The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-04-20
THE FIRST LIE.

| think it will be fifteen cents; but here
are twenty-they may be ten cents
apiece"
harry Cloud took the money and ran
on the errand, bright and happy as he al
ways was.
Il always buy my thread by the box or
dozen, so l do not know the price ola sin
gle spool or two" Mrs. Cloud remarked
to a friend, as she resumed her sewing.
In a short time Harry came in, threw
the thread into his mothers lap and
turned to go out.
THE money was right" questioned
Mrs. Cloud.
Harry gave a nod and went out to his
play.
What was the matter:
He could not strike a ball and make
good hit, and forgoS when his turn came
the idea of boy forgetting to watch the
ball-he was the champion player Of the
neighborhood, too.
His companions remarked his absent
! mindedness and wondered at it.
At the supper table his cheerful voice
and bright sallies were sadly missed.
"What is the matter, Harry? Any
thing gone wrong at SCHOOL," his father
| asked.
"No, sir" Harry replied, startled half
out of his chair.
"Are you sick?" inquired his mother,
who had been busy with the tea, and had
not noticed his melancholy face before.
Harry's eyes dropped; those eyes usu-
ally so frank and true.
Nom" he replied, leaving the table
soon after.
The parents questioned each other with
out light
Harry tried to study. He grew more and
more uneasy. His mother watched and
grew more alarmed.
When faithful Chloe came in to re-
plenish the coal in the CRATE, she stood
a moment with her arms akimbo looking
at Harry.
He knew her gaze was upon him, and
he flushed and paled alternately.
dat chile has taken asebere coli, dat's
vots de matter; he had better hab his feet
soaked an flannel wet in turpentine
round his neck foe eber he lays his head
down, else you'll be called up wild Group
or 'tremens."
Harry was favorite from baby, and
nothing was trouble that was done fol-
him.
"I do not need it, good Chloe; haven
cold or tremens, | hope" And Harry
smiled for the first time that evening.
Chloe muttered something about put
ting off sending for doctor too long, AZ
she went back to her kitchen.
Harry sat for some time with his gram
mar wrong side up, and did not know 1t
but his mother saw the back OF 1t, ant
knew Harry must be very much out OF HI
usual self to do such thing as that.
After another restless half-hour he pu
his books together in his usual orderl.
manner.
Goodnight, papa" he said, trying Il
assume his chcertulness.
GOOD might; you are leavingus early
Mr.. Cloud resumed his paper.
Not so the mother.
She dropped her work in her lap, he
eyes followed her unhappy boy. Whel
he kissed her he whispered,
, "Come to my room"
She followed silently.
As soon as the door was closed Hart.
threw his arms around his mammals nee
and exclaimed:
"Oh, l cannot live this way"
. Mrs. Cloud looked alarmed.
81 have deceived you, mamma; mao
!, you believe a lie."
i "What is it? Tell me all, Harry.
= = thought there was something wrong" II
piled Mrs Cloud, tearfully.
at seems such little thing, yet ho'
, If has distressed me- l felt as though
!, great weight hung upon my heart, it is
= heavy. The thread, you know, mamm
= it was only fifteen cents, let you think
i was twenty spent the other five, an
. thought as you expected it would be twel
: ty it was no matter; but would not su
: fer so again for hundred dollars. ltw'
little sin, but great penalty" HarI
!, cried in real anguish.
/: "I am so glad you told me; you St
IS 'the way of the transgressor is hard, an
% sthe wages of sin is DEATH Let this
l. warning to you for all your life"
it "You will forgive me?" asked Harry
r "Yes, darling, and there is another" "
n "I know; will ask Him, too, to 10
a give me. But it'hurt SO, mamma, becau
le YOU have often said l never told you II
f and to think l should begin in so sms
"a a matter as five celts to deceive you."
10 Little sins lead to great ones. Ii "
r. had passed this over it would have be-
q. easier for you next time, and so on un
s. your conscience would have been har
ut ened and your soul ruined"
st Harry was asleep when Chloe crept !"
ID stairs and listened 10 his breathing ioi
time. Then she knelt down and pray