After the Confession.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 269, 5 January 1875, Page 7

After the Confession.

There is a ra:m living iu Fifth-street, whoi is a good man, endeavouring to tram up his children in the way .tjigy f-Kjuld go, and as his flock is numerous and two of them are boys, he has anything but a siuecure in this training business. Only a flay or two ago the elder of these 'male olive-branches, who has lived about fourteen wicked years, enticed Jus younger brother, who has only had ten years' ex.-' periunce in boyish deviltry, to go out on the river in a boat, a species, of pastime which their father had many a time forbidden. Both the boys went this time, trusting tj luck to conceal their depravity from the knowledge of their pa, and in due .time they returned, and walked around the house, the two most innocent-looking boys in Bmliagton. They separated for a fow moments, and at the expiration of that time the elder was suddenly confronted by the father, who requested a private interview in the usual place, and the pair adjourned 1o a wood-shed, where, after hrir-f ait highly-spirited performances, in which die boy appeared most successfully as i: heavy-villain," and his father took his favourite role of " first old man," the curtain went down, and the boy, considerably mystified, sought his brother. " John," he said. *' who do you suppose told dad 1 ? "Have you been licked?" John's face, will not look more peaceful and resigned when it is in his coffin than it did as lie replied : " No ; have you T "Have 1.1 Dome down to the cowshed and look at my back." John declined, but said': " vVell, Bill, I tell you howfa'ther found us out. lam tired of acting iu this way, tud 1 ain't going to run away and come home aud lie about it any 'more. I'm going to do better af;er this, -and so when isiw father I ooa'dn't help it, and went right to him and confessed." Bill was touched by the manly action on th". part of Tiis younger brother. It found a tender place in the had boy's heart, and he was visibly affected by it. But he asked * ' ; How did it happen the oU man didn't lick you f ■' Well,"said the penitent young reformer, "you see I didn't confess oa myself, I oulv confessed on you ■; that was the way of It. A. strange, cold light gfcfctcred in Bill's eyes. ""Only confessed on me!" he said. "Well, that's all right, but come down | behind the cow-shed and look at my Shack" And whim 'they got there * * * * i —Bii.riiwji.oii HHinkei/e.