The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-03-11
How Tom Changed

Come, Maggie, let us go down to the
creek now and sail Tommy boat you
know he said we might if we helped him
weed his hower-bed'
Little Maggie Adams ran after her sis
ter Kate, as the latter called her, and to-
gether they found Tommy. He was at
that moment setting out for the creek
with his boat, The jolly Skipper" un-
der his arm.
Go away, girls!' he coolly exclaimed,
as he heard his sisters remarks. 81
want to play with my boat myself, with
out having you to bother me-
But you promised us, Tom-you
know you did you said we could have
it, just before dinner.
Well, [ intended then that you
should have it," said Tommy, firmly
=" But now [ have changed my mind
People can't think the same always, and
there is no harm in changing a body's
mind every one knows that"
Tommy walked off very grandly, as if
he had said fine thing, and his disap-
pointed little sisters felt like crying they
had worked for long time that warm
morning.
Mr.. Adams sat reading his paper near
the open window, and he heard the
whole dialogue. He started to call Tom
my in, that he might talk to him of his
mean and dishonorable conduct. Then
he reflected that he had already done this
several times before, with no good result,
and he resolved to try something more
etectual than talk.
Tommy sailed his boat Tor an hour or
two, and then condescended to talk to the
amiable little girls who had come down
to the water to see him enjoy himself.
6 Only think he exclaimed, what fun
[ am going to have Father is going to
get me velocipede; he almost promised
he would bring it from the city tonight.
He will, | am sure, for he always keeps
his word, and the next thing, am going
to have some roller. skates.
" Oh, wish we had roller-skates -
cried Maggie.
You? Nonsense ~
1t is not nonsense" said Kate.
e Ever so many girls have them"
" Well, you won't if they do, return
ed their brother, roughly.
That night Tom rushed downstairs
from his play room, two steps at time,
when he heard his fathers voice on the
piazza. He pushed past his mot. er and
the girls, shouting:
Where is my velocipede? Father,
did you get it ?"
"No," returned his father, quietly
drawing out pair of skates from his
overcoat pocket.
Oh, you didn't this time, but you did
the next best thing Hurrah for my
skates J. Tom snatched them and cried,
Why, they are too small know they
are.
Think SO, my boy Then these are
not likely to do better :" and Mr.. Adams
brought out second pair, smaller still.
u Try them on, little girls. he said, kind
y, and don't be too ambitious and hurt
yourselves"
Where are mine? Do let me see
them The girls didn't need skates"
" changed my mind, Tom, and con-
cluded not to get you any"
Why, father ?" groaned Tom.
" And it is all nonsense you want
But you said l might have one.
intended that you should have one
when / said SO; but everybody has
right to change his mind, and l changed |
mine" said his father, indiferently, as
ne turned to help the little girls fssten
heir skates.
Tom was too much astonished and |
yrieved fairly to understand the full |
MEANING of his father's vuordo 10 600
hat they we're quoted. Never before
nad the father given his children the
'aintest hope Of pleasure or a gift, and
.hen failed to crafty them, without some