Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-06-08
Billie FaIrfield,s Promlse.

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billie Fairfield's Promise.
When Billie took the milk to Mrs.
Seldom one morning, and she asked
him il lie would bring another quart
that night, he said "Yes'm" promptly,
and then never thought Of it again
until he was in bed
swell, can't take it now" said
Billie; but he could not go to sleep,
though he turned and tossed and
twisted till he was tired. At last he
went to the head Of the stairs and
shouted, '.Motherr'
Mrs. Fairfield had just threaded
her needle and stretched stocking
with big hole in it over her hand.
She said "Oh, dear!' but she went to
see what Billie wanted.
you'll have to 60 now" she said
quietly, when he had told her.
20 motherl can't 60 away up
there alone" Mrs Fairfield knew
that, .for, Billie was meyer out alone at
night. His father had gone to bed
downstairs with the baby, and, If they
walked him, baby would wake, too.
SO Mrs, Fairfield thought o minute.
Then abe said, s'We'll see. I'll have
the milk ready when you come
down. ~ Gs4T,.
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
eelcnosome road. HE took the milk
aud they tramped over the snow up
the long hill without q word. The
wind blew.in their faces and BiIlie'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 mp here tonight? And
you, too, Mrs. Fairfield. It's too badl
I could have got along somehow with
ont 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 i"The matter was
yourlprqmise, Billie Would you sell
the truth just to get rid OF walking up
to. Mrs. 6elden'sr'
Billie made no answer. He was
ashamed again. 1855
Presently he asked his mother ifshe
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 lifelong hill
to their own yard, where Billie skill.
fully steeredin. 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 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 finish
mending these stockings tonight. SO I
shall mend them tomorrow when / was
going to make a cottage pudding and
therell be no pudding for dinner"
Cottage pudding was Billie's favor
lite desert, aud this was a blow that
he laid to heart.
He and his father would say scot
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 O
man, and people said, Just give me
Billie Fairfeld's wore; that's all I
want" Billie would smile and say,
Yes, my mother taught me TO keep
promise. sunday School Times.
Tho h,s.