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so doing. His father told him that his being told to turn them in was reason enough for him to obey, and his not obeying was reason enough for his being punished. He accordingly punished him.

As it is likely the reader will wish to know the reason Mr. Green had for giving John the order, I will tell him. One of his neighbours, who had passed through the pasture in which his cattle were kept, saw that the spring had dried up. He informed Green of the fact. He accordingly sent word to John to turn the cattle into the clover field. He foresaw that if they were left where they were without water,

they would break into the wheat field in search of it. The clover field he did not intend to mow. He intended to let the cattle feed upon the clover for a few days, and then plough in what remained for the purpose of enriching the soil. He had, therefore, a good reason for the order he sent his son.

But that reason had nothing to do with John's obedience. He was just as much to blame for disobeying as he would have been had his father had no good reason for his command. Implicit obedience to all the lawful commands of a parent is the duty of every child.

O one will ever know it,' said Rufus to Horace, as he was persuading him to go with him by night to Mr. Rowley's orchard for the purpose of stealing some harvest apples. He did not call it stealing. Oh, no! he would not be a thief. He would only take a few apples just to eat. Still he would take them without liberty, in the night season, and the great argument used to induce Horace to go with him was that no one would ever know it. If that was not stealing, it would puzzle one to tell what stealing is.

"If mother should find it out," said Horace," she would feel very bad," stopping as though he did not mean to go any further.

"Don't be a coward," said Rufus, "how can she ever find it out? Nobody has seen us come this way, and it will never be known unless we are fools enough to tell of ourselves."

Thus urged, Horace went on till they reached the orchard, which was more than half a mile, distant. They came to the tree, and found a large number of apples fully ripo lying on the ground beneath it.

"We have a right to take these," whispered Rufus, "for they are on the ground." But why did not the apples when on the ground belong

to Mr. Rowley as much as when on the tree; and why did Rufus proclaim his right to take them in a whisper ?

Horace ate an apple, and its taste was so delicious that he was

glad that Rufus had persuaded him to come.

The young thieves filled their pockets and hats with apples and set out on their return. "Nobody will ever know it," said Horace, in quite a bold tone.

No, never," answered Rufus, as boldly. Why did Horace make the remark? Because he felt troubled, and was afraid he should be found out, and wished to persuade himself that he should not be found out. All this time the boys had forgotten there was one to whom the deed of darkness was known. They had forgotten that God saw them! Long before they reached home, however, this thought occurred to Horace, and caused his heart to beat faster and increased his fear. He looked behind him and thought he saw something moving after him in the darkness. He set out on a run, and this frightened Rufus and led him to run also. They had to cross a small stream on their way.

It was too wide to leap over and too deep and muddy for them to wade through. A long pole was laid across from bank to bank, and to cross on it required great care. Horace came to it first, and had not got half across when he fell into the water. Rufus came after him, and got nearly over when he slipped off and went in also. The water was about three feet deep, and their feet sank nearly a foot into the muddy bottom; so they were nearly up to their shoulders in water. They got out as well as they could, and as they saw and heard no pursuer they sat down to let some of the water run off their clothes. They began by blaming one another for their troubles; but as that did not dry their clothes or help the matter in any way, they ceased quarrelling and began to consider what was to be done.

"What are you going to tell your folks about your clothes?" said Rufus.

"I don't know; I wish we hadn't gone."

"So do I; but seeing it can't be helped now, we had better contrive some story, and stick to it, else we shall be found out."

"You said so too after you had got the apples; so that we are about even on that score."

"Well, it can't be helped now, so don't let us quarrel about it any more. It will be the right way to bring one another out."

They finally agreed to a story which they would tell, one which they thought would deceive their parents. They had got the details of their story all fixed and were rising to go home when they were startled by a voice close by them: "I shall tell your parents all about it, and save you from the guilt of lying to them."

At first they were very much frightened, thinking it was a spirit, but before many words were uttered they knew the voice. It was that of an honest labourer who had been working in a neighbouring village for some time, and shortened the distance home by cutting across the fields. He was barefoot, and hence drew near the boys without being heard. They knew it would bo of no use to attempt to get him

their homes. On the way their thoughts were somewhat different. Rufus was endeavouring to devise some means of escaping a flogging. Horace's thoughts were of such a character that he resolved he would tell his parents himself, and submit to whatever punishment they should see fit to inflict, fully purposing in his heart never to transgress in like manner again. When he had come to this resolution he felt better. After he had got to bed he was led to resolve that he would confess his fault to the owner of the orchard, and he felt still better after he had formed that resolution. He felt, however, that he had incurred the guilt of lying by the resolution he had formed in relation to the matter. This led him to think of his guilt in the whole matter in the sight of God, and he did not close his eyes till he had risen and kneeled by his bedside and earnestly sought forgiveness of God.