The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10

would not do the least good now. and it would
though, and with such frolics as they ARE
up to-"
But it CHANGED that Bert was not to have
his own way about this matter. That even
ing when he came home smarting under the
modification of failure in his lessons and "A
sense of remorse and shame at his own folly,
his father called him into his study. For the
first time in his life Bert really dreaded an
interview with his father, and when he saw
upon a chair the hair-dresser's sign which he
had helped to fasten upon Mrs. McPherson's
COW, he was ready to sink with shame. His
father talked to him quietly, telling him that
for some time the neghborhood had been
annoyed by the misehievous and malicious
tricks of a set of boys, until some of the resi-
dents had determined that they would dis
cover them and make public example of
them.
IF it could have been done sooner it
would have saved a great deal of suffering
to an innocent boy, but perhaps
some serious warning needed ior
those who do not hesitate to sacrifice
their best friends TO what they call fun.
This morning DIR. Parker called me into his
garden and, after showing me the mischief
creature that had trampled over them, he
told me that he found Mrs. McPherson.s COW
in the grounds with that sign tied to her
horns. The gate had been taken from the
hinges, and the animal had apparently been
driven about to do as much damage as posi-
BILE. 1t seemed almost incredible that any
one would have the bOldness to awow such a
piece of villainy"
Bert sat with his eyes fixed upon the sign,
unable to move or speak, but at that instant,
he saw, written in pencil at the top of the
board: compliments of Bert Andrews"
.'How mean,' he exclaimed, angrily;
"That is some of VIII Moore's work"
My boy" exclaimed his father, looking
a if an immense burden had been lifted from
him. al shall be the happlest man in town
to know that you had no hand in this ras-
cally business"
Then Bert's heart fell again. He thought
he had only shared in the fun, but he sudden
" realized that his companions had so con-
trived that he should also bear the disgrace
and the blame for the unlooked-for results
After all it was a relief to both father and
son when the whole story was told. Bert
was relieved at having mad full confess
sion and feeling himself restored to his
fathers confidence, while his father was glad
OF Tue dssuTdHCe lndt HIS DON udu HOl OctIl
guilty of malicious mischief.
Nothing more fortunate could have hap
pended to you than that this very first adj
venture should bring you into trouble, for
remember, my boy, that the acts themselves
would have been inst as disgraceful if things
had not resulted as they did. The law does
not trouble itself about intentions, but holds
us responsible for the mischief which results,
or which might be expected to result from our
acts"
Father, said Bert, presently Il hate to
have the BOYS think told of them
"They seem to have had no scruples about
telling of you" said his father. 81 shall GER
taInly 90 TO their fathers and do what / can
to save them from certain ruin. As for you,
Bert, | advise YOU to go and have talk with
DIR. Parker"
Bert never reported his conversation with
the good old minister, but they shook hands
very cordially AS they parted, and the doctor
was often heard to speak of Bert as a "fne,
manly fellow"
Bert likes fun AS we'll rs ever, but he has a
habit of looking very cautiously at frolic,
10 be sure that there are not two sides to it,
before he ventures in-an excellent habit to
form.