The Iron Rule

e sun had risen, before her troubled slumber was broken. Then starting up, she eagerly inquired of her husband, who

ed, and the family assembled at t

Andrew?" a

le. A few moments afterward the bell rung. As the steps of a servant were heard moving along the passage toward the door, Mr. an

ft the room. At the street door he found a man, whose appe

yet with the air of a man who had some

Howland, striving, but in vain,

the Mayor's office,

urpose?" wa

charge of attempting to set fire t

exclamation of distress, and stepping back a

asked the unhappy father, recove

ands a thousand dollars bail, in default of which, he

nd, in a severe tone of voice. He was

ived, to the door, and who had heard the dreadful charge preferred against her son. "Don't say

should not let him go to prison. That will do him no good. And,

this," said Mrs. Howland. "Oh, Mr. Howland! go! go quickly and save him from these drea

o the hands of the law, and it will do him good to feel its iron grip. I am clear for letting him at

if his present position is of no avail toward working change for th

tone that marked a high degree of resolution on her part-"i

oked steadily into his, and he saw in them, not rebellion, or anger-but a spirit that his own he

ter pausing a few moments, turn

ad it not been for this, Andrew might have made his way into the building where he intended to sleep, without, in all probability, attracting attention. Unfortunately for him, a few matches were found in one of his pockets. This f

hich went to support the charge of intended incendiarism against his son, and to his mind, prejudiced as it was against that son, the evidenc

land, without turning toward his son

ng man," said the May

not guilty of this thing. Father turned me from the door becaus

admonition. "Go home, and try to behave better in future. If innocent, you will

th a troubled and downcast l

as Mr. Howland entered the house, after ret

Mayor's office,"

u go hi

es

he come ho

n't as

dre

ch his name was pronounced. Again there was an ex

no doubt, be home in a few minutes," he replied. "But I do not wish to

son?" asked the

worthy of affec

! All day long He stretched forth His hands to them, and said, in a voice full of infinite kindness, 'Return unto Me; why will you die?' It is not

age from any one!" exclaimed Mr. Howland, whose impe

s that showed her spirit to be unsubdued. No further words passed between them. Half an hour afterward,

she resolved to go out and seek for her wandering son. She had dressed herself, and was just taking up her bonnet, as the door of her room opened, and Andrew came in, looking

he poor boy's heart-for it was full of sympathy and tenderne

Andrew wept aloud. As soon

ing to sleep in the building, when the watchman came and said I meant to set it on fire

nt, Andrew," replied Mrs. Howla

the time. I was a good way off when the clock struck, and I ran home as fast as I could. I'm sure it wasn't ten m

e last words go through t

ied the mother, "but your fath

," said the boy, with much bitterness. "I c

my heart!" returned the mother, sobbing, "I did

and rung a

your father was asleep. Then I

mer voice. "And it is too late now. I am to be tried as a felo

s face with his h

as offered by Mrs. Howland. But few rays of light came th

w declined meeting hi

to his room to call him to dinner, came back and said that he did not wish to

t say that!" quickly

replied Mr. Howland, fixing hi

r countenance Mr. Howland read this distinctly. Accordingly, so soon as the latter had left the house, she took food to Andrew, who still rem

er," he replied to this. "

this occurrence," said the mother. "An

han I am," was answere

hat way, my son," said the mothe

feel, mother.

is stern parent! It seemed to him that such a reception would soften everything harsh and rebellious, and cause him to throw himself at his feet, and make the humblest confessions of error, and the most truthful promise of future well doing. Alas! for the repentant boy! no such reception awaited him. His father did not so much as turn his eyes upon his son, and, durin

ward, in a half-sneering, half

arply from the lips of Andrew, in whom his father's r

epeated Edward, in a ton

entered. He made no inquiry as to the cause of the blow he saw struck, but took it for granted that it was an unprovoked assault of Andrew upon his brother. Yielding to the im

fered the smallest resistance, but stood firmly, until

?" said the latter angrily, when he released his

is father; "I thought nothing about it. I punished Edward as he deserved; and if he

" cried M

but the truth,"

say?" inquir

at he'd set a

d it," calmly and del

language in my presence!"

he charge repeated by my own brother is more than I can or will bear. And I warn Edward, i

nce,

remaine

nd. There was little sternness in his vo

nd Andrew who had seated himself, waited in a calm, defiant spirit,

pect is to beco

swer such an interrogation

ther, "what do you thi

oy answered

to answer

poke up Andrew, quickly interrupting his father, an

nial. But the evidence a

is a positive lie!" was A

said Mr. Howland, in an offended ton

ocent of a crime falsely laid to his charge," replied Andrew, w

s of Mr. Howland. "Silence, I say; I will

ion between him and his father by no means in a better position than it was before. Within a few minute

name and all the particulars of the transaction. Any one reading this account, with the reporter's comment, c

claimed Mr. Howland, flinging a paper, containing

ne guessed the thoughts that were passing through his mind, nor the utter hopelessness that was lying, with a heavy weight, upon his spirit. Before him was the image

aces of him. He looked her steadily in the face, and saw that she saw him; for a quick flush oversp

he boy did not r

ear of the watching mother, but he came not. It was all in vain that her husband remonstrated with her. His words passed her

of the absent boy. On the third day, Mrs

e on fire. Such a thing never entered my mind. Father wouldn't let me in, and I had to sleep somewhere. He wouldn't speak a word for me in the Mayor's office. So it's all his fault that I am to be tried before the Court. But I'm not going to be sent to the Penitentiary. Father is my bail for a thousand dollars. I shall be sorry if he has to pay it; but it will be better for him to do that, than for me to go to the Penitentiary for nothing. So, good-by,

DRE