The Osceola times., 1885-05-16

In Saptaln tent. In he went and
asked what il meant The Captain said
he was writing to his wife and babies,
as he felt he might be killed next dav.
Write, the Iron Duke said, that YOU
will be shot at sunrise for disobeying
orders,'"
"But he wasn't?" cried Clemmy.
"Yes he was"
''Tbe horrid, old. wicked, iron-hearted
thing!" exclaimed the boy.
ut was iron-hearted, that's true.
But Just think what if the enemy's
scouts had seen the light and the army
had been surprised in the night, and
perhaps destroyed. 1t would be better
TO shoot one man and to make the
others afraid to disobey. Obedience is
a grand thing. 1t is hard to learn, but
when once learned it is easy and pleas
ant too"
''Did you always obey at your
houseP" asked Clemmy.
1--WE were trained to il, so that it was
a habit, and Ike all habits il was easy"
That's nice way to learn it," said
Clemmy, quick TO see the bearing of
the subject in her mind.
after ALL" she said, as quick to
catch his self-justiication, "a body
can't be made to mind. unless he
he is dragged in chains. The more a
child is indulged, the more he ought to
try to mind, to show his love and graft
tude. Then he won't be like soldier
afraid Of being shot, but like one eager
to do his part in the battle. And obcdi-
ence is always so safe"
did it keep you out of musses?"
''Twice at least it saved my life"
"Once, when | was so little tb.,To.
Just remember it, was in the Sardeen
when l saw huge, strange dog crouch
ing at the gate. We always had dogs,
and didn't dream of being afraid. but
had started towards the creature when
heard my mother say 'Angy,' and
then she beckoned to me. As a matter
OF course l ran to her. and she just had
time TO catch me into the house and
slam the door when the great beast
came with horrid thud against it. 1t
was herce bulldog that had broken
his chain, and he had to be killed be-
cause no one could catch him alive. A
moment more and should have been
too late. My mother hadn't dared to
call me loudly for fear of Fastening his
spring"
'Oh myr' said Clemmy. "rm
afraid | should have got caught. What
was the other timeP'
ut was when / was quite alarge girl,
and we were spending the winter in the
West Indies. One day when we were
all on the veranda my father suddenly
said: Stand up Angelica Up got as
quick as a soldier would shoulder arms,
and there dropped to the floor a scor-
pion. Father had seen it just as its
fangs were almost against my neck. If
| had turned my head to ask why, |
should have been stung, and as was
very delicate, | might have died.
"Did you always mind-every time?"
"No, but paid for it when | didn't.
One day the same winter my father
went away vary early one morning, and
told me not to 90 out till he came back.
as he should want me. ] staid in till
the afternoon, though | thought the day
endless, and decided that father had for
gotten all about me. At last party of
friends came for me to go riding with
them. They were mounted on all sorts
of steeds-old horses, ponies and dom
keys, and my special boy friend led a DON
key for me. couldn't, or didn't resist,
and went Half an hour later my father
came with pony for me to see, and
to keep il liked it. He had devoted
the whole day TO get it, and hadn't told
me for fear of Disappointing me.
When | got home the pony had gone
back TO its owner"
''But you got it afterwards"
mo; went ponyless all winter. 1t
seemed hard, but it was right. 1t was
after that that my fathers word saved
me from the scorpion, and but for that
sharp lesson | might not have obeyed,
and might have lost the many happy
years since
Clemmy lay still looking at Cousin
Angelica. She wasn't young any more,
and had never married. He remembered
hearing that her lover was lost at sea;
a lover whom she had loved from a
boy He wondered if it was the same
boy friend who led the donkey. He
knew that she was very good, and that
she did great deal of good, but it
puzzled him that she should be so
happy.
Have they been happy yearsP' he
asked, presently.
"Yes, very happy, in spite of sorrows
And | think what has made them
happy was that had learned obedience;
| knew how to submit my will to Gods
will"
I'D Just as lief not 90 to the Rink as
lot, said Clcmmy. after this I'm al
ways going to mind"
When Miss Linton came up with |
lunch, which was bread and !
water, with variations, he was fast |
lslcep, and Angelica sat dreaming, the |
work forgotten in her lap. Memory, |
iiver-like, had been down TO where
athoms deep below the surface of her |
ifc lay her ship that never came in, but |
ank with all her troubles.
"He doesn't look like n very hard
,ase, does hep whispered the mother.
ooking down tenderly at her only
,hid.
"He looks like the honest, sweet lit
lie fellow he is, was the response.
"All he needs is the art of obeying,'
aid Mrs. Linton.
"And that is what the rudder is to
he ship said her cousin, earnestly.
Mrs. Linton inly resolved to begin at
nee to train her boy in that implicit
bedence which should have begun at
lis cradle.
In the afternoon, while Clemmy was
'as good as gold" he grew restless,
nd was allowed to get up and dress in
is Sunday clothes. About four o clock
alf n dozen of his nlaYmates stOpped