The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-05

He was q silent listener to the eager talk
ard merry laughter, till gsily accoste1 WIN:
sSay, Hal, what are you so solemn TORI
You are coming tonight, of courseF
Harry mumb,ed an indefinite reply, and
rushed toward home, resolving that he must
be member of tina. boat club, whatever
happened.
At supper he could talk of nothing else.
ST say, mother, haven't you got bit Of
money you can spare me2' he said, Tor the
forsieth time, perhaps.
"Why, son. / have no. one cent In the
house, except FIVE dollars L promised Cur
landlord he should have tomorrow. Hetold
me he could not wait any longer; that Il L
didn't ray him tomorrow he would rent
the house TO some ORG who could pay
sHang the mean old fellowr calculated
Harry; then added: But, mother, if l
cou'a only have the money tonight.
Couldn't YOU borrow it of somebody l
veto leave school and work hard to pay 1t
back"
"No, Harry; 1 do not wish to borrow.
do not think that il is at all necessary that
YOU should become a member of the bost
club. 1 sn surprised that you have teazed
me so about IT."
Harry rvshed from the room in great In
dignatios- Yet his heart had not yet med
itsted the wicked deed he WAS 50 soon to do.
Alone n his room he nursed his wrath
against kis mother, the landlord and his
plaguey fortune, as he termed it. Finally
he starred up.
"I don't care; I'll have that five dollars.
She can Just as well borrow 1t OF somebody
as not, or Mr.. Davis can go without his
rent---stingy old thingI"
Without giving himself time to think, he
stole to his mothers room, took her porte
moEnaie, and there lay the i've dollars be-
! fore him.
Fora moment he hesitated; but a thought
of the bows contempt if he told them he
lcouldn't afford to Join them, decided him,
! Aad he tucked the bill securely in his peck
ct. then put the pocket-book where he had
found it, and quietly left tho room and the
house.
He FASTENED to Alfred Anderson's ele-
CANT home, where the boys were already as
l.sembled, and the cordial greeting given him
drowned the voice of conscience for a
while.
They had jolly time that night. After
their important business was transacted,
popcorn and apples were in order, spd joke
after Joke made the room ring with laugh
/ ter.
But more thoroughly uncomfortable
boy than was Harry Morn never laid his
head upon his pillow.V He tossed from side
to side of the bet, but Gould find no rest.
What would his mother say-his dear
mother-who had worked for him Gll his
| lige2
What would little Susie say when she
heard that her big brother was theft
Thief! How Harry shuddered st that
word On, il be only had power to undo
that evenings work.
1t seemed 10 him now that he didn't care
If he never saw another boat in his life.
He could bear it no longer. Rushing to
mis- mothers room, he dropped on his knees
beside her bed and told her the whole
truth. Mrs. Thorn saw how he was suffer-
ing, and refrained from any word of re-
proach, though her heart ached with the
thought that her boy could no. be trusted.
Breakfast was waiting the next morning
when the outside door opened, and Harry
Thorn bounded in and laid crisp fiye-dol-
| lar bill upon his mothers plate.
"Oh, motherl" he exclaimed. Il thought
being sorry wasn't enough, and so I've been
to Aft Anderson's, and l told him every
thing taat has happened, and asked him to
| =
from the roll. But don't you think, mother,
he wouldn't do it; and he took that five
dollar dill from his pocket and made me
take it. didn't want 10 8 bit, for felt
didn't deserve it. Bgt he said / was to take
it to you, and it wasn't favor % me, but to
him, fer he couldn't afford to lose so valu-
able member from the club. Oh, mother,
wasn't he good, and amt gladr'
| Mrs. Thorn folded her boy in her arms,
thankful that his better nature had SO far
triumphed as to enable him to humble his
pride by acknowledging his poverty and sin
to bis schoolmate.
! She felt that this would be alasting lesson
to hereon; and it was.
Throughout the pleasant suRmer, every
boat-ride reminded Harry of his temptation,
and he has neve: since been known to take
even penny which was not his own. For
"Hoaaly is the best policy became the
watch word of his life.