CONSCIENCE (AND MOTHER) DROVE HIM TO CONFESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 29, 6 December 1948, Page 5

CONSCIENCE (AND MOTHER) DROVE HIM TO CONFESS

It happened one night last week when —for this story we will call him Mr Smith, although it is not to be taken as any indication that it is his real name—Mr Smith was preparing to go out. There came a knock on the door. His wife answered. “Is Mr Smith in, please?” “Yes, but he is just getting ready to go out.” “But can we see him please?” “He is rather busy (doubtfully), won’t I do?” ' “No, we must see Mr Smith.” (Firmly). Giving it up as a bad job, Mrs Smith capitulated and called her stronger half over. Mr Smith came on the scene. “Yes, what is it?” then stopped and gaped in amazement at his callers. One was a little Maori girl about 10 years old and the other, who showed a trace of tears, was obviously her little brother a couple of years younger. The little girl spoke, with., the confidence of a mother. “Mr Smith, will you forgive Johnny?” Mr Smith mumbled uncertainty. Not knowing what he said, the little girl inquired again. This time Mr Smith had time to recover and, desiring to find what was going on, he said yes. “Are you sure now, you will forgive him?” “Yes I’ll forgive him, now what is it?” “Johnny has. brought back your balloon.” The thoroughly amazed Mr Smith asked which balloon. Then the story came out. It seemed that Johnny is a frequent visitor to Mr Smith’s shop, where he reads the comics displayed on the counter. Evidently while in the shop at some time he wanted the balloon and had taken it without anyone knowing. Johnny is a Cub, and when his mother discovered the balloon she made him go with his sister and take it back. Unless Mr Smith forgave him he was not to go to Cubs, to the pictures or to town any more. But Mr Smith had already forgiven Johnny. In his own words: “I was so overcome, especially with the little girl, that I could not do anything else but forgive him. But I talked to Johnny and made him promise not to steal again.” With that, Mr Smith thought the visit was over. It was, too. But as the little girl was leaving she turned to him and whispered confidentially. “Do you know why I came with Johnny to make his return the balloon Mr Smith?”

He shook his head. “No, why?” “Because you let me read the comics in your shop.”