Middletown transcript., 1897-01-16
HOW TO oBTAIM THEM.
MISPLACED DISCIPLINE.

Mrs. Benton was baking. When sht
had put the last pie into the oven She
stepped to the door and called "John'
nyl"
A bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked little
boy came bounding up the steps and
stood before her.
"What do you want, mammaP" he
asked.
81 want you to run to the grocery
right quick and get some eggs. Wait
a moment and I'll give you some mon
ey.
She stepped into the sitting-room and
going to the mantel put out her hand
to take the change she thought was
there. To her surprise it was gone,
and she stood for q moment with a
puzzled look on her face.
81 surely put a quarter there this
morning. she thought. Then the
the puzzled look gave place to one of
mingled annoyance and pain. She was
positive she had laid that money there
on the corner of the, mantel after her
husband had left the house that morn
ing. 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 itp
The thought startled her. 'sBut he
must have taken it." she told herself,
"for know put it right here after
Mr.. Benton went away, and there was
was no one else to take it. Oh, to think
my boy would be dishonest-a all
my teaching g!n
Without taking the time to consider
the possibility of being mistaken, she
turned upon the child, who had fol-
lowed her into the room, and demand
ed:
Johnny, did you see that money 1
laid here this morning2 Tell me the
truthl''
"Why, no, mamma, didn't see it,"
answered the boy at once.
''Are you going to tell me a false
hood, beside taking what does not be-
long to you?n asked the mother angrily.
81 shall punish you for that. You
needn't deny it, Johnny; mamma knows
you took if, and it grieves. her very
much that you would take anything
that doesn't belong to you-and then
tell falsehood about it. It's too much;
mamma is ashamed of you!''
Poor little Johnny burst into tears.
Mamma" he sobbed, 81 didn 'ttake
your money-true as anything didn't.
I-n
''Don't say another wordp' Interrupt
ted the mother, too angry to be reason
able. 81 tell you know you did take
it. because nobody has been in here but
you; and l know l laid it there after
your papa went away in the morning.
1 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 a
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 toward her.
s'Mamma.n he said, raising his tear
stained face TO meet the angry look
she cast upon him-"mamma, I'ye been
praying to God, and I know he'll help
me out of this.p
"How do you. know he willSn the
mother asked. somewhat startled. |
'tWho told you He wouldP"
ssMy Snnday-school teacher said SO.
She said if we ever got into trouble to |
just ask God to help us, and He would.
And so asked God to help me out of |
Ibis trouble and / believe He will y
And the brown eyes filled with tears |
again.
If this we're anything but true
story, | should make it read that the |
mother gladly stayed the punishment
Of her child until his guilt was proved |
beyond the shadow of doubt. But.
strangely enough, this real mother was
more angry than before, and made the
punishment more severe because of his
hypocrisy. as she called it.
When Mr.. Benton came home to |
Inner that day he was told the whole
tory. his wife expressing regret that