South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-11

but Cora and Bertha would be ashan,.
cd Of mo-
OF course, your clothes would not
be at all tit LASTLY broke in his sis.
tiers.
'Nevcr mind. mother, I'll piece out
the evening somehow, and it may 10
shall have rs pleasant time as the
rest of you said Mark, following the
ladies To the carriage which had kind.
ly been set FOR their accommodation.
Very well, goodnight, them
And, with this parting salutation,
Mark was dismissed from their
minds.
He sauntcrcd idly about the empty
rooms, vague sense Of bcirg neglect.
ell touching him with q dull pain
! Boy'likc lac tried TO whistle il off,
The spirit OF unrcst took him to tho
room occupied by his sisters. II was
large, well furnished apartment, full
: OF those pretty trifies in which girls
+. delight. lie then entered the bare,
dark affair that was thought to be we'll
enough for boy. The contrast deep
ened the sense ofncglect and injusticc
till he forgot to whistle. lie return.
ed to the sitting room, and nurscd
feelings OF resentment and rebellion
toward his family. The weakness of
his mother, the thoughtlessncss & sci.
fishness OF his sisters, were unfortunate
for Mark. for they broke down safe.
guards,the ties ofsympathy,& reciproc-
al affection that link tie heart TO home.
His sisters'lives Of pleasure were so re.
moved from his, that they had but
little in common TO interest and at
tract. The girls protested that boys
were altogether, 'horrid,' and hated
the sports and traps that were the Joy
of Marks life. And Mrs. Ashton s
household cares and labors were such
that she seldom had a leisure hour to
enter into her boys amusements, had
she been SO inclined. Her life and
habits had educated her TO regard
lightly small things, rays of sunshine
and influence, under the too common
and erroneous impression that boys
don't mind them. Unfortunate short.
sightedness, and soon to be regretted !
Mark was at dangerous age, too
old to be treated like child, too
young to enter society. We call il u
dangerous time, because SO many boys,
standing where two roads branch rs
way into the future, choose that which
looks pleasant and inviting to the
eyes, but along which no shining an
gels lead the way, rather than the
steep and narrow one which all pill
grims journeying hcavenward must
tread.
Life or death often lies within the
scope of a mothers or sisters intiu.
ence. Too often is this delegated
power over the impossible nature
neglected aud abused. The boy is
left to his own devices and choice OF
companions. So it was with Mark.
True, his father had intermittent spells
of managing him but, being engross-
ed by business from early morning
till nine or ten o'clock at night, Of
tener later, the efforts did not produce
any very marked results.
We purpose following Mark ASH
ton a little way, and gather a lesson
from some of the episodes that occur.
red to him, and so point a moral, aud
adorn tale
We left him chatting with neglect,
and ready to rebel.
The prince of wickedness never
permits his opportunities to 20 unim.
proved. If he cannot go into Eden
with malign spiritual effect, he will
still find some servant to do his work
more effectually and attractively. In
this instance, he employed two young
men of loose morals, but jovial and
warrn-hearted. They called TO see
Mark, and found fit subject to lead
astray.
'Good.cvening. What, alone?'
Yes, with the exception of Bruno
and the servant
Shabby treatment we say. Come
with US and you shall have a good
time too
where are you going9'
'Over TO Bob Gaines's. There is TO
be club Of good fellows there, and
we'll have a tip-top time lots Of fGn.
What do you say, Mark9'
III go. ] ought to enjoy myselfas
well as my sisters; it's no more than
fair
Good | like your pluck
Bob Gaines's hotel was not q very
reputable place, but yet lot tho low.
est. Mark did not stop TO inquire a.
bout It's reputation and responsibility.
lie was bent or having companions
ship, like many another lad and, If
he could not lind it in clean places,
then he would find it in unclean.
Men and women net here, danced.
sang, aud iestcd; and if a coarse al.
fusion, or q halfsuppressed oath, now
and then, came up ike filth on the
bubble and froth of conversation.
/ Mark apnO aooaad fo Yofsno 81.