OSCAR'S SORROW.
IT was a long time before either Mrs. Monson or Charley could quiet the lad. The lady saw that he had a kind heart, and she hoped much for him from her son's influence. She saw that his mother was wholly unfit to manage him, and she determined to have some talk with her.
When Oscar began to grow calm, she told Charley to take the books to the outside door, and show him the nice pictures. Pretty soon she heard them talking and laughing together, and then she told Mrs. Russel that she wished to help Oscar to be good, so that he would be a comfort to her.
"It's little enough he is now," she answered, quickly.
But, after the lady had talked long and earnestly with her of her own duties as a mother, and reminded her that God would hold her responsible for the manner in which she trained her boy; she confessed that she had no patience, that she was passionate and often whipped him when out of temper.
She thanked Mrs. Monson over and over again, and said she would try to do better; and Oscar should go to Sunday school or anywhere else the lady said was best.
Mrs. Monson was surprised, when she left the house, to find that the sun had set. She looked at her watch, and found it wanted only half an hour to seven; but when they were riding home, she told Charley she felt greatly encouraged both for the mother and son.
"If they will do as they have promised," she said, "I shall be well paid for my afternoon's work."
This was Saturday. The next Tuesday, Charley was looking from the window, when he saw Oscar at the gate, gazing wistfully toward the house, as if he would like, but dared not, to go in.
