The Forest Mere.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 314, 7 November 1888, Page 6

The Forest Mere.

"Cvn't skate, mustn't- race, won't play leapfrog — what's the good of 'a boy like that? He's only a girl— Mi% Cecil- that's what I call him." " Oh, Donald, do not be so unkind ; you know Cecil is younger than we are, and he i-s a London boy, too, and you know how ill he im* been with the rheumatic fever. Mother said he mu.4t not race and play ac wildly as you do for some time yet, but uvery day ho gets stronger, and I mean to teach him to r* c when the frost comes amain." " Oh. don"t bimg that baby down to the uMtei, .Maud! You and I go together &o splendidly ; 1 don't want to be creeping about with a little coward like Cecil. Why, ii he '•lips, he will sit down and cry his eyes out; I would not be such a molly-coddle as A'lis-3 Cecil for woilds !" The speaiters are Maud Trevor and hei brother "Donald, a strong, healthy lad of ten years old. Just now he is sadly annoyed because a little London cousin, who Has not been well of late, has been confided to his mother's care, and Donald, who has hitherto been the only boy at Forestside 1-jKsnfce, is Jbecrefcly inclined to think that too ■ much f nss is made over Cecil Lloyd, and that too many nice things find their way to his cousin instead of coming in his 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 in Setts combs and brushes into Cecil's bed, trips him up with bits of sti ing, salts his tea, administers secret nips under tlfe table, and pulls his pretty fair hair. And when Maud indignantly reproaches Donald, he excuses himself by the explanation that he only wants " to make a man ot Mi&s Cecil, and to get him out of the mollycoddle ways." These methods employed by Donald are torture, however, to the timid, loving little fellow, used to the greatest care and kindness. Donald wonders sometimes that he doe? not com plain to Mrs Trevor, but fancies the reason may be a wholesale fear of himself. One day Cecil has started out for a walk with his aunt, who has sent him buck after he has, proceeded part of the way, owing to his feeling rather tired ; he is quietly returning over the common, watching wtl. | great interest a stately procession of gee^e when he is startled by sounds of agony and fright, and is horrified to see Doi:aM\s tovterrier, Flash, in hot pursuit of an nnfoitunate cat, that flics to right and lett, 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 him, forgetting hiS fatigue, entreating him to call off the dog, and half fainting as the cat's frightened cries fall upon his ears. "Shut up, missy!'' ?ays Donald, teasingly, "you don't know what iun i a , it's i glorious hunt ; you leave my dog alone. It I you touch Flash, he'll bite you." Despite this warning Cecil is appioachiuc Flash with a view to getting "his arms around him, when suddenly Donald utters an exclamation, and di«<appeais behind a wall, for in the distance he sees the form of the rector, to whom he goes daily lor instruction, and of whom lie stands greatly in awe. The Rev. Mr Fercival is rather short-sighted, and he instantly singles out Cecil for reproof. "So you have been setting the dog at this unfortunate creatnie, have you, Cecil?' he asks, in stern tones ot dis-pleasuie, as he takes up the cat, and gently, soothingly strokes its fur, " And this is the pet cat of the blacksmith's blind child ! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir ; had I not come up it might ha\ c been hunted to death, is this your notion of fun, to torture one of the 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 shall request your aunt, Cecil Lloyd, to keep you back from the children's festival next week ; I would rather not hear the boy singing sweet carols of love and peace 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 sweet 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 ; he is to preside at the distribution of gifts, and to take a leading part in the singing. He comes torward 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; "1 don't know that lie is such a coward after all." Next day is Sunday ; they go to church between the frosty ways, and the rector preaches a simple, earnest sermon which affects Donald rather uncomfortably. The text i.; " Thou God seest me," and Mr Per ci vat urges his hearers all through the new year, and all through their lives, to remember that the Lord beholds them at all times, whether in sorrow, need, trying to do the right, or doing wrong and concealing it. " You can never hide from the Lord God," he says, " 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 us 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, and help us to do better in this coming year. " Donald spends some time alone in his own little room this Sabbath day ; the others wonder to see him so quiet and sub dued ; they do not know that the boy has been thinking in shame of the teasing, unkind habits he has indulged, and that he is longing to see his mother's smile of delight and pride in him, through thi6 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 seene — Cecil just a little troubled at hear,j? still at losing the prospect of the festival— Donald glide? briskly up, and offers his cousin a helping hand, much to Cepils surprise. At first he hesitates to accept it, feeling Donald wishes? to trip him up ; but his fears are groundless-. — the boy is kind and gentle as Maud herself, and Cecil proves a bright pupil, sc that the three spend a delightful morning, gliding here and there across the beautiful shining ice. Mr Percival has brought his little lassie down to see the fun, and beforo the morning is over, Donald,* by a strong effort, has sought the rectors side, and is confessing to him that his was the cruelty that sent Flash hunting after the frightened cat. 1 " But why do you tell me thisf ask" M l '

Percival, gently, knowing that Donald always shrinks from owning himself in the wtong. "I want to begin this new year right," says Donald, brokenly, " I've been horridly selii&h of late— l want to do better — I want to think now about pleasing God," he adds, very softly, and burning very red. Mi- Percival lays his hand silently, encouraginglyuponDonald'sshoulder; the boy quite thinks he will be shut away now from the treat, but Cecil, who has guessed what the quiet conversation is about, steals up and begrf the rector not to forbid Donald to come. "No, no," says Mr Percival, tenderly, " let Donald come ; the heaifc that is *orry for wrong-doing and an-xiou^ to do better to most fitted to sin^ sweet carols of praise is heaven."