Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-26
Saint You going to wait and ride 10
the stage coach?"

l don't know as motherll like it if we
walk. Why didn't you get the ring,
Comfort Pease?"
II don't want-any-ring. TN going
home-to-tell-my mother"
Your mother would have been real
pleased to have You get the ring" said
Matilda, in an injured tone, for she
fancied Comfort meant to complain of
her to her mother.
Then Comfort turned on Matilda in
an agony of confession. 'My mother
don't know anything about it." said
she. Il took the ring unbeknownst to
her when she said couldn't, and then
lost it, and was going to get the new
| ring to put in the box, SO she wouldn't
ever know. I'm going right home and
tell her."
Matilda looked at her. Comfort
Pease, didn't you ask your mother?"
said she.
Comfort shook her head.
Then, said Matilda, solemnly, "we'd
better go home just as quick as we can.
We won't wait for any stage coach, 1
know my mother wouldn't want me to.
S'pose your mother should die, or any
thing, before you have a chance to tell
her, Comfort Pease. read story once
about little girl that told lie and
her mother died and she hadn't owned
up. 1t was dreadful. Now, you get
right on the sled and I'll drag you as
far as the meeting house, and then you
can drag me as far as the sawmill."
h,,A
sled in miserable little bunch and
Matilda dragged her. Her very back
looked censorious to Comfort, but final.
ly she turned around.
THE big girls were real mean, so
there, and they pestered you dread
fully" said she. Don't you cry any
more, Comfort. Just you tell your
mother all about it, and l don't believe
she'll scold much. You can have this
gold dollar to buy you another ring,
anyway, if she'll let YOU"
The road home from Bolton seemed
much longer than the road over had
done, although the little girls hurried
and dragged each other with fierce
jerks. Now" said Matilda, when
they reached her house at length, "Tll
go home with you while you tell your
mother if you want me to, Comfort.
My mothers got home. 1 can see her
head in the window. I'll run in and
ask her."
I'D just as lief go alone, I guess
replied Comfort, who was not CRYING
any more, but was quite pale I'm
real obliged to you, Matilda"
"Well, I'd just as lief go as not, if you
want me too" said Matilda. II hope
your mother won't say much. G,od-by,
Comfort"
"Good-by," returned Comfort.
Then Matilda went into her house,
ind Comfort hurried home alone, down
the snowy road in the deepening dusk.
She kept thinking of that dreadful
story which Matilda had read Anxiety
and remorse and the journey to Bolton
had almost exhausted poor little Com
fort Pease. She hurried as fast as she
could, but her feet felt like lead and it
seemed to her that she should never
reach home. But when at last she
came in sight of the lighted kitchen
windows her heart gave a joyful leap,
for she saw her mothers figure moving
behind them, and knew that Matilda's
story was not true in her case.
when she reached the door she
leaned against it minute. She was
out of breath and her knees seemed
failing under her Then she opened
the door and went in.
Her father and mother and grand
mother were all there and they turned
and stared at her.
Comfort Pease," cried her mother,
"What is the matter?"
You didn't fall down or anything,
did you?" asked her grandmother.
Then Comfort burst out with a great
sob of confession. "I-took-it," she
gasped. Il took my gold ring that
Aunt Comfort gave me for her name
and Il wore it to school, and Miss
Tabitha pinned it in my pocket, and l
lost it. And Matilda she gave me the
gold dollar her Uncle Jared gave her to
buy me another, and we walked a mile
and half apiece to Bolton, to buy it in
Gerrishs and 1 couldn't-and l was
afraid something had happened to
mother, and I'm sorry" Then Com
fort sobbed until her very sobs seemed
failing her.
Her father wiped his eyes, 'Don't
let that child cry that way, Emily"
said he to Mrs. Pease, then he turned
to Comfort. Don't you feel so bad,
Comfort" he coaxed, "father'll get you
some peppermints when he goes down
to the store tonight" Comfort ather
gave her hard pat on her he and
then he went out of the room wit some
thing that sounded like an echo of
Comforts own sobs.
Comfort" said Mrs. Pease, "lools
here, child, stop crying and listen to
what I've got to say. 1 want you to
come into the parlor with me minute"
Comfort followed her mother weakly
into the best parlor. There on the
table stood the rosewood work-box, and
her mother went straight across to 1t
and opened it.
Look here, Comfort" said she, and
Comfort looked. There in its own com
partment lay the ring. "Miss Tabitha
Hanks found it in the road, and she
thought YOU had taken IL unbelxnovynst