"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.
All his sorrow, all the injustice of the night before came rushing back to his mind.