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“The kittens were mine before ever
you came here.”
«I don’t care, I will have Snow.”
“ No, you shan’t.”
« Willy, it is school-time,” said his mo
ther.
Willy snatched his bag of books, kissed
his mother, and started for school. On
the road he began to think. “I do think
it is too bad! Disputing my right to
name the white kitten, and then to claim
Snow for her own ; and father to take up
for her against me!” and here Willy fair
ly broke down, and cried “Father was
unjust! I don’t love father a bit! I
hate Lily! She is too mean; it’s too
bad ! I’m sure she is wrong!”
“Willy! Willy!” said Conscience,
“don’t love your father and hate your
cousin.”
“ She was in the w T rong,” thought W illy.
“And were you not in the wrong, too ?
Are you not angry now V ’
Willy stilled the voice of conscience,
and entered the school-house. He was
late. Willy was trying hard to gain the
prize for punctuality, and had not been
late once that session. Jim Hardy Avas
trying for the prize, too, and he and Wil
ly were even. When Willy entered the
school-house, Jim was there. He had
been in time. Willy did not go home at
the noon recess, and Jim did. When the
bell rang Willy was in his seat, Jim was
not, but entered five minutes after. In
stead of going to his seat, he marched
straight to the teacher’s desk.
“My mother took sick suddenly, sir,
and I could not leave until now,” he said.
“ Very well,” said his teacher, “take
your seat; you will be excused on that
plea.”
Jim went to his seat, but as lie did so,
cast a glance of triumph towards Willy.
Willy thought every one was unjust that
day. When the teacher dismissed school
he requested Willy to stay a minute, and
said to him:
“ Willy, I see you do not think me just
to let Jim off, but if your mother was
sick, you would like me to let you off.”
“ I do not think it is fair,” sobbed
Willy.
“What excuse had you this morning?”
asked his teacher.
“My cousin had come, and we were
talking about our—” Willy stopped and
the tears came in his eyes.
His teacher heard him through his tale
of the morning’s sorrow, and then said:
“Do you think you have as good an
excuse as Jim ?” « No, sir.”
“Then,” said his teacher, “don’t you
think it fair now for Jim to be excused,
and not you ?”
BURKE’S WEEKLY.
“Yes, sir,” said Willy.
On his way home, Willy thought to
himself:
“I have heard mother say that when
she was in trouble it did her good to pray ;
suppose I try it.”
With this, Willy knelt down on the
green grass.
« What shall I say,” thought he. “Oh,
X k now —l’ll say as I do when I’m going
to bed at night, ‘Now I lay me down to
sleep.’ But I’m not going to sleep —I’m
going home after I pray. ‘ Our I ather,
who art in heaven,’ ” prayed Willy. He
went on until he got to “ Forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who tres
pass against us.”
“Can I say that?” thought Willy. “Do
I forgive Mr. A for excusing Jim and
not me? Do I forgive Lily, or father ? I
am afraid not.”
Willy sat down on the grass a long
time. When he again started for home
the sun was only an hour high, but he
had forgiven them, and resolved to be a
better boy.
“What makes you so late, Willy,” said
his mother.
“I sat down on the road-side, and got
to thinking, ma’am.”
“Lily! Lily!” said he, as he bounded
in the room and kissed his cousin ; “Lily,
you may have Snow; I don’t care now.”
He said the last words rather slowly,
for Snow was his favorite kitten, and he
disliked parting with her.
Lily looked up rather surprised at what
Willy had said, for she had expected him
to resume the quarrel when he returned
home. After this, she repaid Willy for
his kindness in allowing her to take Snow.
She was by far the best scholar of the two
children, and every evening she explained
his lessons to him. By her help, and his
own diligence, he outstripped Jim Hardy
in lessons, and as Jim was not very punc
tual the remaining month, Willy got far
ahead of him.
On the evening of examination day, as
he and Lily walked home from the school
house, he with the prize (a nicely bound
copy of “The Young Marooners,”) under
his arm—she quite delighted at his hav
ing gained the prize—the long wished-for
prize—he remarked :
“Ah! Lily, if it had not been for you,
I would never have gained the prize.”
“ Me!” exclaimed Lily. “ Me! No, in
deed !”
“Yes,” said Willy, “you have done so
much for me, and assisted me so much in
my lessons. If you had not been so good,
and explained everything to me, I believe
I should have failed to-day.”
“ Then thank yourself, Willy, If you
had not been so kind to me, and given
up so plea santly about the kitten, I would
not have thought of helping you.”
Was not Willy rewarded?
Sumter, S. C.
—
Lullaby.
white angels, to baby and me,
Touch her blue eyes with the image of sleep.
'jOfVj In her surprise sho will cease to weep ;
fllush, child, the angels are coming to thee I
Come, white doves, to baby and me,
Softly whirr in the silent air,
Flutter about her golden hair,
Hark, child, tho doves are coming to thee!
Come, white lilies, to baby and me,
Drowsily nod before her eyes.
So full of wonder, so round and wise,
Hist, child! the lily bells tinkle for thee!
Come, white moon, to baby and me!
Gently glide o’er the ocean of sleep,
Shiver the waves of its shadowy deep,
Sleep, child, the whitest of dreams to thee!
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
MAROONEE’S ISLAND ;
ou,
Dr. Gordon in Search of His Children.
BY REV. F. R. GOULDING,
Author of “ The Young Marooners
CONCLUSION OF CHAPTER XVIII.
»IIUS ran the gloomy
thoughts and queries of
the men when the light
of day revealed the ex
'||j|\ But from them all they were soon
called by the voice of Tomkins, who
Tip ordered first a fire, and then break
fast. The comfort of the one to
their chilled and stiffened limbs, and the
comfort of the other to their craving ap
petites, soon imparted a more lively tone
to their conversation, and a more cheer
ful aspect to their affairs; for oftentimes
our spirits are as much affected by the
view we take of things, as by the things
themselves. At the earliest convenient
moment, Dr. Gordon summoned all to
meet him in what he called a “council of
war,” recapitulated briefly the state of
affairs, and asked the opinions of all as to
what was to be done.
“ Before asking your opinions, howev
er,” said he, “I think it is right to state
some facts that may not be known to you.
“ Any day after this we may expect the
passing of the Revenue-Cutter Jackson,
as near shore as possible, having some
one on the look-out for signals from us,
or from others on the coast. By stopping
her and getting aboard, we may eitliei
obtain passage direct to Tampa, or to ive)
West first, and thence to Tampa by other
means. So that our case is not as hope
less as at first sight it may appear.
“ More than that, as to the repoitec