The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-10-06
Tommy's Repentance.

Tommy's Repentance.
Tommy Turner was in disgrace There
was no doubt about it either in his mind
or in his Aunt Armies; the only differ
ence being that Aunt Annie took occa-
sioL to show the state OF her mind on the
subject and Tommy was very careful not
to do so. He thrust his hands to the
depths of his deepest pockets and tried
to whistle tune, but this was an accom-
plishment which Tommy had never, by
his most violent exertions, been able to
acquire, and as, owing to the present state
Of affairs, his attention was somewhat
divided, the tune resembled very much
that melody which caused the decease OF
sitting.room, where Aunt Armies sad
face was bent over her sewing, became
oppressive, so Tommy removed himself
to the back steps where he sat down with
his hands still in his pockets, while an
occasional doleful note testified to the
hghtness of his heart and the indifference
of his mind.
Soon the whistling ceased altogether
and one hand came out of his pocket to
act as support for the closely shaven
head, for Tommy thoughts had reverted
to the past and even in life as short as
his there may be past for memory to
recall. And memory was at work in
earnest now, and she did not have to 90
very far back in this little life either.
He first brought before his mind
beautiful face, worn with suffering, that
rivaled the pillow on which it lay in
Wilderness, and yet face, no matter how
weary that would always brighten with
a smile of welcome when a certain small
boy would creep cautiously to the bedside
to be encircled by the loving arms that
were never too weak to draw him to his
mothers heart. She made him hear the
whisper:
Whatever mammals little boy may
do after she is gone, he must never Disc
bey his dear auntie or tell her lie.
Will you promise me this, my darling?"
And with heart breaking sobs be had
promised. Oh he would always do as
this dear, beautiful mamma wished him
to-he would promise her anything. And
when she told him she would watch from
heaven and know when he was good or
bad, he felt sure that he could never do
anything wrong with those loving eyes
upon him.
Tt en- memory showed him the sight of
all others he could never forget. The
loving eyes closed forever, the dear hands
that had always drawn him to her side
folded peacefully across her breast the
white face winter than ever, and oh 30
cold when he kissed tall so changed
excepting the sweet smile, that was the
same, only sweeter than before. Then
they took her away and he never saw her
again. Two years had passed since then,
but Tommy had never forgotten the ach-
ing pain he had in his heart and the
hard lump in his throat that almost
choked him for many days after.
Long before memory had carried him
this far, two big, salty tears had splashed
down on the step before him, and the
other hand had been drawn quickly from
the other pocket to brush them away.
For oh, what had he done Had he not
done the very thing he had told the dear
dead mother he would not do? Had he
not wilfully disobeyed his kind aunte,
who had been a mother to him in her
place, and gone to the river with boys
she had often told him she did not wish
him to play with at alp And then,
worst Of all, he had come home wet, and
dirty, and torn, and told her q lie, say
ing that he had not been to the river and
had not seen those bad boys What
could he do Did his mother know all
about it up in heaven? If 30, how grieved
she must be that he would break his
promise to her If he could only throw
his arm around her neck and tell her
how sorry he was, he was sure she would
forgive him but she wasso far away, and
he could never see her any more and all
the time he could almost see the sorrow
in her eyes.
Then he thought Of the verse Aunt
Annie had taught him only last Sunday
Thou God seest me" God and mamma
and somehow he felt that be woulc