The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-05-31
BILLIE rairfie1d,s Promise.

When Billie took the milk to Mrs.
Seldom one morning, and she asked
him if he would bring another quart
that night, he said ''Yes'm" promptly,
and then never thought OF it again
until he was in bed.
hWel, I cart take it now, said
Billie; but he could not go to sleep,
though he turned and tossed and
twisted till he was tired. ct last he
went to the head Of the stairs and
shouted, @Mother!"
Mrs. Fairfield had just threaded
her needle( and stretched stocking
with big hole in it over her hand.
She said itOh, dear!r' but she went to
see whasRillie wanted.
You'll, have to go now," she said
quietly, wien he had told her.
80 mother! I can't go away up
there alhne' Mrs. Fairfield knew
that, fors Billie was never out alone at
night. Ills father had gone to bed
downstairs with the baby, and, If they
walked him, baby would wake, too.
So Mrs. Fairfield thoughts minute.
Then she said, "We'll see. I'll have
the milk ready when you come
down"
-Whep-Birie got into the kitchen,
lis mother stood ATT S<I1vd01r with nef
That and shawl ON. Billie began to
feel ashamed. He wished he dared
to 60 alone, but he did not, for it was
lonesome road. He took the milk
and they tramped over the snow up
the long hill without word. The
wind blew in their faces and Billie's
ears were cold, but he had the milk
can 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 up here tonight? And
you, too, Mrs. Fairfield. It's too bad!
1 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 it 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's!''
Billie made no answer He was
ashamed again.
Presently he asked his mother if she
would slide down hill. Mrs. Fairfield
laughed, but she was a small woman,
and she tucked herself up on 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
the way he managed his sled, but
Billie was still uncomfortable.
''Why don't you do something to
me, mother?" he said, while they were
warming themselves at the big coal
stove in the sitting room. 81 b'lieve
I'd feel better to have good whip
ping.
His mother smiled at him.
"'Twould be pretty hard work for
me to whip such a 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. cts too late to frish
mending these stockings tonight. SO
shall mend them tomorrow when l was
going to make cottage pudding and
there'll be no pudding for dinner.
Cottage pudding was BiIlie's favor
ite desert, and this was blow that
he laid to heart.
He and his father would say scot
tage pudding" to each other for long
time afterward, if anything was in
danger of being neglected or forgotten.
And when Billie had grown to be a
man, and people said, Just give me
Billie Fairfeid's word; that's all
want" Billie would smile and say,
eyes, my mother taught me to keep
promise. Sunday School Times.
Fundamental Principles.
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