Catching up the child, she rushed to the house, and, placing him in
his mother's arms, declared, to screen her own negligence, that:
"Willie had pushed his brother in the pond."
Willie, following on with the other children, entered the house, his
young heart proudly glowing with the knowledge of having done a good,
brave action, and saying to himself:
"Now, this will surely please papa and make Eddie's mother love me a
little."
Poor boy! He was met by stern eyes and harsh, upbraiding words, which
for a moment quite bewildered him.
"You have killed your brother! You cruel, unnatural child," cried the
mother.
"Out of my sight, boy," said his father, in low, threatening tones.
"Oh, father! what do you mean? Let me tell you how it was."
"Begone, sir!" and the enraged man gave poor Willie a blow which sent
him reeling into the hall.
Staggering up to his room and throwing himself on the bed, he wailed
forth, in heart-rending tones:
"Oh, mother, mother! I wish I was with you! Others can die, why not I?
No one loves me! Oh, I wish I were dead!"
Tired and exhausted by the exertions in the water, he soon fell
asleep, and remained so until the sun was just rising next morning.
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