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Show WHISPERING FOOTPRINTS. "Eddy, o-h-h, Eddy, where are you?" "Here, mother," came a shrill little voice from the back yard. "Come here, Eddy; I want you to do something for me." Then the back door opened and Mrs. Taylor heard the soft thud of bare feet alonj; the passage. But when Eddy entered the sitting mom and stood by mother's sewing table, she only said: "Why. Eddy, what's the matter?" Now there were no cuts or bumps or bruises about the little boy. Why should the mrthor think anything was the matter? Because his brown eyes, which generally looked right up at you. like two little birds flying out of a cage, now bad an uneasy un-easy look; neither here nor there, but away. ' "Nothing's the matter." said Eddy, looking out of the window. "What did you call me for, mother moth-er ?" She had wanted him to run down to the vill;v.p postoflice to mail a letter, but the letter was forgotten for-gotten now. Mother was silent for a few minutes; then, seeing something between hor tathle and the door, she spoke. "I am very sorrry my little boy has disobeyed me about going to the apple bin without leave." Eddy gave a little start. "The reason God put me here as your mother, Eddy, is because he thinks 1 know better what you ought to do. and ought not to do. than you do yourself." Eddy did not answer. He was a-king himself how mothers knew everything a fellow did. "I am especially sorry that you should disohev me by sneaking through the coal room window." said Mrs. Taylor. "I would much rather have you say. I won't mind you.' and go in before my eyes, than eo in by telling a lie." "Why.i mother. I didn't say' began Kddy, glad of a chance to defend himself. "l)o you think you only talk with your lips?" interrupted his mother. "What do you suppose has whispered to me that you have hern in ihe apple cellar, and that you went through the coal roomi" "I can't imagine," said Eddy honestly. I "Look behind you." The little boy turned, and theie. between him j and the door, were five coal-dusty footprints on the while matting! Mother could not help smiling at j the look of surprise and dismay on the little i'ae . but it wa a rather mournful smile. "Do you think Ave can ever do wrong. Eddy, and hot leave murks of it somewhere?" she asked. "And. O my boy. the marks that sin leave? are on your heart, which ought to be clean and white for God's eyes, instead of being all tracked over by wrongdoing." "Won't they come out?" asked Eddy. He meant the footprints 011 the matting, but bis mother was thinking. And then, for a punishment and for a reminder, mother kept the footprints on the sitting room floor that whole day so that Eddy might see them and remember how every wrong deed left dark stains on his little her.rt. |
