The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-06-27
MOTHERS BEST.
BY SIDNEY DAYRE.


A bright-looking, half-grown boy had
quietly entered a pretty cottage and
made his way to the room in which
was seated lady dressed in deep mourn
ing, engaged in sewing.
my dear one! My own precious boy
but why are you here again so soon?'
'For no good reason, mother. l got
into a bit of trouble"
"Not of your own fault, dear?"
mo. There was little money miss
ing, and in way that seemed to be
responsible for"
"Tell me how, Philip"
"a lady was shopping ut my counter
and seleced some books for which she
laid down $50 bill. Then she decided
not to take the books, and distinctly
remember her taking back the money
lit never touched my hands. In few
minutes she came back declaring she
had left it-and what could do?"
"You dear boy!" Even in the midst
of his despairing depression Philip felt
cheered by her loving sympathy. "But,"
she went on, mo one believed anything
against you-surely?"
20, they said so" said Philip, bit
terly. ''That is, they said nothing could
he proved against me, and they were
glad to believe it could only be mis-
take. But when they told me they were
carrying more help than they needed,
and must dismiss younger rather than
older clerks, / knew what it meant. And
here am-back on your hands after
trying for months to get something to
do"
Back with me, dear, there's comfort
in that"
what will people here think of it?
When they knew went expecting to
stay. Why, mother, it's blot on my
character. 1t may make difference in
my whole life"
"Dear child, we can only believe that
in some way it is ordered for the best"
Il can't. It's the worst thing which
could have come to me-"
30, my boy, not tie worst. Think of
The mothers whose sons might have done
what some suppose you have DONE"
On the death of his father Philip had
laid aside his studies, and with energy
and boyish faith looked out upon the
world which he believed ready to yield
its treasures to those who claimed them
as the reward of honest, persevering
effort.
But the world, in most cases, does
not respond warmly to such expecta-
lions. Some of us learn this through
the passage of years--to some il comes
with early youth. After wearisome de-
lay a situation had been obtained for
him in a large book establishment in
town nearest the village in which his
father had been highly-regarded ply
stefan.
For few weeks Philip had cher
ished visions of rising by steps built on
energy and integrity to high place in
the great business--of making home
< near him for his mother. Then-this!
Philip renewed his attempts to find
Woodwork of any kind-but only to
realize as before that for every place
there seemed many applicants.
let me pack my bag and go and seek
my fortune, mother" he urged. But
she would not hear of his leaving home
on such uncertainty.
'I'a living on my mother. Actually
letting her support me-"
Many boy of Philips makeup may
understand the feeling which led him
10 set his teeth and clench his hands
as ne walked along the street of the
village.
At the sound of chat and laughter hs
raised his eyes. to perceive coming
toward him a company of girls from
a boarding school which constituted
one of the features of the village.
Philip had just passed small pond
and had mechanically strayed from his
way TO try with the heel of his boot ths
strength of the new ice.