The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-08-24

one moment, then a crimson flush passed
over his face from brow to chin, as a
horrible thought flashed into his mind
"Oh, mother?" he gasped, "you didn't
didn't take didn't change them P"
face, he fairly burst into tears. "Oh,
mother, it was only for fun, and you're
too bad, you're too bad"
'EIush, Harry" said his mother, stern
ly; ''lsten to me. Is it any worse that
you should lose your best hat and boots,
by way of practical joke, than that poor
James Nalentine-aye, and his mother,
too-should have been insulted and
grieyed by the shameful and heartless
caper that you two boys had planned
Oh, Harry | wouldn't have believed
my boy could be guilty of 50 mean and
unmanly action. Think what a trial it
must be to James to be obliged to wear
such shabby clothing-t think what it is
for his mother to see her boy sighted
and Inundated when she knows what a
good, noble boy he is but ah, that is
her cOnsolation, and tears which Harry
well understood weled up in her eyes as
she spoke, ''and think what it would
have been to them both if they had re-
ceived the insult you boys had planned
fol them"
'But, MOTHER stammered Harry in
standardization, ''they say lin is a sneak
that his mother is a hypocrite, and has
lots Of money put by somewhere and
that jim expects to 90 TO college"
IF James goes to college, it will
probably have to be by his own eX-
ertions, said Mrs Mason; ''for it is not
true that his mother has money other
than a very small pittance which your
father succeeded in saving for her from
the wreck of their once splendid fortune
which cost Mr.. Valentine his life, was
caused hy the dishonesty Of his partner
who was none other than the father of Joe
Nelson the boy who would like to make
a wreck of Harry's character"
"Why, mother: never heard of that" d"
exclaimed Harry, with very wide eyes
IL suppose not, Harry, for these things
happened several years ago when you
We're but young child, and they have
long since ceased to he talked about
Mr.. Nelson found it advisable to leave
the country very soon after the failure ;
and as You know, Harry, he found grave
in the Atlantic. Your father has known
Mrs. Valentine from her childhood and
feels the deepest sympathy for her in her
miStOrtuneS. But for their long friend
ship | should scarcely have ventured to
send them your things, and Harry | al
most trcmhle to think Of what would
have been the consequence to You if your
plans had succeeded, and your father
been knowing to the escapade.
But You will get me another hat, won't
YOU, mother?" Harry asked teartuly.
"No, my boy, not at present; your
other nat IS scarcely worn, and will do
very Wcl for this spring; and as for your
shoes, have had your old ones nicely
mended and blackcd."
"Oh, mother, must wear patched
shoes ?" exclaimed Harry, passonately
"les, my SON" said Mrs. Mason, firm
iN, ''you must for the present. Since it
is proved that fine clothes cannot make
q gentleman, we will see if patches can
DO anything toward reminding a boy Of
his defects Of character, and help him in
his resolve to mend.
IL wouldn't care so much if it wasn't
for Joe Nelson" id Harry, throwing
himself into a chair and covering his
face with his hands
Il am sorry that you have been 50
under the influence Of that bad boy,
Harry, but am happy to learn that he
leaves town surely tomorrow morning
for the Il naval school, and very like
ly you will not meet him agan--but
hope Harry, that you will have the
strength of character to write him a full
account of how your plans have miscar-
ried and express your shame and sorrow
for having attempted to do anything
mean"
II will, mother, III make a clean breast
OF it, promise You, and you don't catch
me April tooing again in a hurry
James Valentines appearance was de
cdedly improved, when he presented
himself at school on Monday morning
with not only q new hat ''the nobelest
one in the crowd" little Dick TAYLOR
said, and a pair Of nice fitting shoes, but
a neat new suit Of clothes throughout,
50 near like Harry MaSon's that the boy
glanced turtiyely at his own garments to
make sure that they also had not been
transferred to his more deserving compan-
ion. James smiled pleasantly at Harry,
who stood next to him in the class Harry
dropped his eyes and contemplated his
own and his neighbOr's boots. His hon
est mental comments ran thus: 'There
is Just as much difference between me
and Jim Valentine as there is between
our two pairs of boots and jolly if
ever try to make an April fool of any
body again, hope may not turn out to
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