ENVY.

I once knew two little girls who attended the same school and occupied the same bench, yet who were entirely unlike each other in disposition, so that while Martha was beloved by all who knew her, Mary was as generally disliked.  Martha was gentle, kind and affectionate; but Mary was of a very different spirit Her chief fault was envy, and so much did she indulge this base passion that she was unhappy whenever she heard one of her little school-mates praised.  She was very unkind to Martha, for she envied her the ease with which her lessons were committed to memory, and more than all else she envied her the love of her kind teacher.  Therefore she wished to injure Martha, and to take away that love.

One day Mary, being, according to her usual custom, idle, amused herself with tearing and defacing her books.  After spending some time in this manner, she took them to her teacher, and with many loud complaints, told her that Martha had thus injured them.  She hoped that Martha would have been punished, and that her school-mates would not love her so well, but would believe that she had done so wrong an action.

But it was not so.  The teacher did not believe Mary’s complaint, and when Martha said she was innocent, she knew that it was so, for truth was in her heart.  Then one of the little girls said that she had seen Mary herself injuring the books, and the wicked child was defeated in the plan that she had formed.

After this, none of the children would talk or play with Mary, and she soon left the school.  None regretted her absence, for all said, “What a pity that so sweet a name should be accompanied by so ungentle a spirit.”

Now this little girl had many faults, but I think that the one wherein she most erred was envy.  We have seen how this fault led her to commit many sins.  It led her to unkindness, falsehood, and disgrace.  And however trivial the circumstance I have related may appear, yet it early stamped upon my mind a lesson which after years have not effaced.  May it bear to some young hearts the same lesson—­beware of envy.

CONCLUSION.

And now, my dear readers, we have come to the last page in this little volume; and that its precepts may abide in all your hearts, is the sincere desire of your friend,

UNCLE HUMPHREY.

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