The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-23
A Bit of Suggestion.

| 'HOW is your lIatln gettlnS alOuS,
Herbert ?" asked his father at the
breakfast table.
"Oh, toIerably, sir" said Herbert,
with a half-scowl, which was becom-
ing very familiar with his face. II
don't like Latin much myself: and
some of the boys are such bad schol-
ars they keep the whole school back.
l wish 1 was in some other class"
"Will you have some more potatoes,
Herbert ?" asked his mother.
"Well, don't believe l want any ;
/ don't think this is very good way
of cooking potatoes. We used to have
them great deal nicer"
"Can you spare quarter of an hour
after breakfast to help me with my eX-
amplcs, Herbert?" asked his sister.
"Oh, suppose so. did want to
stop and speak to Jack Lee about that
book of mine he borrowed and hasn't
returned. / wish folks wouldn't bor-
row; but if they will borrow, | wish
they would return things. What are
your eXamples?"
"In the least common multiple.'s
"That's easy enough, Pm sure. l
wonder if you're bright at arithmetic,
LiIl? But, Of course, I'll show you.
Seems to lie this steak is tough"
"We'll have to he looking after the
wood supply soon," suggested moth
er.
"And then there'll be more piling
for me, of course" remarked Herbert.
bridget must burn lot of wood in
the Kitchen"
"While you are helping your sister
with the examples, Herbert" said his
mother, "I'll put stitch into that
necktie if you'll hand it to me-.Iss66iffe,
thing about it Seems TO be-Wrong ="
"It's y miserable fitting thing
scarcely worth mending. I wore il
last night, and it bothered ME all the
evening""
"By the way, did you have a pleas
ant time last night?'
"Oh, rather. But expected to heal
something. finer. L could have done
nearly as we'll myself"
Herbert's father folded up the news
paper he had been reading, laid it be-
side his plate, and turning towards
the boy gazed at him so fixedly and Sc
critically that he looked inquiringly al
him, at length asking:
"Well, what is it, father"
Herbert, do you know that we all
love you ?"
"Why," exclaimed Herbert, greatly
astonished at the question, II suppose
you do"
care you sure of it?"
"Yes,h said Herbert, laughing lit
tie. II am quite sure of it,"
fGnt Srif1,
sister, are the object of the most con-
stant, loving care and solicltuue on the
part of your mother and myseIf?'
ayes, father" said Herbert more
thoughtfully. "But why do you
ask?"
you are sure that your best and
highest welfare is the thing most earn
estly sought by us?"
Eyes, SIR"
"And there is nothing in the world
so precious TO us at this table as just we
fourm!
"Ycs, sir"
You are a bright boy-yes, bright
as the average ; perhaps little bright
er, although my thinking so may come
of my being slightly partial 20 you
we'll looking too, wellkeptand healthy
You are able to take in the full
delights of out. door boy life; and en-
10y your school in general way, don't
you"
"Yes, sir"
"And you are fairly happy in your
surroundings?
"Yes, father; in everything. But
will you please tell me what all this
means?n
ayes, I've come to that now. You
wake in the morning in the full enjoy
ment of every earthly blessing. You
come to the table surrounded by those
to whom your happiness is dear"
Herbert looked into his fathers eye,
waiting to hear more, as he made a
slight pause. :.
"It seems as if a boy in your condi-
ton Of life ought to find happiness III
everything. But instead Of this,
everything to your own showing seems
to bear thorn for you. OF the hall
dozen things touched upon within the
last fifteen minutes, some pertaining
to your studies. some TO your small du'
ties, everything has been met by you
by either a direct or indirect complaint
or fault finding. I really am afraid,
my boy, that life is becoming Il bur-
densome, unhappy thing to you
ooh, you are mistaken, father" said
Herbert, with rising color. II really
don't want to keep up scow! and a
growl about things. don't think OF
it half the time"
"Then," said his father, with the
half f-jesting expression of his face Civ
ing place to one wholly serious, "isn't
it time you were thinking of making
dear to you the happiness of those to
whom your happiness is dear? Do
you ever reflect how q spirit of fault
finding casts shadow about you upon
those who are entitled to something
better than shadows from you-how a
complaining voice and scowling face
take away the sweetness and beauty
from the hours which should be highly
prized-hours in which we who love
each other are together ?'
"Indeed, father, never took it to
heart before. But 7 will"
There are many like boys in the
homes all over the world. Wouldn't
they do we'll to take it to heart o.
american Messenger.
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