Year: 1865

] ..eschew evil.


| Twas back among the hills of Western
; Pennsvlyania that there lived, many years


ago. two bovs-two brotiers-we will


call them William and James. TheiI
; father was wealthy, and they lived on q


beautiful farm. in fine brick house,
: with a nice large orchard adjoining. Now
William was q rogue Of 2 boy-loved


to tease his brother and play tricks upon
, him And James, naturally sensitive,
was growing more and more irritable
| every day. Often they would fight and
squabhle, but William being two Years
! the elder and much larger and stronger
| Of the two, always came off the conquer
or, vet would sometimes take refuge in
flight So things went on for several
years. until at last there came crisis =
Now presume you know what crisis


is? If not. ask Pa or Ma, and they will
quickly inform you.


One day the boys father requested
them to go down through the meadow
and carry some meal in pail--or bucket
as they were wont to call it-and feed
some line stock that he had just brought
home Well, the day was fine, the sun
shone out beautiful and warm, the trees
were budding aud getting ready to bios
t-som, the birds were already in the
branches, singing merrily, and God seem
ell To be smiling upon that earth which
cold winter had 50 long held in his icy
grasp. Now these boys should have
been very happy. But William was con
tempiating, JaWes fearing, some ont
break that would spoil the pleasure of
at least one of the party. However. all
! that William could do on the way down
through the orchard was u let the pail
which was n little unite greasy
! brush against his brothers new linsey-
woolsev breeches; this was some annoy
ance. but nothing to what followed.


After feeding the stock, William
\ caught np the pail and with a strong arm
carried it some little distance toward
/ home. then set it down on the ground
AMI ran home James caught mp the pail,
and, by exerting hl-nself little carried
it SO IS lot to soil MS pants, an equal
distance Vow it was Williams turn,
but he declined, and ran still faster Tor
| home. All at once he seemed to change
his mind, and he leaped fence into
adjoining lot to see his favorte sugar
maple tree, and examine its trough and
see hofr much sap 1t contained. This
gave James time to come up with him.
And. bursting with Indignation. he
thought at one blow to put n stop to such
scandalous conduct as his brother had
been too often guilty of. So STOPPING
to the earth, he caught up stone, and
threw it at his brother with such force and
precision that he Immediately brought
him TO the ground Bat like Cain of old.
no ,oner was the deed done than he re
gretted it sorely, and Immediately ran TO
his brother, exclaiming, 30 brother.
have | killed YOU? p But he was not
L 10
arose to his feet, but the wound, near
the temple, was bleeding profusely-
They went together to a large trough Of
clear water that stood near by. and bathed
the wound long and carefully. BY and
by the blood ceased to flow 50 profusely.
and they, two penitents, started for
Tome There was no further controver-
sy about the pail. But what 4 scene met
them at home The father had gone out
to some other part of the farm. But the
mother, stretched upon her death bed
had heard the cries of her bows, and in
agony of suspense awaited their return
and now her worst fears were confirmed
--contentions. bruises, and hood En-
tirely overcome. she covered her face
and wept Oh my God those tears
every drop was drop of motion, fiery.
red hot lead upon my wounded and crush
ed and broken heart; for, children. it Is
James thatis writing this for You Then
| was put away and my brother question
ed concerning the matter | believe he
gave truthful account of it all. for when
my mother called for me She hade me
kneel beside her bed and, placing one
hand upon nay head. she only exclaimed,
My poor boy.


And then her lips moved as ii in pray
7 !.
and the tears tricklel down her 5alc
emallated checks. And | could see
no more. for Tie tears then, a they do
now, blinded my eyes.





Many long wears have past The
mother died. We grew to be men. Nv
brother went through college, married
and was promoted To offices OF honor and
trust bat whenever you saw him. in tae
college hall. at the altar or in the legis-
latare; he still carried that ugly scar on
his cheek and he will carry it to his grave
As for me. / have learned to govern my
passions TO a great extent, and bv the
grace of God hope always to restrain
my passions and do some good in the
world. But wherever | go. whether in
the city or in the country, wherever l
stand whether on the river or lake shore
or in the pulpit, surrounded by an at
tentive little band of listeners. still can
hear that gentle voice exclaiming. NV
poor boy. my poor boy g And tina,
sorrowful face. I see it still: and that gen
tie hand | feel It still resting upon my
head and those tears. they still burn;
and | want them to burn until all the
dross and iniquity is burnt out of nv
heart, and nothing but love reigns there.
" ]. Independent


Seventeen hundred and eighty-fve
years ago Pompeii was overwhelmed by
the eruption of Vesuvius. One wear ago
yesterday George b. Mcclellan was