cherry. I now withdrew to some distance, and it
was evident that the little one was distressed by
what he had done, as he did not eat it, but began
to cry faintly, on which the elder took the cherry
out of his hand, and ate it. This increased the
crying, when, on approaching, he ran up to me, saying
that the other took my cherry. The little one
continuing to cry, the other stated that he saw him
take it; to which I replied, “We will try him
by and bye.” As soon, therefore, as the
proper time arrived, the bell was rung; prior to which,
however, I was apprised of the loss by several children,
and when all were seated in the gallery, I proceeded
as follows “Now, little children, I want you
to use all your faculties, to look at me attentively,
and to think of what I am about to say, for I am going
to tell you a tale of two little boys. Once on
a time they were amusing themselves with a great many
other children in a play-ground, where there was a
great many flowers and some fruit trees. But
before I go on, let me ask you is it right to take
the flowers or fruit which belong to others?”
to which the general reply was “No,” with
the exception of the culprits. I then described
their age, stated that one boy was five years old,
and the other three; that the former was looking at
one of his master’s fine cherries, which was
growing against the wall, and that the latter approached,
and looked at it too; on which several exclaimed, “Please,
sir, your big cherry is gone;” which caused an
inspection of each others’ countenances.
To this, I replied, “I am sorry for it, but let
me finish my tale. Now, children, while they were
both looking at the cherry, the older one asked the
younger if it were not large, to which he replied,
‘Yes;’ he then inquired, whether it were
not nice, when he again answered, ‘Yes;’
afterwards, be told him, having touched it himself
first, to touch it because it was soft, and the little
boy unfortunately did so, on which the big one pulled
his arm, and the cherry came off in his hand.”
While this was proceeding, the two delinquents sat
very demurely, conscious that they were pourtrayed,
though all the rest were ignorant of the fact.
I then said, “Which do you think the worst of
these boys?” when several answered, “The
biggest was the worst.” On inquiring, “Why?”
the reply was, “Because he told the little one
to take it;” while others said, “Because
he pulled his arm.” I added, “I have
not told you the whole tale yet, but I am glad to
see that you know right from wrong, and presently you
will be still better prepared to judge. When the
big boy had told the little one to take the cherry,
he then robbed him of it, and immediately betrayed
him by telling the master. Now which do you think
was the worst?” When a great number of voices
vociferated, “The big one.” I then
inquired, if they thought we had such children in our
school? the general reply was ‘No;’ but
the scrutiny among themselves was redoubled.
To this I rejoined, “I am sorry to say such children