The Osceola times., 1880-10-16

the soft murmur of the little brook, and
the merry voices all hushed, while the
kind old deacon. with trustiul face
turned toward the heavens, PRAYED
earnestly that none of these little ones
might ever take a step toward sin.
Beckys heart grew very heavy.
Could it be that little bit of a cocoanut
cake? The merry voices began again,
and the dishes clattered but it all had
far away sound TO littce Becky, as if
she were no part of the innocent merry
making. Her appetite had fled with
her spirits. In vain Jerry offered her
the dantiest bits; and NaRdie Potter
said "City folks couldn't eat much"
She could not eat any more than if the
little cake had been fastened over
her mouth.
When there was demand for the
candy basket, one little heart went
thumpl thump! as if candy baskets had
been known 10 contain instruments OF
torture.
Tommy Potter watched Mamie as she
took out the candy. "One more cocoa
nut cake, Man," he said, as his sister put
down the basket.
"No," she said, "that's ALL"
kuOW DttttT, S.ilu lOIllllV. ''One,
two, three, four, five (get your hand out
of the way, will you?) six, seven, eight,
nine bought 'em myself, ought to
know ten, 'leven,-I paid for twelve;
and when | pays for thing gets il !
Somebody has hooked cocoanut
cake.
They all laughed, not excepting
Becky. She will never forget how much
it cost her to laugh that day.
"You don't s'pose | care for cent
cocoanut cake, do you?" said Tommy,
almost wrathful!y. But hate to know
we've got a fellow in the party mean
enough to take it,"
''Sit down" said Mamie, "you have
made speeches enough. How do you
know't want a glrl took it,"
'Oh, never, neverw said Jerry, gal
lantlv.
"Pll leave it to Becky now" declared
the investigating Tommy, "if when she
had the blsket there wasn't twelve
cocoanut cakes?"
II really did not count them" said
Becky, cody, wandering at her own
selfpossession.
Gone now," persisted Tommy, 81 re-
WttC ollN ibItt Illh
ones. Did you notice that, Becky"
II did, SAID Nathan, cody.
Poor Becky Had she been the means
of bringing her own accuser?
There, there" said Tommy, "hear
that. When did you see them, Ndt?"
"When she" (pointing but not looking
at Becky was a-setting the candy basket
right"
"What difference can it make, any
way?' SAID one of the girls, seeing
Becky's coniusion; deacon, will you
please to tell Tommy TO be quiet?"
The deacon smiled, but sad nothing;
he was anxious himself TO see how they
would come out.
"You saw three pink cakes, Nat, are
you sure?" said Tommy. y
81 know | did. said Nathan; "two big
and little might of one
Remember Becky's grandfather is a
Judge" said Jerry, laughing.
"Where was the last you saw, that YOU
saw, the little PINK cake, Nat?" said
Tommy, excitedly.
ain my hand" said Nathan.
Becky's hand went involuntarily to
her pocket The small pink cake was
gone!
Where did you get it?" cried
Tommy.
Becky dropped it and l picked it
up"
"why didn't you give it back to
Becky?'
"None of your business"
"Tut, tut" said the deacon.
Nathan threw the little cake among
the Others.
''It you paid a cent for that you got
cheated said one of the girls.
" T was worth stealing, anyhow" said
Tommy.
at wasn't worth eating though, was
it, Nathan" said Mamie.
All through the trial Nathan had not
cast his ewes once towards Becky. Did
lac know the truth?
After dinner they went to the mea-
dow.
Becky tried in vain TO get near enough
to little Nathan to question him about
the cake. "lIe knows ! meant to take
1t" she thought; "why did he say he
| took it?"
She thought the deacon looked sor.
rowfully at him, when he SAID so coldly
81 did" The deacon was stretched out
now under trees, with great red silk
| handkerchief over his face. Becky
went back and sat by his side. 81 will
not leave this seat" she said TO her
self, till | tell him, that | took the cak
instead of Nathan"
In few minutes he said: "Who is
| that?"
"It's Becky" she answered very
humbly.
He was about to draw off the hand.
kerchief from his face, when she said
"Please leave the handkerchief on
Deacon, ! want to tell you something
and aR ashamed"
Hard, indeed, must have been the
deacon's heart that would not have been
touched by her humble, penitent voice
whats the little girl ashamed OFF
he said kindly.
81 took the pink cocoanut cake, Dea
con, instead OF Nathan.
IL thought it wasn't much like
Nathan TO do it," said the deacon, smil
ingly.
She looked up, and on the other sid,
of the velled deacon stood Nathan, max
ing motions 10 her not to tell
81 thought ought to tell you," saiC
Becky, trying hard not to cry.
"She only dropped it, Deacon, and
picked it up"
"Why didn't you give it back to her
then?'
1t was Tommy's question. The dea
con sat up and pulled off the red hand
kerchief, and looked at Nathan who re
mained silent.