readily, yet in twenty years they will be finer
and larger trees than either the ailanthus or
the silver poplar. For a broad and staIsly
avenue the tulip poplar Is beyond compare.
EBahinbore Gaseae.
a CENTENNIAL INc1DEsr.-The Boston
Herald tells this: "The day following our
centennial festivities the following incident
occurred in south end saloon A friend
had invited one of the South Carolina soldiers
into the saloon 10 put another turf on the
buried hatchet. While standing at the bar
stranger came in. The CaroliDiau suddenly
dropped his glass aud closely eyed the Stfaa.
ger. His gaze was so steady and peculiar
that the friend began to be alarmed aud 10
fear that the hatcbet was about to be dug up
again: Directly the CaroliDian asked the
stranger if he knew him. There was no 70.
cognition, whereupon the CaroliDian .asksd
him If he was in the late war. "Yes," Was
the reply. "And you were once stationed a
such place 2" eyes" 'sAnd tonk part Ia
such a skirmishw "Yes." -fWell, Itboughs
so." replied the Caroliniap, and raising his
hat showed a largo scar on his forehead. any.