The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-19


rvs window. What shall we do about it,
motherH"
Il think we need not worry," replied
Mrs. Mason, with a smile quite incompre-
hensible to her daughter.
"Harry is safe to do nothing very bad,
think; perhaps harmless bit of April
fooling, but you were right to say nothing
before the others, and l think | would not
speak to Harry about it if l were you"
perhaps you are right, mother" said
Nellie soberly, "but hope Joe Nelson has
nothing to do with it."
"Nell, for PHYS sake, whore are my new
Shoes" shouted Harry Mason from the
door of his room, where he was preparing
for Church the following morning, 81 can't
find hide. nor hair of them, and my hat is
gone too. Who has been meddling with
my things, I'd like 20 know Come Miss
Nell, if it's some April-foo l want you to
understand that April-fool is past and you're
the biggest fool at last"
"Hush Harry not so loudl it is Sunday,
remember" said his mother, crossing the
hall and entering his room-"Can't find
your shoes did you ssy2 nor your hat2
Why Harry The last time saw your new
hat 1t was in it's box, right here in this cor
ner OF your closet and your shoes were done
up in very neat package and lying on the
top of it. What can have become of them2
Surely they were here Just before dinner
yesterday.
Harry stared wildly at his mother for one
moment, then a crimson blush spread over
his face from brow TO chin, as horrible
thought flashed into his mind. s.Aa0h,
motherp he gasped, "you didn't-didn't
ake-didn't-change them2" then, reading
the truth in his mothers face, he fairly
burst into tears. "Oh, mother, it was only
for iun, and you're too bad, you're too
bad"
Hush, Harry" said his mother, sternly;
"listen to me. Is it any worse that you
should lose your best hat and boots, by way
of practical joke, than that poor James
Valentine-aye, and his mother, too
should have been insulted and grieyed by
the shameless and heartless csper that you
two boys had planned. Oh, Harry L
wouldn't have believed my boy could be
guilty of so mean and unmsnly an action.
Think what trial it must be to James to
be obliged to wear such shabby clothing
think what il is for MS mother 20 see her
boy sighted and Inundated when she
knows what good, noble boy he is-but
ali, that is her consolation" and tears which
Harry well understood welled up in her
eyes as she spoke, "and then this is what It
would have been to them both if they had
received the insult you boys had planned
for them"
"But, mother" stsmmered Harry in self
vindicstion, "they say Jim is sneak; that
his mother is hypoerite, and has lots of
money put by somewhere, and that Jim ex-
poets TO 90 to College"
off James goes to College, il will prob.
ably have to be by his own exertions," said
Mrs. Mason; "for it is not true that his
mother has money other than very small
pittance which your father succeeded
in saving for her from the wreck
of their once splendid fortune.
And, Harry, the terrible business
failure, which cost Mr. Valentine his life
was caused by 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 my Harry's cosracter.'
"Why. mother. 1 never heard of that, !" ex-
claimed Harry with very wide eyes.
II suppose not, Harry, for these things
happened several years ago when you were
but young child, and they have long since
ceased TO be talked about. Mr.. Nelson found
it advisable TO leave the country very coon
after the failure; and as you know Harry he
found grave in the Atlantic. Your father
hos known Mrs. Valentine from her child
hood and feels the deepest sympathy for her
in her misfOrtunes. Bat for their long friend
ship l should scarcely have ventured to send
them your things, and Harry L almost trem-
bic to think Of what would have been the
consequence to you if your plans had sue
ceeden, and your father been knowing to the
escapade"
"But you viii get me another hat won't
you mother?" Harry asked tearfully.
"NO, my boy, not at present.; your other
hat is scarcely worn, and will do very well
or this spring; and as fer your shoes,
have had your old ones nicely mended and
BACKED"
"0b, mother, must l wear patched shoes?"
exclaimed Harry passionately."
"Yes, my son." said Mrs. Mason, firmly,
'you must for the present. Since it is proved
that fine clothes can not make gentleman,
we will see if patches can do anything to-
ward reminding boy of bis defects of char.
acter, and help him in his resolve to mend. 4"
II wouldn't care so much if it wasn't for
Joe Nelson" said Harry, throwing himself
into chair and covering his face with his
hands.
SOIEJ Iudt YOU uhN6 DetIl SO
the influence of that bad boy Harry, bat am
happy 10 learn that he leaves town surely
tomorrow morning for the R Naval |
School, and. very likely you will not meet
him agsin-but L hope Harry that you will
have the strength of character to write him
a full account of how your plans have mis-
carried and express your shame and sorrow |
for having attempted to DO anything 90
mean2"
81 Will, mother, I'll make clean breast |
of it, / promise you, and don't catch me
April fooling again in a hurry"
James Valentines appearance was de- |
cidedly improved, when he presented him
self at school on Monday morning. with not |
only new hat ''the noblest one in the |
crowd" little Dick Taylor said, and pair
of nice fitting shoes, but a neat new suit of
clothes throughout, so near like Harry Ma
sons that the boy cleaned furtively at his |
own garments to make sure that they also |
had not been transferred 10 his more de-
serving companion. James smiled pleas
antly at Harry, who stood next to him in
the class; Harry dropped his eyes and con-
templated his own and his neighbours boots.
His honest mental comment ran thus:
"There is Just as much difference between
me and Jim Valentine as there is between /
our two pairs o! boots-snd jollyl if ever
try to make an April-fool of anybody again,
hope may not turn out to be the biggest
fool myself"