Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1874 — ROBERT’S ADVICE. [ARTICLE]

ROBERT’S ADVICE.

< hie sunny. Saturday morning not long ago Robert S— —sat on the bench in his tool-house busily at work. Presently his little sister Bessie came in. “ I’ve done something dreadful, Bob; though it wasn’t my fault, either. You won’t tell, will you?” she asked, looking up doubtfully. “No, I won’t,” he replied, promptly, interested at the prospect of sharing a secret. “Well,” and here Bessie drew a long breath—“l went tq_get a drink of water, and there was one of those thin, fancy tumblers, you know, on the table. I wanted much to drink out of it, because mother’s so afraid about them that she Tie ver” lets Hie. I was as careful as I could be; but when I was just going to put it back on the table somebody opened the door. I thought it was mother, and 1 was so frightened that 1 let the tumbler drop on the floor, and ” Bessie then stopped to choke back a rising sob. “ Went all to smash, did it?” inquired Bob, sympathetically. Bessie nodded ruefully. - , ■■. ' , “ Whew!” whistled Bob. “What did mother say?” '•Oh. it wasn’t mother at all. It was only Bridget. Oh, Rob! do you think 1 shall have la tell motherU It would only make her feel vexed if she knew one of them was broken ; if I don’t tell her, perhaps she won’t miss it and won’t feel grieved about it. I'm sure I don’t want -to vex her.” This was quite a plausible view of the matter, and Bessie longed to hear Robert approve of it. Al last he said: “Do you really want my advice, Bess?” “Yes. What would you do?” “Well, if I were in your place, Bess, I’d tM./her. You know that’s the only honest thing to do, really. There are several reasons why it is better to be honest about anything of that kind. One is, perhaps she'll forgive you." And so Robert took up his boat again, feeling that the minister himself couldn’t have given better advice in the case. As for poor Bessie, she rather resented Robert’s tone of superiority, and said, quickly : “ I don’t much believe you would tell her, after all, Rob. it isn’t half as easy as you think.” “Perhaps it isn’t easy. Who said it was? But I hope 1 should" be honest enough for that.” And self-righteous Bob brought down the hammer with all his might on the knife with which he was splitting a piece of wood. Alas for him! It struck ou an unseen nail, which snapped ofl’ the slender point in A- trice. When he drew out the pointless, blunted blade he gazed at it in dismay; while Bessie, in spite of her trouble, couldn’t help laughing a little at the sudden change in his face. This was anything but soothing to Robert’s feelings, and he muttered that he "didn’t see what business that old nail had there,” aud other not very amia*ble remarks to the same effectr” “Why, Rob!” exclaimed Bessie, suddenly, "isn’t that father’s new knife, the one he told us not to touch?” “He meant you," replied Robert, sharply ; “ but I know how to use a knife. 1 never hurt a knife before in my life, and this wasn't my fault. It was all on account of that nail; and I don’t know who put that there.' I didn't.” Robert was about as unreasonable as unfortunate people are apt to be. “ Well, Rob,” said Bessie, at length, “ we’ve both done something now. Let's go and confess together.” “Confess!’’ rejoined Robert, slowly; “ why, I —l don’t believe —that is—and without finishing the sentence he carefully shut the knife, and going to his father's tool-chest put it exactly where he had found it. Bessie’s blue eyes opened very wide at this proceeding, and Robert could not meet their look as he explained:You see, Bess, John's going to leave next week, and if father doesn't find it out before then,- why, he’ll —he'll think John did it; and, you see, it won’t hurt John, because he won’t be here.’’ . As soon as Bessie qould say anything for her amazement at this speech, she began: “ But, Rob, I thought you said if you were in my place—but Robert rushed oft’to the garden, not caring to near his own words repeated just then. Bessie stood still on the barn-floor, looking tbpughtlully toward the door where Robert disappeared. A sing’e streak of sunlight edged its way through a crack, making a perfect glory of her j wavy, flaxen hair, so that she" formed quite a pretty little.picture as she stood in deep thought for full ten minutes. At last.a light flashed into her eyes, and she ran out to find Robert. She came upon him, gloomily pulling up Weeds in his garden. " Rob,” she said, “I’ve just this moment thought of that verse I learned this mornrng, and I’m going.to. do it.” “What was it?” asked Robert, without lookingjjp. „ “I don’t remember exactly, but it's something about 'whoso confesseth his sins shall have mercy;’ and so I’m going I to confess my fault "to mother, because l ' me rev’ means she won’t care much.” I To this rather loose explanation Robert orly replied, “ Tell her. then,” stillkeepl ing" his ej’es.ou the weeds.

Robert didn’t see Bessie again till din-ner-time, and then he knew by her lively chatter that the burden was off her mind at least. How he envied her! If he could only have tnesame peace! But no, hr hadn’t the courage to pay the priceconfession; so he ate his dinner silently enough, never opening his mouth except to put food in it. As they arose from the table Mrs. S—said to her husband, “ I wish you would fasten this window so that it won’t rattle in the night.” . “Oh.yes, I will!" he answered. “It needs a wedge, doesn’t it ? Robert, run to the barn and get my new knife, which you’ll find in the upper drawer of the i tool-chest.” I Poor, conscience-struck Robert! He I did as he was bidden and handed the knife to his father, hoping fervently that he wouhin't open tLi/ blade. Mr. S—— did, though; and, when questioned, Robert had to tell the whole story. ; When he had finished, his father said, sternly: - “ Now let us look at what you have done. You have willfully,disobeyed me; and besides that you have concealed your guilt as long as possible in the hope of throwing the blame on some one else. You may go to your room and stay till I give you leave to come down.” All the afternoon Robert spent alone in his room, and when every now and then ringing peals of laughter reached his ears from the room below, where Bessie and Laura were having a fine time together, he thought bitterly that Bessie had forgotten him in his trouble and dis.grace,. But he was mistaken, for when Laura had gone home and it began to grow dark Bessie went to her father’s study and pleaded her brother’s cause very earnestly. “ Poor Rob! He’ll get so lonely; I’m afraid he’ll throw himself out of the window or do something dreadful.” Robert was sitting by the window in his room when Bessie softly opened the door and said, “Are you here, Rob? It’s so dark I can’t see.” She drew a breath of relief at his dismal answer, “ Yes, of course.” “I’m so glad! Well, father says you can come down now.” Robert jumped up eagerly. “Did you ask him to let me?” “ Yes.” “Well, you’re a real good girl, you are,” said Bob, falteringly, and after a pause added: “ I’ll take it all back, Bess, wliiit I said thts~nldrning. You’re twice as honest as I am.” 1 “O no, Rob! but you did give me some good advice,” said Bessie, mischievously. “ Don’t, Bess,” pleaded Rob. “ I’m so ashamed of myself.” “Well, 1 won’t ever say a word about it.” And she kept her promise ; but Rob never forgot that Saturday’s lesson Early Dap.