“Why did you not come to tea last evening, Charlotte?” said Sarah, addressing Mrs. Eldon. “I kept the table waiting almost an hour for you.” “My dear child, I was in such a fright and agitation at that time, that I forgot all about you and your tea-table. Master Georgey escaped from his nurse, and we could not find him for hours. I was almost wild with anxiety and alarm.” “Indeed!” exclaimed her sister, with much interest; “and where did you find him?” “Nearly a mile and a half from home. I don’t know how he managed to wander so far, for you know he is not quite two years old yet.” “And what did you do to him when you found him?” inquired Miss Gorham. “Do to him? poor little soul; why I gave him his supper and put him to bed,” replied Mrs. Eldon. “The child was exhausted with crying, besides being half dead with fright and fatigue.” “You don’t mean to say that you did not punish him for his excursion?” exclaimed Sarah, almost incredulously. “Punish him! No, certainly not,” replied her sister; “but I did what was much wiser. I had a padlock put upon the gate through which the little dog made his escape; so it cannot happen again, and that, you know, is all that is wanted.” But upon that point Sarah did not at all agree with her sister. She wanted a little summary justice besides, and she said, “Well, if that is not spoiling children, I do not know what is. And this is the way you let Georgey disobey with impunity, is it?” “I am sure even you would have been satisfied if you had seen the state the poor little fellow was in when he was brought home,” replied Mrs. Eldon. “You would have thought him quite punished enough. She will not be so hard-hearted by and by, Mary, when she has children of her own,” continued Mrs. Eldon, smiling. But Sarah was far from satisfied, and was disposed to contend the point, when her sister, rising, said, “It is time for me to be going home. Is there any thing you want, or that I can do for you?” “Nothing,” replied Sarah. “Without,” said Mary, laughing, “you will give Georgey a whipping as soon as you get home. Now acknowledge, Sarah, that you would feel better if Mrs. Eldon would promise to act upon the suggestion.” “I think Georgey would be the better, if I am not,” replied Sarah. “It is of great importance that he learns early that no misdemeanor will be overlooked.” “When I can prevent the recurrence of a fault, I am satisfied,” replied Mrs. Eldon. But Sarah was not. She was always for punishing the past, whether it had reference to the future or not. Her sister bade her good morning, and Sarah remarking that “Charlotte would ruin her children if she persisted in her present system,” the subject dropped, and the friends soon after parted. “Do you think Sarah will ever marry, Mrs. Eldon?” Mary asked one day; to which she replied,