The Portland daily press., 1884-05-03
Dime Novels.
How One Boy was Cured of His Liking
for Them.


for Them.
From the Congregationalist,)
"Ralph, did you bring that package from the
ofice?''
"Yes, SIR said the boy, clinging with one
hand to Rover's collar, which he was irving to
fasten, while with the other he drew a pack
age from his pocket.
"Ah!" said Mr.. Clark what have we
here?''
Ralph turned quickly and saw in bis fathers
hand book he had not intended to submit to
his approval.
"The Horse Thief of the Pines, or Red
Handed Jim," read Mr.. Clark, us this yours,
Ralph?"
"Yes, SIR" stammered the boy; 81 bought
| it this afternoon
ST think will read it,, said the father, ex-
amining critically coarse wood cut, repre-
senting four masked men carrying the appar-
emily lifeless body of another "Mary" said
he, glancing Significantly at his wife, "suppose
we have this read aloud"
Certainly" was the reply 81 have heard
of those books; they are said to be intensely
interesting"
"Very WE'LL" said Mr.. Clark. "Ralph shall
read 1t to us. You may choose your own au-
dience, my boy; shall it include BERTHE and
! Ethel?"
''Oh, no!'' replied Ralph; "they wouldn't
enjoy it."
IA
1t was not unusual for Ralph to read to his
parents; 80 the situation was not in itself
embarrassing. After the children retired, the
story was begun. Both father and mother
ilstened attentlvely without comment,
but Ralph and his 9ook wera treated with re-
sspect. The second evening passed like the
nrst Mrs Clark, noticing signs of WEAKNESS
IN the boys voice, offered to relieve him
Taxing the book. she gravely read: The girls
arrival was announced by piercing sbriek.
ohe rushed at the man in the awfulest way,
saying: stop, you beast!" In an instant she
mad seized that great mailet and struck him a
blow upon the head. We could hear his skull
crack. It was awful'!
This language seemed so unsuited to his
mothers gentle voice that Ralph was glad
when his father, who evidently shared the
boy 9 1eellng, offered to continue the reading.
"Jim knew no. which to admire most, the
glorious eyes, coral lips, golden hair and bux-
ON form of this enchanting fairy, or the dark,
splrltuelle, statesque, marble-like maiden by
her side. He was, in fact, deeply in love with
both," read Mr. Clarke. in earnest, dignifed
tones, which seemed to poor Ralph to make
the story unnecessarily absurd.
The third evening Ralph wished to join his
schoolmates in skating party, but as both
parents seemed desirOus to listen to the read
ing the story was continued. Soon his father
rose to greet some one, and looking up Ralph
saw Mr.. Rice, his pastor, entering the room
To his surprise, for he knew nothing of the
significant pressure of the hand which the
minister received, his father said, tMr. Rice,
if you will excuse us just one moment, please:
Ralph is reading, and you will find us in the
most thrilling scene of the story. Just finish
that paragraph, will you, Ralph?' and Ralph,
coloring with embarrassment, read: "She
heard another terrific crash, aud six men,
wearing the blacklist of black masks decorated
with the well-known skull and cross-bones, en-
tered the room silently, one by one. She fell
fainting to the floor"
''Very vivid" remarked the pastor. 'sWhat
is the book?" And Ralph repeated, "The
Horse-Thief of the Pines, or Red-Handed
jim"
The next evening, as Mrs. Clark was max
ing arrangements for the reading, Ralph sud-
denly laid down the book, saying, "Father,
don't want to read any more of this. [ know
what you and mother mean. When I've read
such books alone they haven't seemed so bad,
because / we skipped so much. | only cared
to see how it came out. / see now how foolish
it ls. just excuse me from the rest and
promise never to read another of this kind"
In his earnestnesS he had left his seat and
was standing before his father, looking the
honest, manly boy that be was.
THANK you, my son." said Mr.. Clark, ten
derly; 'the time we have spent upon the book
has not been wasted, since a double lesson has
been learned l trust you, my boy.''
Ralph, trying to swallow the big lump that
would rise in his throat, turned to leave the
room. AS he passed his mother he saw her
smiling through her tears, as she watched the
flames in the CRATE curl about the Horse Thief
of the Pines Ralph understood the sudden
interest manifested by his father and mother
in the reading of the younger members of the
family. Busy as his life is, Mr.. Clark finds
time to talk with the children of their favorite
books. and no opportunity is lost to interest
them IN those of graver character. All are
allowed to assist in selecting the volumes,
which are frequently added to the library, and
so successful are they in cultivatng right hab-
its and tastes that they have no fear of a re-
currence of the experience that taught the
double lesson.