Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-17
Ben, a Thief.
"Wave the answer back to heaven,
L.. ..4s. ..4tI1f ~

danced down tne pam 10 meet her COUSIN
Ben, who was Just coming through the gate
on his way from school.
"Bennie, what ever did keep you so late
I've waited half an hour for you to play
croquet with me-"
al don't want TO play croquet," Ben an
swered in a sullen tone.
"But Mary Dennison and lots of folks are
here to play this evening"
"Well, | don't care. Mary Dennison, or
General Grant, or anybody else, amt going
to play" 49,.
her Cousins cross tones.
"Because | amt; that's whyl" he an
swered, shorter than ever.
Abbie said no more, but slowly followed
him TO the house, and, throwing herself on
the bed in her room, burst into tears not
only that her evenings pleasure was de-
stroyed, but the harsh words had sorely
grieved her, for Ben was her playmate, and
a cousin whom she loved as brother, and
she was unused to cross words from him.
II was some time before she could console
herself, and then her head ached and she did
not care to play.
Ben went to his room, and, carefully lock-
ing the door, threw cap and books on the
carpet, took slate pencil from his pocket,
anu moved WlIn u 10 lllt NlnuOW, where ne
spent some time in examining it, murmur-
ing, " wish Charley had it, anyhow; but
| pshaw, what's a slate pencill He'll get
another all right" Replacing it, he took his
hat and went out.
Sounds of cheering and laughter from the
playground drew his steps towards it, but
the merry party were too much interested in
the game to notice him as he stood looking
on. But he failed to find himself interested /;
he missed Abbie from the group of merry
girls, and as he wondered at her absence
from her favorite pastime he remembered
his cross words to her--a memory with bit
ter sting to it-and that, added to con
| science pricking him sorely over slate pen
Gil, succeeded in making Ben quite msera-
BILE. Annoyed by the gaiety OF the young
folks he walked back to the house, and
looked idly from his window till woods and
river and town seemed to melt together into
one great mass of darkness, broken and in
tensifed by lights, here and there, from
some pleasant Preside. At length the stars,
too were all lit, and seemed to point their
tiny rays at Ben, as he sat there in a dismal
mood with the good striving to get the mas
terry over his willful heart, and the evil try
ing to persuade him that no one cared for
him, and that he was the worst treated boy
in the world, and to make him wish to run
away, or die and make everybody sorry and
ashamed for treating him so AT last he
went to bed. Near the middle of the night
he awoke, and his conscience awoke, too,
suddenly, and making of his mind submis-
sive slave, traced to him again the sad events
of the day How cross he felt in the morn
ing with Charlie Slosson for being so proud
of new slate pencil his grandmother had
given him--brightly painted, and bearing
the words, "Wear me away proftably;' and
how he enved Charlie when the boys and
girls gathered around to inspect his gift, aud
how it annoyed him to hear the click, click
of that pencil behind him, all the forenoon.
Charlie never was so attentive to his exam
pies before And then-Conscience brought
him right up to it--that awfully wicked
moment when, all alone in the school-room
going over an imperfect lesson, he saw Char
lies pencil lying on his desk, where his Cou.
sin Maud had left it. Oh, that wicked
thought and the pencil was slipped into
Ben's reader School was soon called. Char
lie was little late in entering and couldn't
inquire of Maud for his pencil until recess
Then Maud was sure she left it on Charlie,
desk. Search was fruitless, and the bell rune
before he could get any clue to it, and Ber
remembered how troubled Charlie looked
ana now lltlle MAUI cIltu, anu HOW mean
he felt and wished Charlie had his pencil
again but he had denied knowing anything
about it, and was too proud to give it back
Then came the scene at the close of schoo
when Mrs. King came to him. as he wa,
| starting for home, saying, Bonnie, did yor
notice Charlie Slosson's pencil, at noon
Maud says you We're the only one in the room
when she left it on his desk
No ma'am, didn't, and I've told him Sc
dozen times !" Ben replied, in no pleasan
tones.
at was right behind you you must
. took it," sobbed Maud
81 tell you didn't; do you think | wan
his pencil 2" aud Ben's face grew hot as h,
noticed he was the object OF attraction as Char
lie had been in the morning, and all tn,
while his hand was fastened like vice OF
that reader, pressing it tighter lest part il
the worn leaves should reveal that dreadful
pencil, that Ben would give anything nov
to be rid of.
Maud would have spoken again, but TIN
teacher prevented her, saying, There
Maudie, we all know he wouldn't steal TIN
pencil; he is too good boy to be calle'
Ben, thief !! You must all go home now
and tomorrow, early, Charlie and | will
come and look for it,"
Part of Ben's way home was with Charlie
and now in the still hour of the night, will
not sound to be heard but the ticking o
the great clock in the room below, seeming
sometimes in such hurry as to galop owe
the seconds, and again to drag along at
= most provoking pace, he remembered yiv
idly every word of their conversation-hoy
he wondered with Charlie about his pencil
and suggested things possible and impossi
BILE that might have " happened to it. AM
Ben lay in the moonlight, and thought, an'
J thought. One thing he knew he was 60
ing 10, in some way, give that pencil bacl
to Charlie. He knew he could have N
peace till he did it. lie couldn't think a
all of doing it, but still he knew all tn
y time he wouid! Conscience seemed TO tel
him he must. lie resolved to make up will
| Abbie and tell her all about it. He knew
= she wouldn't call him Ben, a thief" i
l. everybody else in the world did
The dawn awoke poor Ben from short
refreshing slumber, and he rose hastily d
Z fulfill his resolution. lie found Abbie, and
taking her to his room, commenced with
stout heart and told her the whole story
keeping straight on till it was done, not dan
= ing to look up for he knew Abbie's BROW
eyes were full OF tears OF pity and foI
giveness.
That was just the way with Abbie-al
: ways ready to forgive upon the least priv
y ilege. Ben had heard her say once that sh
could hardly ever pray for one who ha'
wronged her to be forgiven, because she al
ways felt that she was the worst, and needle,
forgiveness most.
If they were all like you, Abbie," h,
said, pressing the little hand laid lovingl.
! on his shoulder, " could do it."
Couldn't you just put it back on Charlie
desk when no one saw you and no ON
need ever know anything about it,"
"Abbie didn't suppose you'd say that
No, Pm going to take it straight TO Mrs
King, and | expect III tell her all about il
' but III do it ii | have to leave school"
81 didn't know you could do that, Ben
but that would be right"
With pitiful look Of despair on his fac
pale and haggard from want of sleep-Be
approached the teacher and Charlie, an,
: said, with a slight trembling in his tones
II "Alrs King here is Charles pencil
took it from his desk yesterday noon. an
Ben, a thief = and am a liar, too. | don
+" expect you or Charlie will ever forgive IN
or trust me, but | had to tell you. shal
never steal again.
Mrs. King and Charlie received this franl
confession with as frank words of forgive
ness and his teacher, claspng his han,
- tightly in hers, said, 1t shall never be men
e toned in the school but, my dear boy, lie
it be a lesson to you, and thank God win
Il l.. a.. 4.