The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-03

Come, little Mollie,n said Cousin
James, turning round Gwen be back
before your mother, and she won't know
that you went. sha'n't tell"
1t was too much for me to say no
again; and, thinking l would just go for
this once, and be home before mother,
after all, started off on run to catch
up with them. For little way, as Z
trudged along, was so happy! | wa
going distinguish the very thing that
had been longing to do. Then wof
come the question to my mind I"
you minding your mother, Mollie, =
will you not be acting lie if, when you.
go home, you do not tell herr" But il
was not intendedHthat my plan should
be carried out, as you will presently see, ]
We walked on, till at last we came
the spring; and Cousin James mr.
ready his fishing line and dropped It'll
the water. He sent me little way
for fear that l would make noise 81
disturb the fish. l walked along Ill
came to one part of the pond where Sd
boards were laid, and on them you Coz
cross one corner of it. thought til
would try the little bridge, and stai
off bravely. l walked safely on
board, and was just stepping op~
next, when, oh dear! my foot slippe
of went into the water | caught
of the board; but the water was up ~
my waist and it was so deep and
l screamed and thought of my ms
expected the fishes would swim III
bite me; and that, at last, shouis.
drowned
What in the wide world are You
about, Mollie?' said Cousin James.
Hold on. Don't be frightened. Pm
coming"
In moment he was by me, and his
strong arms lifted me upon the board
again. But what plight was in!
Muddy, wet, cold, crying and frightened.
lie helped me out upon the grass, say
ing: "ToO bad, little Mollie. Too bad.
Not much fun for you tonight. Now
don't cry; but hurry home and go to bed
before your mother comes"
1t was all very we'll for him to say
hurry home, when | could scarcely walk,
my clothes were so heavy with water.
And how l hated to go home, all dripping
as was; and what would my mother
say? Margaret started along with me,
and almost dragged me over that long
meadow. 1t did not look the same lovely
green meadow that l had always fancied
it; but long lonesome sort of place.
and it seemed as if Grandpa's house was
miles away. | did hurry all that | could;
but Just cried out loud when | saw the
carriage drive up the road and my
mother get out at the door. MY hurry
ing was of no use. She must see me in
my bad fix; and know, too, that it all
happened because | was disobedient. As
we came to the house heard her asking:
" Where's Mollie?" 1t was too much for
me, and, calling out: Here am. And
I'm all wet through and through And
l didn't mind you, and / went down to
the spring, and tumbled inn' l burst out
crying louder and more bitterly than be-
fore. She did scold when she saw me,
with my new pink calico dress all
spoiled and shoes and stockings covered
with mud, and l knew very we'll that |
deservedit; butwhen she saw how terribly
felt, how very sorry was, she forgave
me. She put my feet in hot water,
tucked me warmly in bed, and left me
to cry myself to sleep. But the next
morning she told me how very naughty l
tfyseh" 0ecause' COUSIN James mao coaxeu
me, she said that she could not excuse
me at all, and if l only minded her when
was not tempted to do wrong she could
have but little confidence in me- Cousin
James left us all before long, and it was
some years before we saw him again. I
have never forgotten that summer's even
ing when l disobeyed my mother and
fell into my grandpa's spring. 1t is a
great many years since then, and now
have some little children of my own;
and l always advise them, and all other
little people, to mind their mothers, if
they would be happy and keep out of
mischief.-N. Y. Independent.