CHILDREN'S STORIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2426, 28 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHILDREN'S STORIES.

DISCOVERED. "No one will ever know,'' said Alfred s I i ps. j " Thou, God, seest inc," said Alfred s conscience. Me had been doing wrong, and that made him anxious, real,loss, and miserable. lint, he tried to hide the result of liis wrong doing, in the hope that it would not be found out. ••I am sorry I did it," thought Alfred. II It is too bad of me, when father has brought me for su-'.h a capital holiday by the sea-side. I wish I had not done it. Certainly it is a comfort to know that no one could he sure that I did it, so, of course, I shall escape all blame." Alfred ought to have known better than that, linked, I think he (lid, only he tried to persuade himself that ho would not be discovered. But what had Alfred done? I will tell you. Ilis father, as you already know, had brought him to the sea-side for a holiday. In the loo.n where Alfred slept a number of vases had been placed upon the mantelpiece. It was rather strange to sec them in a bedroom, and Alfred frequently amused himself with looking at them. One of them especially delighted him. It was a tall vase perfectly round, with soinfl butterHies beautifully painted upon it. " Come and look at the vases, father, said Alfred 011 the day they arrived. Mr Patmos looked, as Alfred wished. He admired the vases very much. He also gave Alfred some good advice concerning them. "Do not touch them, Alfred, lie said, "Of course you may look at them as much as you please, but do not remo\ e thorn, or perhaps von may be so unfortunate to break them." " I should not break them, father.' " You cannot be sure of that unless you altogether abstain from touching them. Accident* frequently happen. Be on the safe side, Alfred." " I will, father." For a fortnight ho kept his promise. And at the end of that time ho hid become so usoil to the sight of the vases in his room that ho did not particularly notice them. And yet it was after this time that he broke bis promise. He was writinir a letter to one of his school friends. And 110 wanted a ruler in order to complete a sketch which he wished to enclose. He had no ruler with him. He looked about to find a substitute. Unfortunately his eyes rested upon the tall round vase on the mantleshelf. Almost without thinking he took it down, and used it in order to make a number of straight lines. Ho had almost finished the sketch, when the vase clipped from his fingers, and rolled across the table. He tried to catch it, but was not quick enough. It fell to the floor, and, of course, was broken. Then Alfred was much frightened and very sorrv. " 'What shall I do ?" 110 said to himself, and his ho:irt beat fast, aurl his face looked very red. It. was a pity that ho did not give pood heed to the answer which his conscience sutrf'ested. The voice wit,bin said, lell your father directly." i>ut Alfred had not tho courago to do light. And lie lideued to another voice, which said, " Put the pieces out of sight, and pretend that you do not know anything about This suggestion pleased him better than tho other, and he prepared to act upon it. He gathered up every piece of the vase, a,ud packed the fragments into a paicel. Then he put on his cap, aud went down to tho sea. _ " I will bury the parcel iu the sand,

s.iid be. Ho thought ho had found ;i good plan when that e.uno into his mind. Ho quite forgot that the tide was <roimj out. He tool; oft' bis shoes aud stocking*, as he vnvy frequently did, ii.nd wiidod through the water to a "place whare ho could sec some .sand. The sand was very wet, but he managed to di-,' in it, and buried the parcel containing tho pieces of the vase. "It is not very deep, but I think it will be safe," said ha. "Of course if I must pretend not to know anything about it I will walk away, and I shall, of course, quite forget where I have put it. Then I can say I don't know where it is. It will be easy enough to loose all trace of it, for there ia nothing iu tho sea to mark the place where it is buried." In the muautime there was a great outcry in the house where Alfred lodged The woman spoke to Mr Patmos about it. " One of my vasea is missing sir," she said. "Indeed? What do you think has become of it?" said Mr Patmos. " I a l .in ot tell unless your son has hidden it away. I hope it is not broken.' "I hope not. I told Alfred not t< touch it, and I scarcely think he woulc disobey me." "Hu must have touched it, sir. Nt one else has been in the room." "It cannot have been stolen, yov

think ?"' " Oil, no. I have boon in the house all day, and I saw the vase in its place not lon2 ago." "I will go and find Alfred if I can, and will ask hiin if he knows anything about it." Mr Patmos went down to the soa, and found Alfred on the sands. He did not at first say what ho wanted, but walked along by his son, looking very intently at Alfred's faie several times to see if he seemed at all disturbed. Alfred felt rather nervous. " I wonder if they have discovered the loss," he thought. "But if they have I e.umot bo blamed." Presently Mr Patmos said, "Alfred, the vase with the butterflies painted upon it is missing." " Is it, father " Yes. What do you know about it ' Alfred was saved from telling a lie, as I. almost fear iie would have dona, for at that moment Mr Patmos turned something over with his stiefc, and Alfred saw that it was the parcel, the paper of which had opened, showing the pieces of the vase. Mr Patmos looked at Alfred, and at once understood all. Ho was very much grieved, not only at Alfred's disobedienco, but chiefly that he had not confessed what he had done, but tried to hide it. lie talked to Alfred, who felt very sorry. It spoiled the holiday, aud made him four that his father would never trust lii'.ti again. Ikiya and girls when you have committed a fault, confess it. Do not wait till it is discovered.