The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-14
Speak Gently to the Erring. -

As May Britton was walking along
one day with a basket of provisions for
poor old Mr.. BrOwnly, she met a rough,
uncouth- looking boy. His clothes were
soiled and ragged, and he was whistling
a negro melody, as he walked lazily
along.
"dow are you, Brittou ?" he said, as
he came toward May.
"Timmy Wilks, you shouldn't call
me BrittOn; you might at least say Miss
BrittOn, If you can't say May but I've
something to say to yOu,n she cOntin-
ued, as she changed the basket to her
other arm.
"You have. Some Of your nice ser
mons, ! suppose. / don't want none of
'em. Marin gives me preaching enough
in the week, and hear enough on Sun
day, too. But what have you got
there ?" be continued, as he tried to
remove the napkin that covered Nays
basket.
"Let that alone, Timmy, or I shall 90
back and tell my mother of you"
"Run along. 1 saw all / want 10. A
bottle Of rum, l 'pOse-should think
you might give us a drink; but you
needn't step back in that sort Of a way.
j N not going to touch your basket,
though ! could take basket, bottle and
all, If / had a mind to-"
"What a very naughty boy you are,
Timmy."
'I know it, and it's dreadful pity /;
but what are you goiug TO do about il ?'
and Timmy began to whistle.
May stood a moment, thinking how
very badly Timmy behaved and he
added
"But thought you had something to
say TO me-"
THAT is what was going TO say
that you are a naughty boy, and don't
obey your mother, and that you make
her very unhappy"
$50 she makes me unhappy. You
needn't call her mOther-she isn't my
mother; she's only fathers widder.
don't want any Of your blarney about
Obeying her, cause l never will, if she
whips me 10 DEATH"
"Does she ever whip you, Timmy ?i
az guess you'd think so. She gives
me some of the hardest whippings you
ever heard OF, but I've got a piece OF
sheepskin that | wear on my back all
the time, so il don't hurt as IL used to
but il feels rather hot such a morning
as this" and Timmy began 10 work
his shoulders back and forth.
"I feel sad about you, Timmy," May
replied, shaking her head. "NOu used
TO be such a good little boy. I wish you
were as good now ) you would be so
much happier. / don't like to hear
people say you are growing up to be a
wicked man, aud perhaps viii be sent
to jail"
"'Tis kind o. bad, to be sure,n Tim
replied, drawing down his face with
mock solemnity; "but it don't trouble
me much, for l had just as lief be in
Jail as live with marm."
"But just think-after you have been
there nobody will ever care for YOU
again"
Nobody cares for me now, so /
shouldn't be any worse of"
"Nes, Timmy, l care for you"
"No, you don't you only preach 10
me, so that the minister will praise YOU
for trying TO do something big"
"Mr. Danford never praises me, be-
cause be knows nothing about what I
say to you. Now, Timmy, IN tell you
what I'll do. I've got two dollars father
gave Inc to buy new books, aud I'll 60
without them and give it all to you, il
you will promise not to disobey your
mother for a MONTH"
ou get out with your money I
wouldn't be so small as 10 be hired IN
be good. / think you are q real good
girl, May, and / should like to accom-
modate you; but il will take more
money than you or your father has got
10 make me mind her. I haven't anv
particular objection TO being good as
know Of; but I never will obev that
ugly"
Stop, IImmy- Did you ever tbinL
how your mother in heaven would fse'
If she should look down upon Won vvbsT
you are so naughty and impudent ~
May had touched the right chord tbi,
time, and Timmy replied, in tremu
lous voice, after q moments silence:
"There, don't say anything abou
her; don't want 10 hear 1t. She use,
to be good to me, and used to love me
and she is the only one i'm this Who'll
world that ever did love me-" An,
Timmy drew his jacket sleeve across hi
eyes. 81 know 1 am a great big bab
to cry but can't help it; never ca
when | think Of her; and she died whe
I got big enough to love her. But
must go now; goodbye, May"
Stop q minute; don't go yet.
there anything l can do for you TO be
come better boy ?"
"Yes, there is one thing that you ca
dO,n be replied, as ne brushed away th
great drops that stood on his cheeks