The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-04
THE LOST UMBRELLA,
Wits Hard-Fought Battle with and Vic
tory Over Himself

Wills Marlborough Battle with and Vic.
tory Over Himself.
20, mother, I've done a dreadful
thing" said Elsie, coming to her moth
or with tears in her eyes.
what have you done, Elsie?"
GIVE lost Wills silk umbrella"
why, Elsie, how came you to do it?''
II took it down town with me this
morning-it sprinkled q little, YOU
know-and l must have left it some
where, for when 1 was coming home, 1
missed it,
And did you go back?"
eyes, went to every store had been
in, but couldn't find it."
did Will say you might have it?"
mo; he never would let me, because
he always said l would lose it. l
wanted to carry it just once, it was so
rRise- But, q dear, wish hadn't"
Il am very sorry" said mother, grave
ly. st is the first nice one Will has
ever had, and l don't know when he will
get another"
''No," said Elsie, in great distress,
'1'd do any thing to give him another
if could. But 1 can't, and he'll be ter
ribly angry with me-"
II am afraid he will" said mother,
really plying the little girl for her
dread of her brothers anger. 'But l
guess you deserve it, dear, for taking
his umbrella without leave, so you must
only bear it as well as you can. We will
make few more inquiries before we
tell Will"
The inquiries were made, but the UNI
brella had fallen into dishonest hands
and was never more heard of.
''You had better tell Will at once,
Elsie" said mother"
81 wish you would tell him, mother"
And mother was quite willing to make
the trouble as light as she could for Ell
sic, and began watching an opportunity
for approaching Will on his best side.
Il don't think it was any thing to
make great fuss over" said Will the
same evening, flinging down book he
had been reading;
What do you mean, dear?"
'This story about boy who lost a
great prize because of another boy hav-
ing burnt up some papers without know
ing that they were the notes for his
essay. 1t was dreadful disappoint-
ment to him, of course; but when it was
once done, and no help for it, what
could he do but get over it the best way
he could?'
but if you try to put yourself in his
place, you will see that it must have re-
quired great deal of Christian for
bearance to forgive at once the boy who
had done the mischief"
- i.Ho! boy who amounted to any thing
would never think of making fuss
over what couldn't be helped"
And really manly true-hearted
boy would take pleasure in trying to
prevent his friend from suffering too
keenly over the fact of having unin-
tentionally injured him." said mother,
more seriously.
"Of COURSE" agreed Will.
81 am glad you think so, for 1 am
going to give you chance of showing
how boy of that kind, real boy, not
in a story-book, can bear little injury
Internationally done him."
''What do you mean now, mother?"
"Poor little Elsie is feeling very badly
because of something which she knows
will vex you, and wish, my dear boy,
that you would strive to show spirit of
brotherly kindness in the matter"
"What has she done?" asked Will.
"She has lost your silk umbrella"
A quick color flew to Wills cheek.
81 know it is very annoying thing"
went on his mother. elsie thinks you
will be very hard on her about it, and
she has a great dread of your anger.
Ijou'tyou think, dear, it would be grand
thing for you to surprise her by speak
ing kindly about it, by forgiving hcr
fully ard freely?" $500
"What business had she to take it?'
said Will, evidently trying to overcome
desire to speak excitedly.
"She did wrong to take it without
your knowledge, and she knows it."