The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-26

slow do you suppose the woods would
ever have been cleared, and the fences built,
and the wharves made If the Pilgrim boys
had lain in bed till half-past eight in the
morning." his mother asked him. 'We
should all be sitting in the wilderness at
this moment if they hadn't been earlier than
that"
Little by little, Tom Brewster grew into
manly boyhood, and the Forefathers, of
whom he thought SO much, played no small
part in the development of his character. He
was strictly truthful, and had strong sense
OF honor, as became descendant OF sturdy
Elder Brewster; and this, of all his traits,
was that which his mother priced and loved
the mos.
So it was quite shock to her when, one
day note came from the master of the high
school, to say that he was sorry to make
complaint against Tom, whose conduct had
generally been most satisfactory, but that
something very unpleasant had occurred.
The bell, which hung in the lower of the
school building had been stolen. No one
knew by whom but mitten marked with
Toms name had been picked up in the stair
case which led to the lover, and he, on be-
ing questioned, though he denied the mis-
chief, had confessed that he knew some
thing about it. 81 can make no impress
sion," wrote Mr.. Marshall. "Perhaps you
will be able to get the truth from him."
Mr.. and Mrs. Brewster were greatly trou-
bled by this note. 1t was the first serious
scrape that Tom had ever got into and they
we've perplexed as to how to deal with it.
Kindly and closely they questioned their
boy, but for long time they could get no
answer beyond, Il didn't do it. Man ma |
told Mr.. Marshal that l didn't do it'' But
a. last, when Tom grasped the fact that his
parents were not sure that he was speaking
% trl1fb hic fana finished ind O,,1
tears sp ang into his eyes. Papa, don't
you believe me?' he said, with choke in
his voice.
"Yes, Tom," answered his father, slowly.
'if you look me straight in the face and say
that you didn't do this, mast believe you,
for you have never told me a ie''
mo, and never will,' said Tom, look
ing straight into his fathers eyes. "Id he
ashamed of being descendant Of the Pi-
grims if | told lies. l do know who stole
the bel, mamma, and said so when Mr..
Marshall asked me, but l promised not to
tel"
"That's enough, my boy. Pm satisfied,
and no one shall ask you any more questions.
about it" said Mr.. Brewster.
Tom let mamma kiss him, then he hurried
away. HIS eyes and voice were not quite
steady yet, and, like most boys of his age,
be considered crying a weakness to be
dsudmeu Oh. Duv his nedft was warm WITH
a glow of affection toward the parents who
believed him, without waiting for the proof
of his word, which came few weeks later
"What staunch little chap hat isp' re-
marked his father, after he was gone ''How
be harks back 10 the Pilgrims always! He
thinks twice as much about them as | ever
did. Well Elder Brewster himself need not
be ashamed of him."
NO." replied his wife thoughtfully. 1t
is curious to see what a large part Elder
Brewster and The rest of those old WORTHLESS
bave played in Toms development. IL
makes it better worth while to have lived to
think that, long after you are dead, you may
still reach out hand, as it were, to affect
the life and character Of YOU PARKWAY de-
scendants. ! wish all New England boys
cared about the Pilgrims in The same way.
There is everything in having high stan
dard, and Toms standard, all his life, has
been the Forefathers"