The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-31
BESSIE'S THEFT.

the garden-not among the flowers, oh,
no!-she wanted some practical result
from her labor; so she devoted herself
to the lettuce, onion and ra1jsh beds,
delighted in caring for the strawberry
plants, ami was ever happy in watch
ing the thrifty condition Of the vege-
tables and fruits she specially tended.
After the death of my father my
mother and / lived with my grand
mother. At the time l got into the
trouble ] am going to relate l was
about nine years old. In the spring it
was my custom, after school hours, to
watch grandma at her favorite work;
and when she babe me help her pull out
the weeds, that would insist upon COM
ing where they were not wanted, |
was only too proud to render the
service.
One afternoon q shall never forget
iD ran gayly out into the garden, and
there found grandma fondly gazing at
freshly-made bed, that Jack, the
gardener, had just finished.
"Ah! Bessie, here you are,o Grand
ma said, 81 think will plant onions in
this bed; it is the very place for them,
and want you to 60 to Wilson's store
and buy me twelve cents worth of
bulbs" went in the house, got bas-
ket, and, taking from grandma silver
ten-cent piece and two pennies, | hur-
ried off to do my errand.
On my way l had to pass candy
store, and it seemed to me the window
never held so many inducements to stop
and buy. Above all things, l was fond
of peanut candy, and there it was in
large sticks, fresh, and, to my mind,
never so thick with nuts. The more
looked the more longed for some. l
walked on little way, and then turned
back to look and long again. "If |
only had penny to get just one stick!'
and then the two pennies in my hand
gave little chink, as if to say, "Here
we are-spend u.s."
trembled at the thought, but repeat
ed it over and over in my mind until it
lost its horror. 1.-Two cents" l rea-
soned, "can't make much difference in
the quantity of onions l shall get.
Grandma will never know it, and the
candy does look SO good"
go right away-don't think any
more about it-don't look at the candy,
but do your errand," said a small voice
within me. II don't see why l should
hurry away" evil thoughts answered.
at is no harm to look, and will ask
how much it COSTS"
penny stick" the old man who
kept the store replied to my faltering
question. "Never had nicer peanut
candy; how many sticks do you wantp"
Two" / said, with reckless deter
mination, and was soon outside, the
guilty possessor of the coveted sweet.
Never did candy taste so poor. 1t had
burnt flavor and the nuts were musty.
After eating one stick gladly gave
the other to schoolmate 1 met, and
went ON TO get the onion-bulbs. With
the ten cents worth in my basket 1
fastened on my way home, but when
nearly there, stumbled and fell, strew-
ing the onions in all directions. Such
task as l had to find and get them in
the basket; | was very anxious, fur
ried, conscience-stricken little girl when
l handed the basket to my grandmoth-
er. Beside the scolding for having been
SO long away, grandmother was dissat-
isfied with Che onions. She wanted
red ones, and could just take the ones
l had brought and get them exchanged
or bring the money back"
Soon was in Wilson's store again;
he did not have red onions SO gave me
the ten cents. What should l dop How
could l account for the missing two
pennies? My heart was full of trouble
and my feet were heavy as lead, as /
slowly returned home. Oh! if had
not stopped to look at that horrid
candy. il I had only shut my eyes
and gone right on. If l could die,
and no one ever know how wicked | had
been.
Everything was changed to me, the
brightness Of the sunshine was painful,
the singing Of the birds sounded like
hateful mockery at my misery. When
1 reached grandma's gate sat down
and gave vent to my wretched feelings
in tears. What is the matter with
nv little Bessiep' said calm, kind
voice at my side; and there stood my
mother. "Oh, mother! mother!' /
cried, and with piteous sobs 1 told all
my small my dread. could not go
to grandma. What should l doP Very
grave, very gentle was the dear face
gazing into mine. You have done
great wrong, and it is impossible for
me to shield you from the suffering
wrongdoing ever occasions, my moth
er said, but, believing you are peni-
tent, will help you all / can. Ishould
be very sorry to have my daughter
lose the confidence her grandmother
has in her. and trusting that you will
ever remember that by going right is
the only way to retain self-respect and
happiness, I win lend you two cents
that You may return the twelve grand
mother gave you; but, mind, it is only
o loan. You must save rags until you
have enough to sell to enable you topay
me-"
How grand my mother appeared to
me then. More painful than all pun
ishments she could inflict was the
grieved look she wore, and throughout
my life will be treasured the tender
readiness to untangle the knot my sin
had tied around me. Quietly / gave
the money 70 grandma, meekly listened
to her sharp reproof for my delay. and
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