Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-01-07
HE COULDN'T TELL A LIE.


The Awful Consequences OF Being Natu.
rally Painfully Truthful.
NV mother used to bid me always tell
the truth, darling" My father-"What-
ever happens, tell the truth, my boy"
And my nurse used to say, always tell
the truth, Master Tommy, or the Bogie
Man will have your
faithfully did as | was told, with the
result that | was a miserable child, more
miserable youth and am now n most mis-
cradle man.
Cook had n soldier to tea one evening"
and | happened to see him. Said cook,
"Master Tommy, if your ma asks you if
there's any one in the kitchen say there's
only nurse an me-" The nurse told me
the same, kissed me and gave me piece
of cake.
l mechanically took the cake, but my
little mind was troubled and puzzled
| went up stairs pondering deeply. The
first thing my mother said to me was:
"Is there IA man in the kitchen, darling?
fancy heard a mans voice"
My truthful nature at once asserted it.
self.
Eyes. ma there's man dressed in red
coat, with a hat on one ear, and I'm not
going to eat this cake" said, hinging it
down on the table. "And | wish you'd
wash my face, ma, cause nurse gave me
two naughty kisses there"
NV mot her called me II good boy said
was quite right not to eat the cake, and
gave it to the dog. Both the nurse and
cook slapped and pinched me the next time
they got hold of me.
Ever after ! was hated by the servants:
thev called me a spy" and a Lying little
impr'
I ,n1,l l., ,f oil;
lie, but couldn't bear to hear other people
do so.
One day | heard my mother say, 81 do
hope that horrid Mrs. Jones won't come
today!'
About half an hour afterward Mrs. Jones
arrived.
ooh, l am so glad to see you, my dear
Mrs. Jones! l was hoping you'd come"
my mother exclaimed eifusiveiy.
MA" l said gravely, "if you tell lies
the Boyle Man will have you. Nurse says
30"
Mrs. Jones looked very peculiar, and my
mother took me out of the room and there
and then administered sound whipping.
There was a rich old maiden lady who
had taken II great fancy to me, and it was
an open secret that She was going to leave
me her wealth. Somehow or other |
couldn't bear this old lady, She was so
ugly and sour tempered. TO my great
horror She would always make me sit on
her lap and put my arms around her neck
'Do you love me, my own little Tom
my?' she asked me one day, drawing my
cheek to hers.
mo, l don't" l answered with a shud
der.
What" she shrieked "Why not, you
naughty boy?"
''Must tell youf" asked plantiyely.
''Of course"
because you're so ugly and cross.'
She put me down without saying "A word
to me. but she afterward told my parents
that | ought to be put in reformatory or
] would come to the Galows, and that not
penny of her money should have.
My father was furious He thrashed me
and said was growing up perfect fool
and my mother called me nuisance"
and gave me a powder
was hated at school on account of my
tru hfuness, which earned for me the un-
enviable sobriquct Of "Sneaky."
And now have reached mans estate
am Stunned by nearly all my fellow crea-
lures, simply because | will persist in tell
ing the truth, which of course is not
always pleasant to hear. But it is not my
fault. am sure | have tried hard to be a
liar, but | cannot. Often and often have ]
whispered to myself, Now, he Il man, and
tell 4 lie!'' but the lie never got far, her
than my throat, where it stuck and threat
ened to choke me, only Truth (Which is
mighty, you know came to the rescue
and 50 to speak, knocked that lie into the
middle of next Week-Cor. London Tit
Bits.