Oscar / The Boy Who Had His Own Way

fondness for a species of music to which most boys are more or less addicted. And I may as well say here, that he was a very good whistler, and came honestly by the title by which he was distinguis

chiefly indebted for the name of Whistler. Nor was he ashamed of his nickname, as he certainly

iendship had grown up between them. A very different feeling, however, had for some time existed between Oscar and Whistler. They were in the same class at school; but Whistler studied hard, and thus, though much you

il the affair of the blackboard should pass from his mind. Whistler heeded this caution, and was careful not to put himself in the way of his enemy. He succeeded in eludi

everal hard blows with his fist. The latter attempted to dodge the blows, but did not return them, for this he knew would only increase the anger of Oscar, who was so much his superior in size and strength, as well as in the ar

bber, to take a boy of your own size, if you want to fight? Now run, my little man, and get out

tion: The

es of obedience and manliness; and then, drawing himself up t

injured him, and I wo

" continued the gentleman, somewhat surprised at the

am Dav

is this bo

he stopped, as if unwilling to ex

, relinquishing his hold; "but if you lay your h

tions, the gentleman keeping an eye upon

car did not, he had an opportunity to report to his mother and Ralph the scene he had just beheld. Ralph now related to his mother the incident of the preceding day, which led to the assault; for, seeing Oscar's un

tting-room, Alice, who was seated at the piano-forte, broke short off the

eat ugl

y knew whether this rough salutation was designed to be

?" continued his sister, with the same stern look. "I 'm perfectly ashame

"I 'll lick him again, if he

ly concluded that Whistler or his mother must have called there, to enter a complaint against him. Pretty soon Mrs. Preston entered the room,

trouble between you

, "he 's been tellin

ean false

false, but it was

either false nor true. And as it appears there was

o stand up and look at

that

" (madam) which no well-bred boy will fail to place after the yes or no addressed to a mothe

e you wanted to, or was it intended as a pu

hment, but the master told me I might go

n he told Ralph of the affair. He only spoke of it as a little matter of news. But even if he had told a lie about you, or had related the occurrence out of ill-wil

ll it, and shook his

will your Father forgive your trespasses,'-that was one of the verses of the lesson. It is noble to forgive, but it is mean to retaliate. You must learn to conquer your resentful spirit

father reprimanded him with much severity, and assured hi

severe, but retired to his chamber, feeling delighted that he had got off so much easier than he anticipated. Indeed, so little did he think of his father's command, that he felt in no hurry to obey it. Instead of going to bed, he sat awhile at the window, listening to the music of a flute which some one in the neighborhood w

go to bed an hour ago

s,

't you obey

got a lesson to get to-night,

to learn, where is your b

to go after it, and so I was tryi

ge; "why, father, he has n't

only placed him in a far worse position than he occupied before. His father, for a moment, could scarcely believe his ears; but this feeling of astonishment soon gave way to a frown, before which Oscar cowered like a sheep before a lion. Mr. Preston was a man of strong passions, but of few words. Having set forth briefly but in vivid colors the aggravated nature

tied his brother, not less for the sins into which he had fallen than for the pain he had suffered; and Geor

ven with him. His father had gone to the store, and the children were out-doors at play, before he made his appearance at the breakfast-table. He sat down to the deserted table, and was help

your misconduct will be the death of me, yet. I used to love to think how much comfort I should take in you, when you should grow up into a tall, manly youth; b

of wrong-doing would inevitably lead him, and earnestly besought him to try to do better, before his bad habits should become confirmed. Her earnest manner, and her pale, haggard cheeks, down which tears were slowly stealing, touched the feelings of Oscar. Moisture began to gather in his eyes, in spite of himself.

ledge that we have done wrong, or to express sorrow for the wrong act! Unmanly to resolve to resist temptation in the future! Where is this monstr

ture, he would not have left his mother without assuring her that he felt sorry for his misconduct; for he did feel some degree of regret, although he was too proud to acknowledge it. His m

on had upon him. As he lay awake in the morning, he had planned the secret destruction of a beautiful sled which had been given to George, the winter previous, and which was very precious in the eyes of the own