Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-06-15
NED BROWNS PIECE OF SPORT.

NED BROWNS PIECE OF SPORT.
II. Morrison. in Kind Words.
Ned Brown dearly loved fun. With
out fun, life was very dull to him.
But when he had something to amuse
him, he was the happiest boy in the
world.
One bright spring morning Ned
strolled out to the suburbs of town,
seeking for sport. Passing by pond,
he saw Mrs. Jenkins old pet goose
swimming upon the water. "Ah,"
thought Ned, "I'll bavN some fun out
of that goose, surel' He filled his
pockets with rocks, and stood on the
bank of the poad, yelIing the goose
with them. Ned fairly grew wild
with glee as he did this. "Oh, how
jolly it is too see the old goose lodging
her head from the rocks" he thought
At length he held the last one in his
hand. Taking aim at the goose, he
threw it at her with all his force. The
rock hit the goose on the head, and
when Ned saw her struggling and dy-
ing upon the water, his fun was sud
denly turned into grief. "What shall |
dop I'm so sorry l killed herl
didn't mean to do i'll" he excitedly ex-
claimed.
"Poor, thoughtless Nedl To be sure
he didn't intend to kill the goose; yet |
don't see what else he could have x
pected.
He stood few moments studying
what was best to do. Looking around
he saw no one had witnessed what he
had done. He then ran fway as fast
rs his feet could carry him, with a
painful sepse of guilt at his heart.
That aftt rno9n Tom Reed, poor lit
tie motherless boy, went down to the
pond with his fishing tackle. Seeing
the dead goose floating on the water,
he managed to draw her to the bank
with his fishing pole, then he lifted heI
out. AS Tom stood on the bank, hold
ing the dead goose by the neck, citi
zen of the town passed by. After fish
ing awhile, Tom returned to town
leaving the goose at the pond.
At sunset that evening, Mrs. Jen
kins stood on the front porch, awaitin'
the goose's return. AS no goose ap
peared, she put on her bonnet and
walked down to the pond. When the
old lady saw her pet stretched out dead
on the bank she shed tears; but wher
she saw tAe goose's head all bruised
and bleeding, she became angry. "Tl
trace up the guilty one, and make hin
suffer for this" said she.
Next morning she put on her bes
bonnet and shawl and went to town
There the citizen, who was reliabl,
gentleman told her he saw Tom Reed
the evening before, standing on thu
bank of the pond, holding the deat
goose in his hand. Tom was arrested
and brought to trial the next day.
NV while Ned Brown was in hi
quiet home, being severely whipped b,
his conscience for the mischief he ha(
done, tho news came to his ears tina
Tom Reed was to be tried for killing
Mrs. Jenkins goose. When Ned heart
this, his conscience laid whip to hi
soul with redoubled force. 1t painet
him to think of poor Tom Reed suffer
ing for his crime. He wondered wha
his dear mother would do if she knew
he was the guilty one, and he grew
sick at heart. He thought of God
eye reading the secret guilt in his bos
ON and trembled.
Ned Brown was real Christian, ]
he did kill Mrs. Jenkins goose. Tha
night he confessed his sin to God, AM
asked for direction what to do. II
prayed earnestly, and when he rose u
from his knees he was strengthened
and his duty was plain. Next day h
went to Tom Reeds trial with fixe
resolution to confess the crime. Whe
he entered the court room he saw Tor
Reed standing up before the judg'
crying and declaring that he was nc
the guilty one. Old Mrs. Jenkins wa
standing close by, looking at Tom as
she would like to tear him limb fror
limb, while the people were kissing 8
him, and calling him "goose thief
When Ned saw and heard all this, hi
fixed resolution began to give wa,
He turned very pale and quietly 81
down in chair. The citizen gave i
his evidence against Tom, The Law
yer who WIS prosecuting the cas-
made long speech. The lawyer, i
his speech called Tom THETA laz
trining fellow, who made his living b
pilfering old women's geese"
When Ned heard all this said abol
Tom, his conscience laid whip to h
soul again with greater force than eve
"Ned Brown" said conscience, "yo
know Tom Reed didn't kill that goos
Get right up, and tell the lawyer yC
are the guilty one!"
Ned rose up halfway out of h
chair to spe k; but Satan, whisperiI
softly in his ear, said:
"Tom Reed is a mean fellow, an
way, and deserves all the punishmel
he can get. Let him alone"
Ned sat down and did not spea
Again the lawyer called Tom "goo
thief" and 'all the mean names |
could think of. And again M
Browns conscience laid whip to h
soul with tremendous force.
"Ned Brown" said his conscience
him, "are you willing for that poor b,
to bear the disgrace of your Grim,
You know you came here to confe
your guilt Why don't YOU get up al
do itp'
Ned, obeying the dictates of i
conscience, rose clear up, and just
he was about to make his confessio
Satan said to him sternly: