|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 11
Charles Murray left home, with his books in his satchel, for school. Before
starting, he kissed his little sister, and patted Juno on the head, and as
he went singing away, he felt as happy as any little boy could wish to
feel. Charles was a good-tempered lad, but he had the fault common to a
great many boys, that of being tempted and enticed by others to do things
which he knew to be contrary to the wishes of his parents. Such acts never
made him feel any happier; for the fear that his disobedience would be
found out, and the consciousness of having done wrong, were far from being
pleasant companions.
On the present occasion, as he walked briskly in the direction of the
school, he repeated over his lessons in his mind, and was intent upon
having them so perfect as to be able to repeat every word. He had gone
nearly half the distance, and was still thinking over his lessons, when he
stopped suddenly, as a voice called out,
"Halloo, Charley!"
Turning in the direction from which the voice came, he saw Archy Benton,
with his school basket in his hand; but he was going from, instead of in
the direction of the school.
"Where are you going, Archy?" asked Charles, calling out to him.
"Into the woods, for chestnuts."
"Ain't you going to school, to-day?"
"No, indeed. There was a sharp frost last night, and Uncle John says the
wind will rattle down the chestnuts like hail."
"Did your father say you might go?"
"No, indeed. I asked him, but he said I couldn't go until Saturday. But the
hogs are in the woods, and will eat the chestnuts all up, before Saturday.
So I am going to-day. Come, go along, won't you? It is such a fine day, and
the ground will be covered with chestnuts. We can get home at the usual
time, and no one will suspect that we were not at school."
"I should like to go, very well," said Charley; "but I know father will be
greatly displeased, if he finds it out, and I am afraid he will get to know
it, in some way."
"How could he get to know it? Isn't he at his store all the time?"
"But he might think to ask me if I was at school. And I never will tell a
lie."
"You could say yes, and not tell a lie, either," returned Archy. "You were
at school yesterday."
"No, I couldn't. A lie, father says, is in the intent to deceive. He would,
of course, mean to ask whether I was at school to-day, and if I said yes, I
would tell a lie."
"It isn't so clear to me that you would. At any rate, I don't see such
great harm in a little fib. It doesn't hurt any body."
"Father says a falsehood hurts a boy a great deal more than he thinks for.
And one day he showed me in the Bible where liars were classed with
murderers, and other wicked spirits, in hell. I can't tell a lie, Archy."
"There won't be any need of your doing so," urged Archy; "for I am sure he
will never think to ask you about it. Why should he?"
"I don't know. But whenever I have been doing any thing wrong, he is sure
to begin to question me, and lead me on until I betray the secret of my
fault."
"Never mind. Come and go with me. It is such a fine day. We shan't have
another like it. It will rain on Saturday, I'll bet any thing. So come
along, now, and let us have a day in the woods, while we can."
Charles was very strongly tempted. When he thought of the confinement of
school, and then of the freedom of a day in the woods, he felt much
inclined to go with Archy.
"Come along," said Archy, as Charles stood balancing the matter in his
mind. And he took hold of his arm, and drew him in a direction opposite
from the school. "Come! you are just the boy I want. I was thinking about
you the moment before I saw you."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|