Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-26
and giving way to her impotence, she
pushed Max before her through the hall,
and thrust him out through the street
and thrust hir

"Inere!' she exclaimed oget out OF
my sight. You are the worst boy I ever
saw. Therep' throwing his hat out after
him. "That:is the last i: want to see .of
you?'
Mrs. Fennimore was in the habit of
giving expression to her Impotence in
angry words, the full meaning of which
she did not stop to realize. Y Perhaps
Max did not notice them much at first:
but such harsh and cruel words. although
scarcely needed at first, have power to re-
turn, and echo and re-echo through the
heart. She certainly could not have re-
allied that the impression that she was
making on her boys mind would be as
lasting as his existence; that mothers
manner, her words, which make her in
fluence over her child, will follow it al
ways. That they will come back, per-
haps, in adversely, to strengthen and
comfort with their gentleness and loving
patience, until it will seem almost that
her very presence is with him. Or they
may come to him in the hour of tempta-
ton, to sting with their pain and bitter
ness, and, perhaps turn the balance on
the evil side.
Max picked up his hat, and drawing
it closely down over his Lead, started
slowly down the street, feeling angry and
ill-natured.
That evening as the Fennimore family
were gathering round the supper table,
the eldest daughter entered, locking fresh
and excited. "Where has Max been this
afternoon?" she asked, "and what has he
been doing?" i Il = u 1 =
"Why- do you ask?,, inquired Mrs
Fennimore, startled by her daughters
manner.
GAS was coming home saw him and
several other boys in the custody of a
policeman, going toward the station"
s"ImpossibleW exclaimed Mr.. Fenni-
more. : "You must be mistaken. 1t
surely could not have been Maxi"
ono, father, am not mistaken. I saw
MIN distinctly, and then hurried home to
let you know"
Her words brought transformation to the
whole family. Mr.. Fennimore took up
his hat, and leaving his supper untasted,
fastened down the street.
After Max had left home in the after
noon, he had fallen in with some boys of
disreputable character, who had persuaded
him to join them in a fishing excursion
down to the mill-pond. After fishing
some time with Indifferent success, the
boys began to amuse themselves by throw
ing stones through the windows of the
mill-which was not running at the
time-%hen they we're arrested by po-
lice officer. Two or three Of the boys had
succeeded in making their escape, before
they reached the station. Max was one
of the number. Mr.. Fennimore could OBJ
tain no clue to his whereabouts. Neither
Of his parents, however, felt much alarm
over his absence; presuming him to be
frightened, they expected he would return
under cover Of darkness.
''There has something got to be done
with that boy" said Mrs. Fennimore, lat
cr in the evening, letting her sewing fall
idly in her lap, as she addressed her hus-
band. He is getting to be so careless
and stubborn, that can do nothing with
him. He needs sterner hand than mine
to manage him.
MIR. Fennimore moved uneasily; his
thong hts had also been occupied over his
sons welfare. II have thought sometimes
that we were too stern with him, now,''
| he replied. "Perhaps if you would be
more patient with him, and take an inte-
rest in his amusements, he would be less
| troublesome, and more contented at
home"
IL have endeavored to be patient with
| him. But you have no idea what trial
that boy is. It does seem as if there is
no peace to be bad in the house while he
is at home. He is continually in mischief
of some kind, or teasing his sisters. II
was only yesterday that he took Cora's
kitten and after gluing walnut shucks to
its feet, let it go in the room. Such a
mewing and Gathering I never heard I
opened the door just in time to see her
dash out of the window. Cora, poor child
was crying as if her little heart would
break, and Max he was almost beside
himself with delight, as if the combined
pleasure of teasing his sister and torment
ing the cat was almost. to much to be
borne.'' " -. - ~
Mr.. Fennimore did not laugh at the
recital OF the boys mischief, as he had
often done. He was too deeply troubled
zone thingSis certain" he said, decld-
eddy, "the boy has got to be kept at home
more closely. It will not do to allow
him to be gone without knowing where
he has been, or what he has been doing
associating with boys Who are left to
roam the streets in idleness, and grow IN
imam apprenticeship to vice. He has not
yet sufficient strength of principle to re-
sist temptation-few boys ofhis age have
To give him good moral training is a
| 11f1 nj, RI r.:
! to God and society. We cannot always
shield him from temptation; but we can
see that his first impressions are good and
pure; we can educate his moral percep-
tons, and strengthen his convictions of
right, until be will learn to love virtue
and hate vice. Then, when temptation
does come, he can resist it. But this we
can never do if we permit him to run in
the streets"
! Mrs Fennimore was impressed by her
husbands words, but she was convinced
| against her will It seemed great
| trouble to her to have the constant care
Of Max, when other boys, many of them
the SONS Of respectable parents, were left
| to amuse themselves in the streets. Mr..
! Fennimore had referred to such as grow
| ing up apprentices to vic. Perhaps sJe
did not think of that. How often do we
refuse to see our wrong doings until God
has laid His hand heavily upon US, and
we are madeEto sec our faults through
binding tears.
To Mrs. Fennimore, Max was no
mythical creature, but an actual, veri-
table reality Astrouble, if she could
have it 50; but a trouble which she could
not thrust entirely from her. She might
attempt to leave him in room alone
with his toys, but he would gravitate to
her presence again; fer be was 9 social
being ); his boyish heart yeafned Tor the
warmth Of human love, and human sym
pathy; and he would have it-she mi ght
be sure Of that! If he could not find it
in her presence, he would seek itwhere
nnballowed fires were Kept Burning by
no friendly hands. She mi gbt leave him
to run in the streets, and relieve herself
of the trouble of his presence now, but
! he would return to, her again. when the
liphf snrinoin1r stem fJrOsrl1 He cilanred