The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-30

might rain, and then in a minute he adj
ded that he hadn't time"
"And what did you do, Clare?"
"Do? Grandma. What could I do
but get angry-evcr SO angry2 No time
What n reason to give me! and as for
rain, it rasnt going to rainw
"And Tom, dear, what did he sayg"
''He tried to make it smooth, and
said he had something to tell me, but I
was too proud to listen to any more
miserable excuses. 1 said, IF he had no
time to 60 with me, l had none to listen
to stupid storics.' 1 said stupid, Grand
ma, and l meant it, and I left the room
and banged the door. to hide how very
wretched was, fordon't you see plainly,
clearly, he is getting tired Of me, if he
has learned to make So much better use
of his evenings"
"No, 1 don't quite see it." said Grand
ma, md she smiled.
ooh! don't laugh at my SORROW" said
Glare, Indignantly; II did not believe
that of you, Grandma"
Grandma smiled again and said:
"Shall.I tell you what I am smiling
about?" .
eyes" answered Clare, "but it won't
make me smile. I think 1 shall never
smile again"
ooh! yes, you WILL" says Grandma,
"and just rs soon as you hear what T
have to tell you"
Clare looked incredulous. sBut 90
on" she said.
"Do you know where Tom spent last
evening? Come here, and l will show
YOU" said Grandma, pointing to the
little house opposite; che spent it there,
rocking one baby in the cradle and
amusing the other with Il picture book.
| saw him as I sat here, and I wondered
at his pat cncc and goodness; don't you
suppose it was something of a sacrifice
to HING"
80 Grandma!!' says Glare. lost IN as
constituent, s'you don't mean it,
Eyes, l do; and he went fire to let
the poor, sick little mother get a breath
of fresh air with her husband while he
played the nurse"
Tears glistencd in Clarc's eyes as she
exclaimed: "Why didn't that angel tell
me where he was going?"
Because" said Grandma, s'you
wouldn't let him; yesterday afternoon
he said something about necessary char
ity, and you replied in some remarks
about 'mawkish hypocrisy that evil
derHly hurt him, and when he tried to
speak again last night some one banged
the door"
Clara burics her sunny head in Grand
mas lap and murmurs:
eff it had not been for my wicked,
unfceling behavior, I believe I would
die of happiness"
Grandma Drew smiled often to herself
that day when she heard Clare singing;
it seemed so good to be able to turn tears
into songs-if she coud do little else.
She was just turning the heel in her
stocking when Willy thrust his curly
head in at the door.
SO Grandma! l have something I must
tell some one. shall die if I don't"
"Wcll, come in, my boy, "said Grand
ma c%hccrfully, land tell it to me-"
"But it's something so bad, and I did
it." says doleful Willie.
"Vcry, rerV bad?" asks Grandma.
eyes, it was" said Willie, coming in
softly and closing the door, Some of
the worst boys in the school got up the
plan, and I knew they were bad boys.
too; mother had told me not to make
companions Of them; yet I let them
draw me in; they said it was such fun ~
NoAiS >ioSSi W III Gil Tx ull 1luOut
it." said Grandma Drew.
"Thc boys called it 'hazing,' and said
that young men in colleges always did
it, and when l first heard it l thong it
'rns funny, but l don't now. am sure
it was cruel"
"But 1 don't know" said Grandma.
ooh! no. 1t was Max Holstcnc. They
said sHc is just n Dutch fellow, and we
will l,,nl- hin, ~ -no,, xr,&o- -
naturaliZc him. and they laughed So
"Did you do it, dcar?" asked Grand
ma.
eyes, we caught him and ran him
down to the pond, and said we would
keep him in the water till he asked fol
mercy and he was too proud and would
not, till we got scared to see how white he
was and how he shivcrcd, and Grandma,
he is too sick to be in school to day. and
oh! suppose he should de-" and Willie
looked pale and troubled.
1T IS sad, my boy; I did not think
my Willie could do such a thing" and
the sweet old face had a look of grief
which Willie long remembered. "But
you are sorry enough now, 1 am sure,
and you can only do all in your power
to make atoncment. I hope he is not
so very i'll. You must go to his house
and sec if there is no way to do some.
thing for him. Beg his pardon and his
mothers, and ask them to let you show
how sorry you are perhaps he may need
some companionship while he is not able
to play as usual. l know they are poor
and not able to command much service,
so he may be left quite alone, or you
may be able to do some errands that
Max is used to do on Sundays"
go Grandma! if l only can I Will be
so glad" said Willie; II will go a
once" and he did