The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-15
Ghildren's Column.
RoB,s MAGIC MIRROR.


dressed, pouting all the while.
Breakfast was on the table, and father
and mother were taking their seats as
Rob came in But Rob DID not even
say GOOD morning." in answer to his
mother, but only this instead: "There,
now, mother; you said you would have
some buckwheat cakesl'
They are coming, Robbie; Jane is
trying them now, said his mother; wait
a minute
Eyes, wait, he grumbled, at always
have to wait. i want my breakfast
"Robertl'' said his father, warningly
When father said Robert it was best
to be careful: and as the cakes were Just
then brought, Robert contented himself
with looking sulky while he ate them
By-and-by he broke out again: Father,
can't have new ball?"
Another ball? Where is the last one
you had p
ooh, 1 lost that last week."
"Then 1 think it will not pay to buy
another for you to lose
40 father, should think I might have
onel All the boys do but me-
No, Rob-" returned his father; not
bill you can be more careful and more
=" pleasant, he was going to say,
but Rob snapped out:
l don't care you never let me do
anythimgi" and marched out of the
room.
"What shall we do with the boy?"
sighed his mother.
He is growing crosser every day.
He needs lesson, said his father.
School went i'll that morning with poor
Rob. He failed in one lesson and blum
dered in another, was beaten at marbles
at recess, struck the boy who won, and
was reprimanded by the teacher. He
came home in bad humor, but was sur
prised and Modified to find lying by his
plate a pretty pocket-case containing
somb, brush, and. dear little looking
glass. "Ohl thank you sir, cried Rob,
smiling up at his father. 1--WE wanted
one this long time"
Don't lose it, replied his father
Rob- that is sort Of magic glass, such
as you read of in Arabian Nights"
Rob looked doubtfully, first at the
glass, then at his father, and asked,
But what will it do?"
"Oh never mind, you'll find out. All
you have to do is to be sure to look into
it whenever anything goes wrong"
Rob ran back to school, his gift safe
IN his pocket, and his mind SO full of
curiosity about it that he almost wished
something aOould go wrong, to give him
a chance to make trial of its powers He
had not long to wait. Proud of his new
possession, he made haste to display it to
the other boys. In spite of his rather
boastful air, the boys were all admiring
the neat case and the pretty toilet arti-
sles, when Ben Barlow came up. Ben
was rough, coarse lad, who took pride
IN taking down" his companions. No
sooner had he seen the toilet-case than
he exclaimed, Poohl that's nothing
great" and with quick movement
tossed it into the muddy street.
For shame, Ben Barlow" cried half
dozen voices, as Rob, white with anger,
ran to pick up the case. It was covered
with mud, and, scratched by a rough
stone, pretty and new no longer.
You coward T. muttered Rob, shak-
ing his fist at his tormentor, "I'll-Iu."
But words failed, and Rob was not ready
for deeds Instead, he began to examine
his case, drawing out one by one the
brush, comb, and glass, to see if each
were safe. AS his eye fell on the last
his fathers words came to mind, and
Rob eagerly scrutinized the shining
surface with vague anticipation. Moth
ing remarkable happened, however; but
while Rob gazed he noticed the dis
agreeable scowl on the face he saw re-
hected. 1t was not pleasant sight, and |
it changed the current of his thought.
"Whew I didn't know 1 looked lie |
that, he whistled under breath.
Just then the school bell rang, and the
boys hurried to their seats. Once again
that afternoon Rob stole glance at his
magic mirror. He failed in his spelling
lesson, and had gone down two places.
Now things were going wrong, if ever,
and he quickly drew out the glass, but
with no better result than before.
Fl m y pondered Rob, II don't see
what father meant" At the tea-table |
he asked for explanations, but his father
only said with a knowing smile, "You
follow directions, Rob, and you'll see
before long what the magic is So Rob
went to bed more curious than ever.
Next morning everything went smooth
ly till about haf-past eight, when, as
Rob WAS countino bis beef roorb1oo 10