The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-01
Ghilaren's Column.
For the Central Presbyterian.
Peter the Outlaw.


gather some cherries and carry them to
Susie, on my way to school? 1 fear she
is sickl'
Certainly dear, ask Bob to help you,
but come to me bfore you start. 'ee
Mary and her brother had merry
time gathering the ripe, luscious black
hearts, and by the time large basket
was filled, school hour was near at hand.
There my dear. said Mrs. Somers as
she handed Mary little basket, 'is some
thing nice for Susie, as ! fear she will
not be able to eat many Of the cherries.
l haveput Susie's goodies in your pretty
basket auntie gave you, as it is the only
small one l can find" And while she
was speaking the kind lady was placing
the fruit carefully in the top of the basket,
and very tempting it looked, nesting
amid the green leaves.
Mary, after kissing her mother. good
bye, started with happy heart on her
errand of mercy, walking quickly, as she
wished to spend few moments with her
little friend. Susie Gray, who, though
only the daughter of poor, obscure
washer-woman, was sweet-tempered and
lady-hke, and the two little girls were
firm friends. Susie had been very deli
cate for some time, and was now suffer-
ing from slow fever. Marys eyes
sparkled as she assembled the steps of the
low porch and knocked at the door, think
ing what a treat she had in store for sick
Susie. After knocking more than once
she put the basket down, and opening
both of the doors, the inner one of which
led to the bedroom, she entered the small
dark room, calling Susie softly, but find
ing the sick child was still asleep, she
called still louder, "Susie, Susie. The
little sleeper turned several times before
she was fairly reused, and on seeing Mary
happy smile frightened the thin face.
81 hated to wake you" said Mary,
but it is almost nine o'clock I've
basket of goodies for you, but wait a min
ute," and so saying she hurried from the
room, but came back much quicker, with
flushed face and streaming eyes.
20 Susie its gone its gonel"
Gone, what's gomez"
My basket, my pretty basket, and
Mary sat down and cried heartily, whilst
Susie looked on in wonder, not knowing
what it all meant.
AS soon as Mary could speak she told
her in few words of the basket and its
sudden disappearance. Susie was ready
to cry with vexation, and the two were
mingling their tears together, Mary for
getting all about school time, when Mrs.
Gray entered the room She saw at
glance something was wrong, and was
quite as indignant as the children.
40 mother !" cried the sick girl, "not
only Mamie's beautiful basket which she
thinks so much of, but all the nice things,
the cake, custard; and cherries all gone,
and / am 80 thirsty"
Mrs Gray looked down mournfully at
her child as she said, at is shame but
Mary have you looked everywhere"
All their searching proved in vain, not
a trace was to be seen of either the dearly
priced basket or its contents.
So with fearful eyes, Mary wendell her
way to school, promising Susie to come
up again in the afternoon. She found
herself half an hour behind time, but her
kind teacher readily excused her tardi-
ness on hearing her simple story. With
rapid steps, the moment school was dis
missed, Mary FASTENED to find Susie no
better, and nothing heard of the missing
article. Cows
Mamie, said Susie in an excited tone,
Z" know that wicked, naughty Peter has
stole the basket. He was even afraid to
corne to dinner"
Hush my dear, do not use such a
harsh word. I know my boy is bad. yes
wicked, but pray God he has not robbed
his sister" and tears filed the poor
moth orc auac ..
20, Mrs. Grayl r. said Mary, sadly, II
hope not o., l hope notl'' and afraid to
trust herself, the child hurried home,
anxious to see and tell her mother the
whole story. .o-
Mrs. Somers sympathized heartily with
her little daughters trouble, but tried to
comfort her, saying she hoped the basket
would be found, and as to its contents,
they could easily be replaced. do not
repeat darling, she continued, what
Susie said about her brother. There s
an old very expressive, but not very ele-
CANT adage, Give a dog bad name =
and thus it is with poor Peter Gray.
Every thing that is done in the village is
laid to him"
Why mamma said Mary, sur
prised, you know, Peter deserves such
name, and I am nightly afraid he took
the basket; but it is a dreadful thing to
rob ona'a mother and piefnr"