Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-20
Robbie's Victory,

came out of school very slowly, and with a
perplexed, troubled look on his bright,
sunny face Some of the boys were already
outside and were whispering and laughing
about something. Rob evidently knew
what it was, but had no wish to join in it;
STILL instead of hurrying away as he might
have done, he fingered irresolutely.
The truth was, Robbie was fighting
real battle with himself. There was new
scholar in school, little Annie Hoffman.
Her father was miserable drunkard, and
they were as poor as poor could be. Her
mother had done her best, but poor Annie
was pitiful sight in her faded, outgrown,
ragged garments. Rob had discovered in
some way that few of the rougher, more
thoughtless boys were proposing to make
some fun for themselves when she came
out of fschool to go home, and all the after
noon his conscience had been pleading
earnestly with him.
"You ought to try to stop them,' it
said.
"But they would not hear a word of
little boy like me"
"Then you must help Annie; the poor
little thing will be frightened if they
laugh at her"
"Then they will laugh at me-" and he
fairly shivered with dismay at the thought
of the shout they would give if he showed
himself Annie's champion.
"Well, suppose they do laugh" said con-
science, pitilessly; ''if you are mammals
man, oQghtn't you to be brave enough to
bear that? You were wishing the other
day that you could do something brave
and good here is a chance for you If
you can not do this little thing, you
would not be very apt to do any thing
great"
So this afternoon had passed, and now
Rob must decide one way or the other ;
but it seemed to him he was no nearer a
decision than at first.
"We'll have some prime fun" he heard
Tom Rogers say; she's the greatest look
ing object Eve seen for her age"
"Hullo therep he called out, as Annie
appeared; sis that rag-bag see walking
around?"
The little group around Tom shouted as
he spoke, and Rob's face grew crimson with
pain for Annie and for himself.
'Don't, please, boys" he said plead
ingly; "she isn't to blame, and it will
make her feel so bad to be laughed at"
so, run home, little Mollie Coddle," said
Tom, contemptuously; sit will take more
than you to stop me-"
Rob walked on a few steps. What
should he do? 0, dear, why couldn't he
go right home; he could not stop them;
they would probably only laugh the more
if he did anything.
"But Annie will feel as if she had a
friend"
81 can't" said Rob, with little choke,
and, boy that he was his eyes filled with
tears as he turned toward the gate.
80, Rob Preston, Pm ashamed of you,"
said the faithful inward monitor; ''how
shall you feel when mamma takes your
face between her hands to give you your
good night kiss and calls you her little
laddie? VIII you want to look into her
face?'
There was Just minutes hesitation !;
then Robbie turned and went quickly up
to where Annie stood quivering with fear
"Come with me, Annie Pm going your
way," he said; and Annie caught hold Of
his hand instantly.
II am SO afraid" she almost sobbed.
sTm never coming again. l didn't want
to to-day, but mother cried and wanted me
to-"
"Pll tell you,' said Robbie reassuringly,
'swe will go right home and tell my
mamma. She always knows just what to
to-"
So they went bravely down the walk,
and though the boys tried to laugh, they
could not make much of a success at it.
L. ~ v-,c+fs1l
touched them.
'He was plucky fellow" said one,
after the two had gone.
+ eyes, and more of gentleman than any
of us, if we are older" said another.
Mamma soothed and comforted little
Annie and sent her home happy, with one
of her own Annie's outgrown dresses that
Just fitted her.
When she had gone mamma stopped and
kissed Robbie.
"My own precious laddie, my little man"
she said fondly.
But | wasn't brave at first | wanted to
run away like coward, only | thought of
you and how ashamed ! should be to have
you know about it," said Bob.
"That was right, dear; but remember
God sees and knows always. Mamma might
not, perhaps; but we can't hide anything
from Him. Think of that when you are
tempted. We must try very hard not to
do anything we are ashamed or sorry to
have God know; mustn't we ~
"Fll try but 0, mamma, sometimes it is
so hard even to do right in little bits of
things"
Il know, laddie dear; but remember, we
can always have help if we ask for it,
National Baptist.