The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-07-31

The voice that said that had a troubled
tone, aud the face that looked mp was
very sad.
"Yoar father will be angry" said an
aunt. who was sitting ia the room with
book in her hand. The boy raised
himself from the sofa. where he had
been lying in tears for half an hour.
and, with tonch Of Indignation in his
voice, answered:
Hell be sorry, not angry. Father
never gets angry.
For a few moments the aunt looked
at the boy half-curiously, aud let her
eyes fall again npon the book that was
in her hand. The boy laid himself
down upon the sofa again, and hid his
face from sight.
That's father now" He started mp,
after the lapse Of nearly ten minutes,
as the sound Of bell reached his ears,
and went to the room door. He stood
there for little while, and then came
slowly back. saying, with disappoint-
cd air.
at isn't father. wonder what
keeps him so late. o, ! wish lie would
come nowl
"You seem anxious To get deeper in
TO trouble" remarked the aunt, who
had been only in the house a week, and
who was neither very amiable nor very
sympathizing toward children. The
boys fault had provoked her. and she
considered him fit subject for pun
ishment.
"I believe, Aunt Phebe, you'd like
to see me whipped" said the boy, a lit
tie warmly. "But you won't"
al must confess" replied Aunt Phe-
be, that think n little wholesome
discipline of the kind you speak of
would not be out OF place. IL you
were my child, am very sure you
would escape"
"I'm not your child; | don't want TO
be. Fathers good, and loves me.
"If Your father is so good, and loves
YOU so we'll, you must be very migrate
ful, or very inconsiderate boy His
goodness doesn't seem 10 have helped
Won much.
"Hush, will you," calculated the
boy, excited to anger 10y this unkind-
ness Of speech in his aunt.
"Phebe!" 1t was the boys mother
who spoke now, for the first time. In
an undertone she added--"You are
wrong. Richard is suffering quite
enough, aud you are doing him harm
rather than good.
Again the bell rang, and again the
boy left his seat on the sofa, and went
TO the sitting room door.
"It's father" and he went gliding
down stairs.
"Ah, Richard was the kindly greet
ing, as Mr.. Gordon took the hand of
his boy. "But what's the matter, my
son? You don't look happy.
Wont you come in here?' and Rich
ard drew his father in the library. Mr.
Gordon sat down, still holding Rich
ards hand.
"You are troubled, my son; what has
happeDed?'
The eyes Of Richard filled with tears
as he looked into his fathers face. He
tried TO answer, but his lips quivered.
Then he turned away, and opened the
door Of the cabinet, brought out the
fragments of n broken statuette, which
had been sent home only the day be-
fore, and set them on table before
his father, over whose countenance
came instantly shadow of regret.
who did this. my boy?' was asked
in an even voice.
81 did IL
How"
81 threw my ball in there-only once
once, in forgetfulness.
A little while Mr.. Gordon sat con
trolling himself. and collecting his dis
turbed thoughts. Then he said cheer
fully:
What is done, Richard, can't Ice
helped. Put the broken pieces away.
You have had trouble enough abOut 1t
| eau see. and reproof enough for your
thoughtlessness, so | shall not add a
word 90 increase your pain.
go, father and the boy threw his
arms about his fathers neck.
Five minutes later, and Richard en-.
tered the sitting room with his father.
Aunt Phebe looked mp for two shadow
ed faces, but did not see them. She
was puzzled.
THAT was very unfortunate, she
said, little while after Mr.. Gordon
came IN. "lt was such an exquisite
work Of art.
Richard was leaning against his Ga.
ther when his aunt said this. Mr.. Cor
don ouly smiled. and drew his arms
closely around his boy.
Mrs. Gordon threw upon her sister a
look of warning; but IL was unheeded
81 think Richard was "A very naughty
boy.
I'VE have settled all that, Phebe. -
was the mild but firm answer OF Mr.
Gordon; ''aDd u ~ one Of our rules to
get into the sunshine "a quick a. possi-
BILE - Christian at Work.