Sharp County record., 1881-02-03

demanded Mr. Mitchell, with clouding
brow and a dawning suspicion of some
thing wrong. 81 told you to take it to
Mr. Parsons-the cabinet-maker' s-to
have that spring fixed. -
Kip saw it all then, but he wished the
floor would quietly open and drop him
into the cellar, or that he could fly
through the roof. He thrust his hands
deep into his pockets, and his face
flushed and paled.
"I-thought-you said the parson' s."
he stammered. Il s'posed twas for
the minister's donation, and So"
"You took it there?" Mr.. Mitchell
completed the sentence. "Now how in
! the world
But it was too much to be borne. Kip
waited for nothing more, but rushed
from the house, and if in the shadow of
the friendly woOd-pile he leaned his
head against the rough sticks and cried.
there was no one to see.
They may fix it up any way they
please" he said. Il can't do it! Icau't
and l won'tm
A little later he stood by the old gate
watching the great yellow moon come
up, and digging his red fists into his
eyes now and then to wipe away some
stray tears OF shame, indignation and
grief that still gathered there. This
was not very nice world anyhow, he
decided, with queer aching spot at his
heart. Almost it seemed rs if he had
asked for bread and received stone
sharp heavy stone at that.
Indoors Mr.. Mitchell had expressed
very distinctly his opinion of the care
lessness and obtuseness that could have
caused such blunder, and the "awk-
wardness of the whole thing" and in no
little vexaton was trying to find some
means ofremedy.
Il might write note and explain,
but them declare it's the most awk-
ward diSagreeable thing l ever knew!
Such a stupid blunder."
Papa" interposed the slow. Won
dering voice of Bud, 81 didn't know
there could be any mistakes up there"
"Up where, child?"
SIN Heaven. Kip prayed you'd bring
something for the minister-'cause |
heard him-behind the wood-pile," )"
said Bud with slow emphasis. Il
thought that made the chair come. I'm
most sure 'twasn't any mistake papa"
Mr.. Mitchell pushed aside pen and
paper, put on his hat and walked out.
He really did not know the best way
out of the difficulty. 1t was very vexa-
tious, and in his perplexity he jour
neyed towards the parsonage. When
he came in sight ofthe house he paused.
What did he intend to do? Go there
when others were making their offer
ings and explain that he had not wished
to show any friendship or appreciation,
and wanted to take back what had been
proffered through mistake? Certainly
not! He turned, but at that moment
some one joined him.
"Ah, Mr.. Mitchell! just going in?
That was generous gift OF yOurS-ex-
actly the thing for poor Mrs. Clay"
Others came with similar comment.
There was no chance to say anything,
and scarcely knowing why or how, Mr..
Mitchell found himself in the well-hlled
room, saw the sweet, pale face, with its
smile of welcome for all, looking out
from the cushion of the new chair, and
felt the quick WARM grateful clasp of
the minister's hand. Something in look
and clasp and murmured words brought
sudden throb to Mr.. Mitchel's heart,
moisture to his eye.
Then, before he had time to recover
from his bewiderment, some one had
called on him to "make a few remarks"
and others echoed the request, and he
found himself pushed forward to the
front and heard his own voice saying,
How much cause all had to value Mr..
Clay's work in the village" and ex-
pressing the hope that he might zen Joy
these simple offerings as tokens of es-
TEEN and friendship" Aye. and he
meant it, too. for catching the spirit of
those around him, and swiftly compre-
hendlng more of the good mans life and
work than he had ever done before, he
only regretted that he had not sent the
offering of his own free will and pleas
ure.
He found an opportunity, however, to
whisper to Kip, who had slipped in later
with very sober face-a face that
frightened at sight of him.
It's all right. Don't say word to
anybody about it,"
He had a pleasant evening despite a
feeling of strangeness about it, and on
his hOmeward way muttered something
to himself about n blessed blunder." ="
What he toldat home Kip did not know,
but when the boy arrived, little later,
Bud, wide-awake and listening for his
step, raised her yellow head from its
pillow and called:
Ke-ip! it all coined out right,
didn't itP"
Kip thought it had, He was sure of
it afterward when he saw the friendship
that from that night began between the
Mitchers and " his minister. ."-Katc
W. Hamilton, In Vide AWake.
Poison Rings.