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Poor Harry did not know what to do with himself; and so, after wandering about for some time, he laid himself down on the grass and wept.

At last he thought,-Father will have got his dinner by this time, and be gone to his work again: I will go and tell my mother all about it; she will not be in such a passion as father would. He would beat me directly, but mother will hear me, and I'll tell her all about it. dear, how unhappy it will make her! but I must tell somebody, and who can I tell better than my mother?

So he got up and walked towards home; but O how his heart beat as he entered the door and found his mother sitting by the fireside, nursing the baby, her eyes red with tears, and her countenance sad.

For Mr. Thompson, finding that Harry's father did not come, and suspecting that the boy had not gone home, had sent a message to say that Thomas Jones, the father, must come to his shop as soon as he had got his dinner, as he wanted to see him on particular business.

And so the father went, wondering what was the matter, and afraid to think that his boy had been doing something wrong. But when he got there, his fears were confirmed, and he returned home with a heavy heart, to tell his wife what a sad thing their boy had been guilty of.

Mr. Thompson refused to take the boy back;

for, he said, he dare not trust a boy again who had once been guilty of taking money; and so Thomas Jones was obliged to put his boy out to work at hard labour where there was nothing that he could steal. For when he tried to get such a place for him as he had before, he was always asked, "Will his last master give him a good character ?" Now Harry's father knew that Mr. Thompson could not do that; for he said to him, when he sent for him, " i am sorry for you and your wife, Thomas Jones, but you must not ask me to give your boy a character: I should do very wrong if I did. I might have i your boy before a magistrate. I will not do that, for your sake; but I shall have no more to do with him."

Harry's father and mother did not fail to tell him that by doing this wicked thing he had sinned against God, as well as against them and his master; and it is hoped that he thought of this, and humbled himself before God on account of it; for he became more careful, and steady, and industrious: but it took several years before he could recover his lost character.

Many boys who read this will, perhaps, like Harry Jones, go out to situations where they may have to be trusted with the care of money, or other valuable things; let them remember that honesty is always the best policy, and that a good character is worth more than money.

THE UNRULY BOY.

"Fifty years ago," said the venerable Jeremiah Flate, "I was master of the Orphan Asylum, in Stutgard, and had a whole room full of children to instruct. It was my custom to pray every morning for meekness and patience in the fulfilment of this arduous duty. One day, as I was walking up and down among the children, I observed a boy, about twelve years of age, leaning with both his elbows upon the table; I reproved him for this improper behaviour, and walked on. The next time I passed, he was doing the same thing, and I was obliged to repeat my desire that he should take his arms off the table. He obeyed me for the moment; but when I returned for the third time, I found him angry and perverse, and could read in his face that he was determined to despise my orders. I was much annoyed, but restrained myself, and prayed inwardly for strength to exercise patience towards this poor child, even as my God has been patient towards me. My ill-humour vanished immediately, I became calm, and was able to continue instructions. The boy obstinately remained in the same attitude, but I took no notice of him. When school was over, I sent for him into my study, praying, in the mean time, for wisdom and composure of mind. He stamped in, and banged the door after him in a violent passion. Why did you bang the door so vio

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lently?' I asked. 'I did not bang it;' he replied. Yes you did my boy,' said I. 'I tell you, I did not,' was the answer. Upon this I went up to him, took his hands, and asked him, in a gentle voice, Do you know, my son against whom you are sinning? it is not against me, but against your Saviour, your best friend. Examine yourself, and try to find out why you have behaved in this manner. '

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"The boy's heart was touched; he burst into tears, and entreated me to forgive his wicked behaviour 'I had determined this morning', continued he, to teaze you by my disobedience, till you should beat me, thinking you would suffer much more from it than I should. Pray, pray forgive me; I will never do so again in all my life. I pointed out to him from what a great temptation he had been delivered, and then dismissed him, with the assurance that I had long since forgiven him. He left me, but still appeared almost inconsolable. In the afterternoon, having finished my classes, I was sitting alone in my little study, when I heard a knock at the door. The boy came in, his eyes red with weeping, and saying it was impossible I could have forgiven him, for he had behaved towards me like a devil. He begged I would tell him once more that I had forgiven him, repeating that he would never vex me again, not even by a look. I again assured him of my full forgiveness, but told him he must ask par

don of his Saviour, against whom he had chiefly sinned, and who would certainly hear his prayer, if his repentance was sincere. The boy however left me, still crying.

"I had scarcely risen next morning when my little penitent came again, crying so bitterly that I was quite astonished. He said the remembrance of his conduct the day before had prevented his sleeping, and entreated me with his whole heart, to continue to love him has I had done before. He could not imagine what had led him to form such a naughty resolution, and assured me he had determined not to allow any punishment to overcome his obstinacy, but had been quite unable to resist the kind and gentle means I had used to convince him of his fault. He begged me to tell him how it had been possible for me to bear with his wicked behaviour as I had done. To this I answered, ‘ Dear child, I cannot exactly explain that to you; but if I must express it to you, it is because I have myself received much mercy from the Lord, that I have been enabled to show mercy toward you. Thus spoke this venerable man, and concluded his narrative with the satisfactory intelligence, that the boy had from that day become his best scholar, and was still living in Stutgard, esteemed by all who knew him as an honest and virtuous citizen."

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