“I could not understand why my father laid upon me this prohibition; and, as I desired very much to go, I did not feel satisfied in my obedience.  On the next day, as I was walking along the road, I met Mr. Jones with his fishing rod on his shoulder, and his basket in his hand.

“‘Ah, William! you are the very one that I wish to see,’ said Mr. Jones smiling.  ’I am going out this morning, and want company.  We shall have a beautiful day.’

“‘But my father told me yesterday,’ I replied, ’that he did not wish me to go out with you.’

“‘And why not, pray?’ asked Mr. Jones.

“‘I am sure that I do not know,’ I said, ’but indeed, I should like to go very much.’

“‘O, never mind; come along,’ he said, ‘Your father will never know it.’

“‘Yes, but I am afraid that he will,’ I replied, thinking more of my father’s displeasure than of the evil of disobedience.

“’There is no danger at all of that.  We will be home again long before dinner-time.’

“I hesitated, and he urged; and finally, I moved the way that he was going, and had proceeded a few hundred yards, when I stopped, and said: 

“‘I don’t like to go, Mr. Jones.’

“’Nonsense, William!  There is no harm in fishing, I am sure.  I have often been out with your father, myself.’

“Much as I felt inclined to go, still I hesitated; for I could not fully make up my mind to disobey my father.—­At length he said—­

“’I can’t wait here for you, William.  Come along, or go back.  Say yes or no.’

“This was the decisive moment.  I was to make up my mind, and fix my determination in one way or the other.  I was to say yes or no.”

“‘Come, I can’t stay here all day,’ Mr. Jones remarked, rather harshly, seeing that I hesitated.  At the same moment the image of my father rose distinctly before my mind, and I saw his eyes fixed steadily and reprovingly upon me.  With one desperate resolution I uttered the word, ‘No!’ and then turning, ran away as fast as my feet would carry me.  I cannot tell you how relieved I felt when I was far beyond the reach of temptation.

“On the next morning, when I came down to breakfast, I was startled and surprised to learn that Mr. Jones had been drowned on the day before.  Instead of returning in a few hours, as he had stated to me that he would, he remained out all the day.  A sudden storm arose; his boat was capsized, and he drowned.  I shuddered when I heard this sad and fatal accident related.—­That little word no, had, in all probability, saved my life.”

“‘I will now tell you, William,’ my father said, turning to me, ’why I did not wish you to go with Mr. Jones.—­Of late, he had taken to drinking; and I had learned within a few days, that whenever he went out on a fishing or gunning excursion he took his bottle of spirits with him, and usually returned a good deal intoxicated.  I could not trust you with such a man.  I did not think it necessary to state this to you, for I was sure that I had only to express my wish that you would not accompany him, to insure your implicit obedience.’