62

THE YOUTHS CABINET.

 

and they often did things which caused
their parents much unhappiness.

At one time Mrs. Holt decided to
make a visit to her sister, who resided
seventy or eighty miles distant. Her
two sons and their little sister were to
accompany her, and James was to drive.
To escort their mother, and have the
charge of a horse, the boys thought
both a pleasure and an honor, and they
seemed to think they had very nearly
become men. ‘They arrived at their
journey’s end in safety, found their cou-
_ sin George, a boy about Henry’s age, a
fine play-fellow. For a few days every-
thing went on well. Had the boys been
obedient, both they and their mother
might have had a pleasant visit. But
this was not the case.

One day the whole family were invit-
ed to spend the afternoon at the house
of a relative not far distant. Henry was
dressed for the visit ; and with his neat
collar and black ribbon, clean white pan-
taloons and nicely brushed hair, he
seemed a boy that any mother might
be proud of. He was to accompany one
of his aunts before dinner, while the re-
mainder of the family were to go in the
afternoon. Many were the charges his
mother gave him to be careful of his
clothes, as she did not expect to have
any more washing done before leaving
for home. Henry’s aunt was not quite
ready to go; and as George and James

were to draw the carriage down to the |

brook near by, to wash it, he begged the
privilege of riding down the hill. His
mother reminded him that he had clean
clothes on, and if he went, he must be
very careful not to soil them. Henry
promised very fairly ; and in a few mo-
ments the merry fellows were going down

the hill with great speed, Henry acting
as driver, and James and George as
horses. Instead of getting out at the
bottom of the hill, as he ought to have
done, Henry suffered himself to be drawn
into the water; and such was his
thoughtlessness, that in a few moments
after his mother looked out, the heed-
less boy was in the middle of the brook,
up to his knees in muddy water.

You, my young friend, cannot know
how his mother felt; but your mother,
though I hope she never had such a
trial, can guess more easily than you
can what were Mrs. Holt’s feelings.

“Oh dear,” said she, “what shall I
do, what can I do with that boy !”

When Henry came in, his mother told
him that as he had soiled his clothes, so
that they were unfit to wear, he might
go to bed. Poor Henry! it was a sad
way for a restless boy like him to spend
the afternoon; but his mother hoped it
might make him more thoughtful ano-
ther time. Henry, however, was not
the only one who had to suffer by this
mischief. His mother was obliged to
lose most of her afternoon’s visit, that
she might attend to the washing, dry-
ing, and ironing of his clothes; and his
brother and cousin could not enjoy any
play as well as if Henry had been with
them.

The next day but one was set for their
return home; and on the day previous,
Mrs. Holt was very busy in making pre-
parations for her journey, and she hoped
that this day the boys would give her no
trouble.

The children were very much engaged
in play, determined, as it was the last
day, to make the most of it ; and James
and Henry told George that they knew