The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-09
MISPLACED DISCIPLINE.

Mrs. Benton was baking. When she
had put the last pie into the oven she
stepped to the back door and called
"Johnny!'
A bright eyed rosy checked little boy
came bounding up the steps and stood be-
fore her.
"What do you want, mamma?r he
asked.
Il want you to run to the grocery right
quick and get some eggs. Wait a moment
and III give you some money.
She stepped into the sitting room and GO
ing to the mantel put out her hand to
take the change sne thought was there.
To her surprise it was gone, and she stood
for moment with puzzled look on her
face.
Il surely put quarter there this morn
ing" she thought. Then the puzzled look
gave place to one of mingled annoyance
and pain. She was positive she had laid
mantel after her husband had left the house
that morning. The front door had been
closed and locked all the time, and nobody
but herself and the little boy had been in
the room Had Johnny taken it? The
thought startled her. "But he must have
taken it, she told herself, for | know |
put it right here after Mr.. Benton went
away, and there was no one else to take it,
Oh, to think my boy would be dishonest
after all my teachingn
Without taking the time to consider
the possibility of being mistaken, she
turned upon the child, who had followed
her into the room, and demanded:
Johnny, did you see that money | laid
here this morning? | want you to tell me
the truth
"Why, no, mamma, didn't see it,
answered the hoy at once.
Are you going to tell me falschood,
beside taking what does not belong to you?
asked the mother angrily. 81 shall punish
Johnny; mamma knows you too, it, and
it grievcs her very much that YOU would
take any thing that did not belong to you--
and then tell falsehood about it. Its
too much; mamma is ashamed of YOU
Poor little johnny burst into tears
Mamma he sobhed,, II didn't take
your money true as anything didn't
-
Don't say another world" interrupted
the mother too angry to be reasonable 81
tell you know you did take it, because
nobody has been i'll here but YOU and
know laid it there after your papa went
away in the morning. ! shall punish you
well. Sit down there till come back and
i'll see if can't make you tell the truth
anyway"
And pushing him in the nearest chair,
she left the room.
She came back presently, with switch
in her hand and a determined look on her
face. To her surprise the little boy arose
from his chair as she entered and came to-
ward her
Mamma lie said, raising his tear
stained face to meet the angry look she
cast upon him mamma, I've been pray
ing to God, and know he'll help me out
of this
GLOW do you know he will?" the mother
asked, somewhat startled "Who told YOU
He would:'
my Sundy school teacher said so. She
said If we ever got ind trouble to Just ask
God to help us, and He would. And so |
asked God to help me out" And the
brown eyes filled with tears again.
Ii this were anything hut "a true story
| should make it read that the mother
gladly stayed tho punishment of her child
until his guilt was proved beyond the
shadow OF doubt. But, strangely enough
this real mother was more angry than be-
fore, and made the punishment more
severe because Of his Hypocrisy" as she
called it.
When Mr.. Benton came home to dinner
that day he was told the whole story, his
wife expressing regret that her boy had not
only taken the money, and then tried to
conceal it with falsehood but had acted
the hypocrite beside.
When she had finished, Mr.. Benton said
sadly: