Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-06-08
BilIie Fajrfield's Promise.

When Billie took the milk to Mrs.
Seldom one morning, and she asked
him il he would bring another quart
that night, he said Eyes m" promptly,
and then never thought OF II again
until he was in bed.
"Well, / cart take it now" said
Billie; but he could not go to sleep,
though he turned and tossed aud
twisted till he was tired. At last he
went to the head OF the stairs and
shouted, "Motherp'
Mrs. Fairfield had just threaded
her needle and stretched stocking
with big hole in it over her hand.
She said ooh, dear!" but she went to
see what Billie wanted.
you'll have TO go now" she said
quietly, when he had told her.
20 mother! can't go away up
there alone" Mrs. Fairfield knew
that, for Billie was never out alone ut
night. His father had gone to bed
downstairs with the baby, and,i they
walked him, baby would wake, too.
so Mrs. Fairfield thought minute.
Then she said, "We'll see. I'll have
the milk ready when you come
down." 20.
When Billie got into the kitchen.
his mother stood at the door with her
hat and shawl on. Billie began to-
feel ashamed. He wished he dared
to go alone, but he did not for il was
aionesome road. He took the milk
aud they tramped over the snow up
the long hill without word. The
wind blew in their faces aud Billie's
ears were cold, but he had the milk
eau in one hand and pulled his sled
with the other, so there was no way
to warm them. He was ashamed to.
ask his mother to take the milk.
Mrs. Selden exclaimed when she
opened the door: "Why, what made
you come away mp here tonight? And
you, too. Mrs. Fairfield. It's too badl
/ could have got along somehow with
out the milk.
"Billie promised you," Mrs. Fair
field answered. And Billie wished
nobody would look at him.
Twasn't any matter, she said,
mother" he urged, when they had
started for home again.
The wind was in their backs now,
and Billie's ears were warm.
Buy. the truth, and sell il out"
said his mother "The matter was
your promise, Billie. Would you sell
the truth just to get rid OF walking up
to- Mrs. Selden'sr'
Billie made no answer. He was
ashamed again.
Presently he asked his mother il she
would slide down hill. Mrs. Fairfield
laughed, but she was small woman,
and she tucked herself up OH the front
of the sled, while Billie stuck on be-
hind, and they slid down the long hill
to their own yard, where Billie skill
fully steered in. His mother praised
tue way he managed his sled, but
Billie was still uncomfortable.
why don't you do something to
me, motheri" he said, while they were
warming themselves at the big coal
stove in the sitting room, ~ b'lieve
Id feel better to have good whip
ping"
his mother smiled at him.
"'Twould be pretty hard work for
me to whip such big boy as you are.
Don't you want to help instead Of
making me do more? I'll tell you
how you will be punished, Billie"
she continued. "It's too la.e to finish
including these stockings tonight. SO I
shall mend them tomorrow when / was
going to make cottage pudding and
therell be no pudding for dinner"
Cottage pudding was Bilie's favor
lite desert, and this was a blow that
he laid to heart.
he and his father would say "cot-
tage pudding TO each other for long
time afterward, IL anything was in
danger Of being neglect d or forgotten.
And when Billie had grown to be
man, and people said, ''Just give me
Billie Fairfeld's wore; that's all /
want" Billie would smile and say,
Yes, my mother taught me TO keep
promise. Sunday School Times.