JACK SHORT. 
335 
you, sonny, and I should like first-rate to 
see you grow up a good man.” 
His father’s kindness affected Jack greatly, 
—perhaps all the more because the expres¬ 
sion of it, at least, was rather unusual. He 
burst into tears, and sobbed, “ Oh, father! 
I’m not a good hoy, and I never shall be. I 
thought I should be once; but-” 
“But what?” asked his father, sitting 
down upon a box and drawing the boy to 
a seat by his side. “ Tell me all about it.” 
An hour before, Jack would about as 
soon have thought of talking to the saw¬ 
mill as to his father; but now the barrier 
seemed broken down that had always ex¬ 
isted between them, and he related the whole 
story, not trying to excuse himself in the 
least, but taking all the blame to his own 
share. His father listened, without any re¬ 
mark, till he had finished. 
“ Well, my son,” said he, at last, “ I am 
very sorry it has happened so, for more 
reasons than one: first, because the boy had 
taken a deal of pains to be kind to you, 
and then because the old gentleman has 
done so much for me. I have never had 
any thing but good of the family from first 
