St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-08-18

yon want for it ?"
Neither gold nor silver; some hand
nus OF cherries out of your orchard
ana Il Jug of fresh water will amply pa,
me-"
In the twinkling of an eye the daugh
ter of the house disappeared. and cam
back with IL basket full of the most de
llcIous looking cherries that had eve
seen. How fresh and ROSY they were
1t almost quenched my thirst to look a
them.
''I"n can bring us back the haske
when Non return, said the girl, with
pleasant smile; whilst Father Hans
without taking breath, swallowed tw,
large Sla>Sful> of limpid water that wer,
pleasure even to see.
lie now rose to depart. ..IIe is Ger.
tam to offer me some cherries ~ said
to myself; and | conjured up such :;
vision of refreSlment at the thought a>
made my mouth water. After som.
minutes Father Hams put his hand il
the basket and drew forth "A larp,
bunch of cherries, and hogan to drvom
them one by one, without appearing
even to think of me. although it was
only two hours ago that | had moiled
and toiled at his side trying to kee1
step with him. After that bunch fol
lowed Il second then il third.
Wv hat Il selfish man he is. and
thought he was 50 good" and, saving
this, | made faces at him behind his
back, whilst he regaled himselfin in front
All at once II cherry slipped from his
hand and rolled to my feet. In IA sec
ond, 1t WAS covered over with dust as
white us sugar. No matter: picked
1t up. and wiped it with IL corner of my
pocket handkerchief: then. turning il
round and round in my fingers asked
my NSelf what | was to do with it. for
after all, 1t did not belong To me But
1t would he very hard to give it back
t" him. think, however. that should
have adhered to this course. but lust
at that moment, Father Hans turned
round and SLid as if he had guessed
my secret struggle
Keep 1t for Yourself; all that falls
in the ditch belongs to the soldier
became as red as my cherry, and
carried it To my lips with as Indifferent
an air aS could assume. But. never
thtle>S. how delicious il WAS , After
some moments. Il second cherry fell like
the tiI>t: and at the end of about
every ~ steps, the same manuIIvrc waS
repeated: - times | stopped down to
the dust, and | ended 10y being some
what refreshed. Then the crimson
manna ceased To fall. and Father Hans
turned round toward me with "A LAUGH
ing face; his little gray eyes sparkling
under his heavy hu>hN eyebrows. and
his m"u>tacbe>. which were also gray.
and grew aS hu>hilN a> his eyebrows.
turning up AT the corners of his mouth.
revealing mi>chtNoII> smile
Have Nom understood. little one -
he asked, with twinkle in his eye.
| answered nothing. but had no
difficulty i'll compIchtnding that h. WIS
making fun of me.
''L""k You, my boy the best lessons
are those which are learnt bv practice.
rather than 10y precept and these are.
the KIND that teach my children and
grand children. One soon toIgctS Il
Sermon. he added. breaking ont into u
kind. iathcIlN smile, but am sure
that Nou will never forget the cherries
OF to-day. and will forgive Your old
companion for having picked up Il
practical lesson on the road for Your
benefit
Yes. indeed. Father Hans" cried l.,
stretching out my two hands toward
him. which he cla>ped in one of his
own: but still | should very much
like H"u to explain your lesson to me.
| think that quite fully understand it
but"
My lesson, replied he. "i> that it is
tar better To sto"p once and pick up an
old horseshoe that is equal in value to
Il basket of fresh cherries. than it is to
St"op ~ times to pick up ~ cherries
covered with dust. And now my boy -
added he, handing me the famous b;lS-
kct, latter the lesson comes the, reward.
Eat what is there. and if Won find it
good, promise Yourself that Nou will
never refuse to do II service. however
tllfiIng II may seem To hc, cit her fur an
old or Young person. Di>ohligimgncS>
Is like deceit it always comes home to
its owner.
Deceit Father Hans spoke truly in
SAYING that ii always comes home to its
master: and now, what had been the
result of my fine journey of indtpend-
ence' had deceived the school. and
betrayed the confidence that my father
and mother had placed in me. | made
my confession t" Father Hans. and
made it fully 81 that | might feel ut
peace with myself.
well p said Father Hans. who had
listened tn me with knitted hrnvS ::
"Well 2"
Father Hans. feel that ought not
to go on to Wildhcim. but to return
home. and tell all to my mother. 1t
will he hard she will Scold me. and
allow me to he punished 10y the school
master; hnt ! have deserved it, and it
VIII serve me right"
"Bravo" cried Father Hans; "yom
are il brave lad. and know how to reap
the full benefit of your lessons. feel
happy as To your future. Go home
added he "go straight
to your mother, and never set off, in
the same way, again
Saying this, he lifted me from the
ground as if had been Il feather. and
embraced me. This kiss of peace from
Father Hans did great good.
| went back without wavcring. But
what Il thing it is to do right The
road that ] now re-trod. lightemed from
the remorse that had made it long.
seemed short and lovely to me; and.
what was more, all happened ut home
far better than | had expected. My
mother understood as we'll us Father
Hans, that il repentant sinner deserves
to find mercy.
Killing Snakes