Year: 1862

Had better get in and row across, won
der?


Nobody would ever know anything about
it; and there the pretty new boat lies, rock
ing to and fro on the river. How fair and
dainty it looks, and there are the two oars ly-
ing in the bottom. It's only mile down to
the bridge, and could row down there and
back in little while; aud o, it would be such
pleasant, pleasant sailT


'Of course nothing would happen to me, for
grandpa said to mamma the other evening.
when we went down to the mill, why, Helen,
Harry is natural sailor. He can manage the
boat as well as l.


30, dear wish he'd never seen the boat,
said mamma. i expect it will be the death Of
him yet


'sWell, he didn't inherit his natural taste
from you, that's CERTAIN laughed grandpa;
but women are always nervous about the wa
ter


And that's all. It's just mammals nervous
ness: and knoW nothing would happen to
me, getting in there and having little sail;
and it would be so nice, this beautiful after
noon, with Just that breath of wind rocking
the alders that fringe the shore; and the river
lies here like deep blue mirror, and looks,
away up by the bridge, like brown ribbon
tangled in and out among the young oaks and
poPlars.
Il, either: for. of course, i should get back
safe, and don't believe there'd be any harm
In it.


But then, there's my promise to mother;
there's no getting aside OF that, and it was the
last thing she said to me before she left home
on Thursday.


She called me to the carriage and bent over
one side and smoothed my hair, as she always
does when sine talks TO me. Now Harry, my
dear boy she said, Il want you 10 promise
that you wont get inside that boat until your
father and l get home again.


''No, mamma, ] won't certainly l answer
: ed, though l hated to bad enough-thats
fact.


And think it's quite too bad that such
big boy as | am cant have his way in such a
little matter at this.


'Oh, dear dear the longer l look at the
sky over my head, and at the sky in the river,
and at the banks on either side, and at the
bridge, looking at the white fall of lace away
OFF in the distance-the more / want to co.
1t seems as If must.


'One more step, and shall be in the boat
but, there again my promise to mamma has
come back to me!


And how shall feel when she comes and
looks in my face with her loving eyes, and
calls me her darling boy; and puts he arms
around my neck, and kisses me over and over
again!


She won't ask me whether I've been in the
boat, because I've promised her / wouldn't,
and never told my mother lie in my life.


And ] wont now! Beautiful river-pretty
boat, it's hard to leave you-but will.


Nobody would know it, said. Yes, God
would know it If got in that boat, If no hu-
man being ever did, and the lie would be writ
ten against me, and shall have to meet it
somewhere-sometime.


I'll get away as fast as can. Oh, dear!-
how near came to telling lie, and commit
ting terrible sin. just begin to see it now!


Mamma came home last night. Such
longing as had!


Has my Harry been good boy p she said,
and not done single thing his mother would
have disappBoved of?'


No, guess not, mamma / said; but was
thinking about the boat, and didn't speak very
positively.


Mamma held me away, and looked in my
eyes. You guess not? are you quite certain,
HarryT she asked.


We'll, mamma, haven't done anything but
I've thought about it,


She drew her arms around me- and held me
close to her heart


Tell me all about ii, Harry DEAR she said. Z


And then / did. / told her about my going
to the river last Saturday afternoon, and how
near came to getting into the boat and row.
ing down to the bridge, and what terrible
temptation 1t was, and how, in one step, should
have been in-but the memory of my promise
to her, and the thought that God saw me- held
me back when there was only one step between
me and the boat


And when had done found mammals
tears falling, just like rain drops, in my hair.


oh, my child! thank Godl thank Godr
she said.


And l. too, thank him then from my heart
that 1 didn't take that 'one step.-lHome
Magazine.