The Washington times., 1894-07-15
Grandmother,. Story.

Grandmother's Story.
Three apples fell of big tree. Three small
boys hid behind hedge. An old gentleman
who owned the orchard and was walking
about under the trees heard the apples fall
and poked about for them with his cane. Six
small feet twinkled over tho grass. Presto!
No magician ever made apples disappear
more wonderfully more quickly or more COM
pletely In a second more six bright laugh
ing eyes peeped down from the tree where
the old gentleman was still poking away in
the grass.
"Pester said the old man. IT must have
been mistaken. At any rate 1t Is dinner time,
and one cannot spend ones Gays looking for
apples Besides. my eyes are bad. my ears
not so keen as they used, and don't feel like
boy any longer. will send servant for
them"
Then the old gentleman hobbled out Of the
orchard toward his house.
In a twinkling three small boys, brown as
berries, were at the foot of the tree each
with a great apple. Ono look, a laugh, and
they were Off over the meadows.
'Ha! ha! papa!" they cried as they rushed
pellmell into the family dining room. 1--WE
fill, and for once We'll have feast on the old
miser's apples that believe nobody but him.
self ever tasted before"
How is this?" cried tho father, furious.
"You stole the old mans apples! You young
rascals, wait until thrash you thoroughly
for this"
'But we did it only to tease him." cried
the children, land to give him lesson be-
sides. lie is so miserly."
''You must be punished, i" said the father.
MOI cried the grandmother, sitting in her
chair. at was a jest, William, and the chill
dren shall return the apples. But they shall
not he punished"
"You are too easy with tho children,
mother. They will turn out thieves"
The old lady smiled placidly.
"Children," she said. II once knew little
boy whose mother was very lenient with him.
He had many troubles at school and he always
came home TO his mother and she soothed
him. The boys about him said he had jolly
mother. and so they came, too, sometimes to
be soothed. But this little boy kept getting
into trouble continually. Once, even, he got
into an orchard and robbed it. Once he took
down birds nest with eggs In it-but then
he was sorry when he saw how grieved the
mother-pird was-and his mother knew there
was much good in him because he grleved for
the mother-biId. Yet he was always in
trouble and it took all his mothers tender
ness to have patience with him. Once he was
caught in an orchard, and then he had hard
time Of it, for the dogs were set on him and
the farmer ran after him with pitchfork,
and there would have been great trouble had
he not reached his mothers arms before the
dogs caught him.
The boys father Redeemed and walked over
to the window The old lady's eyes followed,
and tender light filled her face. The boys
saw the situation at glance.
''Ah. hal it was you. papa!' they cried.
"You were grandma's culprit. 1t is you who
must make confession now"
The grandmother smiled again and said:
1.-THE riddle is solved. and you see. boys, in
spite of his mothers leniency, what a good
man your father has turned out to be. And
now, children, after dinner you will return
the apples to the old man with an apology"
Then the old lady rose and walked over to
her son and placed her hand lightly on his
shoulder.
1--WE must be lenient with youth. William,
for it is the perfume OF our old age. The
children have tine world to romp in when they
are young-Time will give them no such
lordship again."
Just then the father caught sight Of the
boys playing leap frog below. He laughed
and halooed to them
BE off to the woods, boys, and be sure to
bring home birch switch for me to use on
myself when 1 am forgetiu. And don't for
get the biggest and finest nosegay you can
pick for grandmamma. TO whom, next TO God.
we owe all the blessings we have in life."