we shall presently see how it ended.

In Mr. Farel's orchard there was a large cherry-tree. It stood near the fence which separated the orchard from the highway. Some of the branches extended over the fence. Directly beneath these there lay a large rock. By standing on this rock a man or a very tall boy might reach the lower branches with his hands.

John Williams, a lad about ten years old, was accustomed to pass the tree every day, as he went to and from the schoolhouse. When the cherry season came, and the tree hung full of bright red cherries, it looked very beautiful and tempting. John always looked at it very wistfully as he passed it, but had no more idea of stealing Mr. Farel's cherries than he had of stealing his money. He belonged to a Christian family, and went to a school taught by a well-qualified teacher.

Before the cherries were fully ripe John received a visit from his cousin Albert, who lived in a neighbouring village. Albert went to school with him the day after he came. When they came in sight of the cherry tree he exclaimed, "Oh, John, what fine cherries! are they ripe?"

"I believe they are!" said John. "Believe they are! Don't you know? Have you not had any of them?"

"No; they belong to Mr. Farel." "Have you been by here every day, and have not had any of them?"

"Yes."

"Well, you don't know as much as I thought you did. I think this boy will know how they taste before he goes to bed."

"How will you get them?" "I'll take them; there is no harm in it."

"I think there is some harm in stealing."

"It won't be stealing. Those that hang over the fence don't belong to Mr. Farel any more than they do to me. Anybody has a right to get them. That is the law in our place."

"I don't think it's the law here," said John, "and if it was, I should not think it was proper to get them without asking Mr. Farel if he had any objection."

"If you ask him he will be sure to say he has. I declare, don't you see that when you stand here the barn hides you from the view of the house." He said this as he went and stood on the highest part of the rock.

"Come on," said John, "don't be parleying with temptation. I won't have any stealing where I am.”

Albert did come on, but it was because he saw Mr. Farel in the orchard. John did not know it.

"Now," said Albert, coaxingly, "let us have some cherries when we go home to-night. The barn is right between the tree and the house you keep watch to see if any one comes out of the door, and I will get some in a little less than no time."

"If everybody has a right to get those that hang over the road, what difference does it make whether the barn hides you from the house

or not?"

Albert found it difficult to give a satisfactory answer to that question, so he kept silence. He also concluded that it would be of no use to get John to help him to steal. So he began to plan some means of stealing alone.

Now in his planning he did not call it stealing. Oh, no; that would not do. He was only contriving how he might take secretly what he had a right to take. That is always the way with those who wish to do wrong. They will call the deed by some softer term, and try to persuade themselves that it is not wrong. Call things by their right names, look at things just as they are, and you will be far less likely to fall into sin.

At evening, as they went home, Albert ran over the rock as if in sport. His real motive was to see how near he could come to reaching the limbs of the overhanging tree.

The next morning he was very busy in making himself a cane, as he said. He made it with a hook at the end to hang it up by, as he was careful to inform all who saw it. He concluded he would not go to school with John that day, but would take a walk by himself. John hated to go alone, and tried to persuade him to go to school, but without success. Albert offered to go if he would watch while he got some cherries. To this John would not consent.

Soon after John had gone to school, Albert set out on his walk, as he said. He went straight to the cherry-tree, and then he got up on the rock, and took his cane and hooked it on to a branch, and began to pull it down with all his might. The branch suddenly broke, and let him down. He fell on a sharp point of the rock, and rolled down its steepest side. He gathered himself up as soon as possible, and limped off; for he had hurt one of

his legs badly. When he got home, his aunt saw that he was lame, and asked him the cause. He told her that he had fallen off a fence.

When John came home he told him the same story. "Where is your cane?" said John, with a look which Albert understood. He had left it hanging on the branch of the cherry-tree.

morrow," said Albert.

said Albert.

like

John felt

saying, "I think you had better;" but he knew that would not be polite. He had no desire, however, to have a longer visit from one who, according to his view of things, was a thief and a liar.

Beware of the least appearance of evil, and be sure your sin will