Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-06
How Charlie Went Home.

OnarHe nau Deen 10 pay MS aunt Ella
visit, and she escorted him part of the way
on his return. When they were within two
blocks of his fathers house, Aunt Ella said
that as she had call to make, she would stop
there and let the little boy go on alone.
Before she babe him goodbye she took out
Of her pocket-book shining ten cent piece,
which she gave to Charlie to buy candy with.
Now you will promise me TO go right
home, will you not ?" asked Aunt Ella.
Yes, ma'am," answered Charlie, and he
ran down the street very happy in the pos
session of his treasure.
But on the corner he met Will Sanders.
Now Charlie knew very well that Will was
a very bad boy, and that he ought not to
have anything TO do with him but when
Will called ont, " Halloo !" Charlie stood still
What have you got in your hand ?"
asked Win.
Charlie opened his hand and showed the
coin.
"Just enough to take us both to the Park
What do you say to ride in the horse
cars Wen go to the lake and see the fe-
lows skate, and then come back in time for
dinner"
al promised to go right home" said
Charlie; but he spoke in very hesitating
way. "The Park " was his ideal of every
"Well, you're going home, amt you ?"
urged Will. "It'll only take little longer
this way: Hurry Here comes the car.
Jump in"
So saying, Will, who was large, power
full boy, caught hold of Charles coat and
hurried him to the step of the car. After
they had taken their seats Charlie paid the
fare rather proudly. A moment later he
looked somewhat troubled
"Will," he whispered, "who'll pay our
way home ?"
"Ob, III see to that. Don't you be uneasy"
Charlie leaned back and tried to amuse
himself by looking out of the window. Yet
all the while he felt unhappy, for he was
doing two very wrong things. He was
breaking his promise and disobeying his
mother, who had forbidden him to be in viii
Sanders company. However, he made up
his mind to get all the fun he could. SO
when they reached the park he jumped quite
briskly from the car, and made believe that
he expected to have a fine time.
He and Will walked very fast to the shore
of the lake, and then stood still few mo-
ments watching the skaters. Presently a
rough-looking boy spoke TO Will and offered
to lend him his skates for an hour. He was
going away, he said, and would be back at
the end of that time. VIII accepted the Of
fer very eagerly, and soon glided off upon
the ice, leaving Charlie to keep himself
warm as best he could. Poor Charlie had
doleful time, standing with his hands in his
pockets and whistling, TO hold the tears
back. {" wish had gone home" he thought
dozen times but what good did that do Z?
There he stood, without person to speak
to, and with nothing to do, on the shore of
the frozen lake.
At length the hour, which was the longest
he had ever spent, was over. The strange
boy reclaimed his skates and Will announced
himself as ready to return.
There's car" said Charlie, when they
had regained the entrance.
"What's that to us ?" asked Will !" We're
going to walk"
"All the way ?" asked Charlie timidly.
"All the way" answered Will, mocking
Charles tone, and then he strobe on with
out a word of encouragement or consolation.
Trudge, trudge, trudge. What long
walk it was. Charlie was cold and hungry
and cross. How he did wish that he had
minded his mother and let viii Sanders
alone. 1t seemed as If he would never get
TO the end of those two weary miles. AT
length, however, he was almost home. Then
he began to wonder what his mother would
say. How would she receive him? Per
haps she would punish him by giving him
only dry bread to eat. Well, that would be
great deal better than nothing, thought
the hungry boy.
While in the midst of these reflections he
struck his foot against stone and fell sud
denly to the ground. :" Ha, ha, hal" laughed
Will, and he walked on without further no.
tice of his comrades misfortune. Char.
lies cap was caught by the wind and car.
ried out into the middle of the street. There
it was run over by horse and cart and en-
tirely ruined. Charlie raised himself and
tried to brush the dust from his new ulster
but his hand had been cut on a stone and
the blood flowed from it on the overcoat
He looked around for his cap and found il
spoiled. In fact, he could not wear it, SC
he put it into his pocket and walked on
feeling very shabby and forlorn. In this
condition he reached home. His mother
} who had been exceedingly uneasy during
his absence, was of course very much dis
pleased when she learned the cause. Charlie
to do him justice, did not try to conceal any
of his wrong-doing. He begged his moth
er's pardon, and she forgave him and com
forted him with the warm dinner he so much
J needed.
After he had eaten enough and was rested
his mother said Charlie, have verse
that would like you TO learn. If you will
always remember and obey it, you will never
repeat the experience of to day" The verse
was this My son, If sinners entice thee
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