The Democratic advocate., 1884-12-20

face, Il must speak, | ask for justice
I've got the right to. Please hear me. 1t
is all my fault that the boys are in this
scrape drought them here this morning
l put them up to the whole thing. | even
made fun of your threats, and planned
everything which was done. That is the
truth, sir. | wish may die this minute
if it is not. Oh, please let them 90 home,
and punish me in stead I'll stand any
thing You may cowhide me; may starve
me, Ell even 90 to jail and rot there, if you
will only forgive them, and let them 90
home. They were all going to have such
good times tonight
"And did you not expect to have some
of it, too?" The voice was terribly stern.
"Yes, sir; but l don't care for it now.
Oh, if only knew what to say to you"
Roy's accents were now as plaintive as the
cooling of dove. Captain, I'm dread
full bad boy. Everybody says so but my
Aunt. You don't know how much l can
bear, though. Oh, you must, please let
them CO." He was kneeling, unconscious
ly, the young face grand in its sacrifice of
self, appraised, but the Captain had turned
his away, uttering the old command, "Not
another word; back -
A long hour ensued, during which there
was confusion in the house, sound of
horses, feet moving rapidly, running to
and fro Of servants, then all was still. Soon
two more colored men appeared at the door
of the prisoners room, and one by one, at
short intervals, the boys were led away be-
tween them.
At last, all were gone but Roy, now as
pale from excitement and genuine repen-
tance as though he had been in close con-
hnement for six months.
Then the Captain, unattended, came in.
His face looked very serious, at least the
corners of his mouth seemed drawn down
by invisible weights, but all traces of anger
had vanished,
"My boy" he began. Roy's heart
leaped like it would break through his
roundabout. "You have had time to think
over all you said to me. Are you still will
ing to assume the guilt of your companions
and TO bear all their punishment, if l re-
lease them? Be careful what you say"
ayes, Captain, and will thank you with
all my heart. Only try me. I'llnot finch,
because it's only fair, you know
He looked firm enough to have cmulated
the Spartan boy of the old fox story.
"Very well, said the Captain, taking
both his hands and giving long, searching
look into Roy's honest eyes.
''Come with me-"
They walked in silence down the broad
hall, at the end of which great oaken door
stood ajar, through which Roy was gently
pushed.
Was he alive? Was he dreaming
Was he in fairy land ? Had he descended
into Aladdin's wonderful garden? The
room was decorated with great branches of
fir and holly. Here and there rich pic
ture CLEANED among them like windows
opened through the wall, into the land of
Beulah.
In the centre stood long table upon
which was piled such fruits, plum-cake,
candies and jellies, mingled with promon-
tories of bread and butter as would have
made an epicure long for Jack-the-Giant-
Killers leather stomach; and seated around
it, each face a riddle of bewilderment and
delight, were the late humiliated, despair
ing, forlorn- looking nine.
Leading Roy to the head of the table,
where stood a vacant, green velvet chair,
the Captain seated him, and then said
"Boys! One more speech to-day. and
l am done"
''To err is human, to forgive divine"
You've written that often in your copy
books, | want you to understand its mean
ing. l believe you regret what you have
done. l have not forgotten the times
when l too was young, was tempted and
sinned like you. That does not alter the
fact that you have done wrong and deserve
punishment; but as love is stronger than
hate and forgiveness sweeter than revenge,
for the sake of that Holy Child who
brought peace into the world, l grant you
a full pardon for your offences.
''And now, in the name of Roy Lamar,
who nobly offered to bear your punishment
in his own little body, and whom | truly
honor for his brave unselfshness, wish
you merry, merry Christmas, Fall to,
boys eat all you want and all you can, then
fill your pockets with the rest Roy this
is your party to your friends. Please allow
me to be one of your guests? What shall
we eleven boys do first
"Do? why, thank .you, sir, for o,
Captain, l don't know how"
And the tears, which were restrained
when the prospect of awful disgrace was
before him, now bathed the hands which,
for half a lifetime, had battled with oceans
storms.
Be quiet, Captain ! From no conse-
Grated font ever blest by priest or bishop
will such benediction be sprinkled as the
JUNCTION of that grateful heart.
He was not quiet long, however. 1t was
not the disposition of the magnificent old
boy, who, in thirty minutes, could concoct
such ruse as he had been guilty of doing.
So to work he went, aided by Black Jack,
Sandy Homer, Little Neptune and Maum
Rosy, with as much zeal to make his unex-
pected guests enjoy themselves, as he would
have done to lombard fort or put to
route an armament.
And he succeeded, bless his grey head,
on which the Christmas angels of good
will and charity tenderly laid their garland
of unfading green; for happier, more
penitent and ice'H-neUer-do- -,orong again
party of youthful sinners never rode in
great four-horse wagon with bells than
those who triumphantly entered Catoctin
at two o'clock, p. m. of Christmas, eighteen
hundred and long ago.
Sweet Christmas bells Ring loud, ring
clear; this "Old, old Story" let all hear
that Christ-the=Childs best gift to-day is
love, and LOVE and LOVE alway.
The knife of the guillotine with which
Marie Antoinette's head was cut off is now
in Nine. Tussands exhibition in London.
1t is in the form of collar, or circle of
iron, and will weigh twenty-five pounds.
The collar is cut horizontally, each half
containing knife or blade. When used
the upper half was allowed to fall between