Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-01-24
HONOR bright.

He had neither father nor mother.
He's bright, but ] don't know
whether he's honest that's the thing
Oh my mind, said the farmer, uneas-
lily.
Alvin had been there week. week
of sunshine when the black cloud
came.
Farmer Prtchard had q cough al
night, and on the bureau, near his bed,
he kept few gumdrops which he could
reach out and get to stop his cough.
One day, CHANGING to go TO his room,
his eye fell on the paper bag. and he
saw there WAS not gum lrop left.
Alvin has been here" he said. 81
know there were Ave or six there when
l went to bed last night, and did not
take one. Alvin, have you been get.
ting my gumdrops ?"
Alvin, who WAS playing near by, look.
ed up and said
No, did not -
Did you take them, Lucy ?" he
asked, turning TO his wife.
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched them, |
and her heart sank ., she said so, for |
who was there lett TO do 1t but the child.
Her husbands face grew grave.
Alvin, you need not be afraid OF
The truth. Did you take the gumdrops?"
| he asked.
:. No, 1 didn't," said the child.
Oh, yes, you did, Alvin. Now tell
the truth, my boy"
=" No, l didn't"
This Is bad, very bad. indeed. said
Mr.. fritchard, starnly. This liz what
have boon afraid Of, Lucy"
"Oh, my dear. II you took them, say
so =" pleaded Mrs. Pritchard.
If he took them" repeated her hus-
band. :" 1t il clear ~ day
The child had been running 10 and
out of the bedroom all the morning.
but ne denied the theft, while the farm
er comm anded and his wife implored.
Mr.. PitchArd's face grew ominons.
"I'll give you until noon 70 tell the
TRUTH" said he +" then, II you don t
con fsss, why. III have nothing TO do
with boy who lies. Well ride back
to the poor farm to-day"
On, Joseph" said Mrs. Bitch
ard, following her husband to the en-
try, he is little. Give him one more
trial"
: Lucy, when q boy tells q lie with
~ calm u face, he IL ready TO tell q
dozen. IL Is in the blooL, and he mus
90
He went out to his work and his " III
returned u the child and talked to hin
q long time kindly and persuasively
: but AL co ne effect. He replied that d,
had not touched the gumdrops, every
time she asked him.
), At noon Farmer pitcbard went int
Z the house and they had dinner. Afte
dinner he called the child.
. Alvin" he asked, -" did you taxi
the Rumdrops of the bureau ~
No." said the child.
Very WELL" said the farmer N
, horse il harnessed. Lucy. put the boy
: cap on shall carry him back TO th
poor house because he will not tell th
d truth"
o ~ don't want to 70, !" said the chile
still he denied taking the candy.
T. Mr.. Pitchard told mis- wife 10 get tn
n boy really. She cried as she brougt
his little coat and cap and put them OF
But the child did not cry. He cOmprs
:. hended that an injustics was done, an
he knit his baby brow and held his II
= tie lips tight.
The horse WAS brought round. TIL
, farmer came in tor the boy. thin
To he believed up " the last that the chill
would confess, but the little one wa
o. rrm. He was lifted into the Wagon
IT, such little boy he looked ~ the
drove away. He thought OF the col
:, house 10 which he WAS returning, Il
4 helpless old woman, the ieering boy
n the nights of terror-all these he though
r. of, when with pale face and blue III
10 he WAS taken from the wagon and sel
TO the poor house. Farmer Pritchal
" watched him AZ he went up the step
n lie went In. The master came out Il
on an explanation. 1t was given and Il
sr ialmer drove rapidly away. TIN
as night he laid fresh supply Of CUR
drops on the bureau and grimly thong
70 that they were safe. He retired earl
IT" but his sleep WAS broken. Mrs. Pritc
u ard couldn't sleep At all. The tea
H. ,tole through her eyelids long after &
= candle was out. She was thinking
the little child perhaps covering In
w ! cold bed with terror.
Suddenly u curious, small sound
r tracted her attention. 1t was repeat
o.. again and again, and now and then tht
- " Ms q tiny rustic OF the paper. i
d; sound came from the bureau
~ listened, and her heart beat with I
q. element. she knew tho sound.
v :. Joseph" she whispered.
-, What, Lucy?" said her husbaI
To He, too, had been lying awake.
re- "Did you hear that noise, JOSEF
}. 1t is micep'
= =" know 1t.
ur at is mice, Joseph, and they're af
ash your gum.drops?"
on GOOD gracious, Lucy Broah
u Farmer Prilchard.
ys 1t flashed upon him instantly.
an | and not Alvin, was the sinner.
noise stopped. The little depredat
t. were frightened, but soon began sgs
and a rare feast they made. IL been
!, rs ifthat night would never end.
this tar ner counted the hours AZ u
T. struck, and at five he got up and IN
- tue kitchen fire. His wife arose at
NE ne same timo and got breakfast.
.mt. - won't wait for breakfast,
81 said. i" You can keep 1t warm a
We get back. I'll harness and
'LE now"
slth In few minutes the wheels 70
~. over the frozen ground, and away dI
Mr.. Pritchard In the starlight.
TO Mrs. Pritchard brought out
,use child's top and primer, and made
treet kitchen looks its cheerfulest. She
70. ed potatoes and fried chicken and III
wo- fritters. She put the incest syrup
'snt. the table, and q plate OF jellies
w., tarts Sne laid the Child's knife
fork in their place and ret up his Oh
* | The sun had risen and the bright be
g, fell across the table.
As they drove into the yard
!. Sd stopped NJ the door, and the wonder
MUIR smiling little boy was lifted dowr
m Mrs. Pritchard's eager arn's. She
) 70 him very tight.
.yiH Lucy, let's have breakfast nc
e,s said the farmer. " He's our boy !
Jucv Ha's newer going away aga