Oxford eagle., 1888-04-19


table. lIc aic scarcely any thing. kept
his cycs steadily on hi. plate, aud there
was a sullcn rcscntfnl look on his face.
His mother took no notice Of his mood,
but spoke 20 him n usual when occa-
sion demanded. She was not vet cutie
willing 20 admi; 20 herself that she
hrd dome wrong.
The Ironing WAS duIc, and after the
dinner dishr, were washed sud the
kitchen put in order. she went un-tair.
10 put the clothes away Then she
dressed hcr.elf for the afternoon. and
went down into the yard. carrying her
meudiug with her.
For three hours shc sat mnlcr n tire,
and darucd and patched without paus-
ing moment; but her thought. were
not on her work, Her mother. re-.
proof kept recurring H. be, ih spite of
hcr most p"raisirrj efforts to forget it.
aud -hc could not avoid asking herself
it She had done right in refusing
Harry request. She had not intended
L" be- either unkind or unjust. She
loved her children. and made many
>1crllire- Tor them-.as every mother
must But sho was n woman who
pridrd herself greatly on her order
tud system. She had certain days fol
doing certain things. and the work was
marked out for certain hours.
u Urita'cd aud disturbed her to have
her system intcrfcrcd with in the least.
and her husband and children. rccog-
nizing this fact. were careful ,o bear
in mind her various rules and rcgula-
ii"us. Mrs. SAWYER thought this only
rons',lvratc. and due 10 her position a.
"ife and mother. But now she uucs-
toned il it would not have been better
to suffer the annoyance Of having din
uer an hour earlier than to have disap-
pointed Harry. Was it best to main
tain her system at the cost Of filling
her hoy : heart with anger and bitter
ucss' After much earnest con.idera-
tinu she came to the conclusion that
-h" had made mistake. aud hal rich
ly deserved her aged mothers rebukc.
Her heart was heavy. and when six
% clock struck. and she laid aside her
needle to prepare for supper. her f,<c
wore "a troubled. ANXIOUS look nm fual
To- H.
Harry complained Of headache
when hc came in, and would not eat.
Il hope you're not going to Ice sick
Harry, - said Mr.. sawyer. kindly.
ut wouldn't make any difference to
any body If | did get sick muttcred
Harry. in a rcSentful tone.
M. Sawyer looked lrprised, for h.
knew nothing Of his In's disappoint-
mcnt of the morning. But he wisely
made no comment whatever.
That night. after putting little Bell
to bed. Mrs. SAWYER went To the win
dow of the child's room. and stood
there for a moment looking out on the
garden below. Her thoughts were oi
Harry. and she felt greatly distressed
when she saw him lying on n bench
near the gate. his hands over his face.
While debating in her mind the pro.
pricty and cNpcdicncy Of going To him
and confcssing that she had been in
error, the gate opened to admit Iar-
ry special crony, Tom Woodforl lie
went straight to the bench. of course.
SAY, where We're You this after.
noon?' he asked. in loud, chcelfu
voice. I'VE fellows came to the con.
ciusion you must have got sun
stroke. 1t was grand gamci
wouldn't have missed it for anv
thing
Il couldn't 90; mother couldn't
manage to give me an early dinner, :
said Harry.
Seems to me she might have worked
ii If she tried hard" said careless Tom.
My mother did ~
well, my mother IS different from
other mothers. | guess said Harry.
Anyhow. couldn't get it.
Mrs. Sawyer heard no more. though
Tom went on to tclf@of the feature, OF
the great game She sank down ON a
low stool hy the window and bowed
her face in her hands. her whole fran.
shaking with emotion.
Df.rch from other mothers. Oh.
that her boy should have felt that
That he should be growing up to man.
hood contrasting her unfaVorably with
the "othcr mothers he knew And
il had been the result of her system. ut
those cast-iron rules that had appeared
To her so necessary for the maintcn.
ance of order and comfort.
She hcSitatcd no longer about goin.
To her boy. When she heard the ratc
slam and Toms departing footsteps.
she rose at once. and two minutes later
she was knceling by the old bench. her
arms about llarry's neck. and Snbbin"
~ if her heart would break. while she
told him how sorry she was that she
had caused him such bitter disappoint-
mcnt.
Did Harry respect his mother less for
her self-abasemcnt No. he loved her
a hundred-fold more dearly forit. They
talked together for nm hour. and when
at length they went into the house ut
the hour for retiring. the heart of each
was at peace. and Harry had never
again occasion to think that his mother
was diilcrent-eNcept for being better
and kinder-than other mothers. Mrs.
Sawyer had learned Il lesson. and the
profit from it was great Florenc., r.
HalloUeH. IN Lddics' Home journal.
-tircumstantial Evidence Husband
Wasn't it very late last night when
young Sampson left?" Wiie-"Ye>,
very Husband--"And Clara is not up