The Forest Mere.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1888, Page 6

The Forest Mere.

"Can't skate, mustn't race., won't play leapfrog—what's the good of a boy like that? He's only a girl— Mite Cecil-— tbab'a v/hat I call him." • "Oh, Donald, do nob bo so unkind ; you know Cecil is younger than we are, and he jis a London boy, 100, and you know how .ill he has been with, the rheumatic fever. Mother said bo must nob race and play as 'wildly as you do for some time yet, but ,every day he gets stronger, and I mean to teach, him to r r ":e when the frost cornea again." " Oh, don't bring that baby clown to the water, Maud ! You and I go together m splendidly ; I don't want to bo creeping about with a little coward like Cecil. Why, it he slips, he will sit down and cry his eyes out; I would nor, be sxich a molly-coddle as Miss Cecil for worlds !" The ppeaitera are .Maud Trevor and her .brother Donald, a strong, healthy lad of ,ten years old. Just now he is sadly ■annoyed because a i:''.tle London cousin, iwho has not been wsl! of late, has been confided to his mother's care, and Donald, who has hitherto been the only boy at Forestside House, is secretly inclined to think that too much fuss iss niade over Cecil Lloyd, and that too many nice tilings rind their way to his cousin instead of corning :in Lis own direction. - Cecil would be happy enough in this 'visit to the country but for the teasing habits of Master Donald; he it is who inserts combs and brashes into Cecil's- bed, trips him up with bits of string:, salts hi? tea, administer.? secret nips under thy table, and pulls his pretty fair hair. Ann 'when Maud iudignantly reproaches Donald, he excuses himself by the explanation thai 'he only wants "to make a man ot .v1:..----'Cecil, and to get him out of the mollycoddle ways." These' methods employed by Donald are torture, however, to the timid, loving little fellow, nsed to thu greatest cars and kindness. Donald wonders sometimes that he dees not coinplain to Mrs Trevor, but fancies the reason jnay be a wholesale tear of himself. , One day Cecil has started out for a walu with his aunt, who has sent him back 0:101 he has proceeded part of the way, owiivz !:o his fueling rather tired ; he io quietly returning 'over the common, watching wtb great interest a staieiy procession of gee^e, when he is startled by sounds of agony and fright, ar>d is horrified to see Donald's foxterrier, Flash, in hot pursuit of an unfortunate cat, that flies to right and left, and seems half-dead with fear. "Go it, 'Flash; at her boy! Pull her down !" cries Donald, in thoughtless enjoyment of the- race. Cecil rushes up to Jura, forgetting his fatigue, entreating him to call off the dog, and half fainting as tho cat's frightened cries fall upon his ears, "Shut up, n-ii-'sy !" says Donald, teasingly, "you don't know what fun is, it's -\ glorious hunt; you leave my dog alone. If you touch Flash, he'll bite yon." Despite this warning Cecil is approaching Flash with a view to getting his arms around him, when suddenly Donald utters an exchmiation, and di«app'.ars behind a wall, for in the distance lie sees vhe form of the rector, to whom he goes daily for instruction, and of whom he stands greatly in awe. The Rev. Mr Porcival is rather short-sighted, and he instantly singles out Cccii for reproof. 1 "So you have been setting the dog at this unfortunate creature, have yon, Cecil?" he asks, in stern tones of displeasure, as he takes up the cat, and gently, soothingly strokes its fur. " And this is the pet cat of the blacksmith's blind el)ild ! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir ; had I not come up it might have been hunted to death. Is this your notion of fun. to torture one of tho dumb creatures God has made ; You are a coward, sir, and deserve to be soundly punished for your brutality ; do ' you think cats have no feelings ? I phall request your aunt, Cecil Lloyd, to keep you back from the children's festival next week; I would rather not heat- tho boy singing sweet carols of love and peaco who can enjoy the pain of a dumb animal. The rector speaks warmly, for cruelty to the helpless always renders him angry and indignant, Cecil listens in trembling silence, though two big tears roll down his little cheeks. All the children at Forestside House are looking forward to the annual festival in the school-room adjoining the church, when swee'u music, games, and tea, and a magnificent Christmas-tree are to make up a most enjoyable evening. Donald ■would not have been absent tor a great deal; lie is to preside at the distribution of gifts and to take a leading part in the singing. He comes forward when the rector has gone, and whistles to Flash", feeling that Cecil has borne unjust blame, and that his cousin has kept silence out of kindness to himself. _ "There's nothing of the sneak about: Cecil," he says to Maud: "I don't know !that he is such a coward after all." Next day is Sunday ; they go to church between tho frosty ways, and the rector preaches a simple, earnest sermon which affects Donald rather uncomfortably. Tne text io "Thou God seest me," and Mr Percival urges his hearers all through the new year, and all through their lives, to remember that tho Lord beholds them at all times, whether in sorrow, nsed, trying to do the right, or doing wrong and concealing it. "You can never hide from tho Dora God," ho say?, " and this is a most blessed thought; for God is Love, and His eyes are upon"us for good, to help us and strengthen us, and draw ufS back to Himself if we are wandering into the dark and wretched ways of evil. Remember, God knows all things ; instead of obstinately going on in wrong-doing, let us confess our errors, for He will forgive, end help us to do better in this coming year." Donald spends some time alono in his own little room this Sabbath day; the others wonder to see him so quiet and subdued; they do not know that the _boy has been thinking in shame of the teasing, unwind habits he has indulged, and that he is longing to see his mother's smile of delight and"pride in him, through this new year, more frequently than in the past. Monday morning is spent at the Forest Mere, a beautiful piece of water, now a glistening .piece of ice, in the midst of woodland scenery; here Maud devotes herself to little Cecil, and whilst the children are sharing the glee of the bright, lively scene—Cecil •just a little troubled at heart still at losing the prospect of the festival—Donald glides briskly up, and offers his cousin a helping hand, much to Cecil's surprise, At firsfche

"csitates to accept ib, feeling- Donald wishes to trip him up ; bnblris faarn are proniKJlcs« -the boy is kind and gcnfcloaa M«ud her-:-eU, fuui Cecil proves a 'ovi^hl pupil, fir, that the three ppond a delightful niorninff, eliding hero and Lhoro acros>< tne beautiful shltiin- ice. Wr Percival has brought his little lassie down to pee the fun, and before the oiominjjj is over, Donald, by a strong effort, lias eouglit the rectors side, and is confessing' to him that hia wjx* tlie cruelly that senfc Flash hunting utter the frightened cat, " Bnt why do yo!! tell rae this ?" ask M1" Percival, gently, knowing that Donald always shrinks from owning himself in the wrong. "I want to begin this new year right," says Donald, brokenly, " I've been horridly selfish of late—l want to do better—l want, to think now about pleasing God," lie adds, very softly, and turning very red. Mr Percival lays his hand silently, encoura<ringlyupon Donald'sshoulder; tho boy quite "thinks he will be shut away now from the treat, but Cecil, who has guessed what the quiet conversation is- about, steals tip and begs the rector not to forbid Donald to come. "Ino, no," says Mr Percival, tenderly, "let. Donald come : the hearb that is sorry for wrong-doing and anxious to do better to most fitted to sing sweet carols of praise is heaven." ijm _