And thus nearly a year passed over, during which time Theodore’s health and activity in a measure returned; but the cheerfulness of a happy mind was still wanting.  Reuben often lured him temporarily into it, but he would again relapse, and had never given up his unhappy theory, though now he dwelt upon it much less frequently than of old.  At the end of the year, however, Theodore was much distressed by fancying that he detected Reuben in lying; and he was, besides, by no means sure that little trifles were not taken from him by the child for his own use and amusement.  He communicated his suspicions to the housekeeper, and alas! found his worst fears confirmed.  The pain and sorrow he felt at this discovery were of a kind totally new to him.  But the strongest feeling of all was, that he would not give up the boy to vicious habits without a struggle (cost what it might) to save him!  The housekeeper told him, with tears, that she had observed Reuben’s habit of petty lying and taking any thing he fancied, very soon after his admission to the house; but she confessed that she had not had the heart to inform her young Master, lest he should send the boy away who had seemed to take him so out of his trouble!  This was what she most thought about.  So she had tried to correct the child herself, but not with the success she had desired.  “How little she knows the heart,” thought Theodore, “his evil propensities would have been an additional claim upon my kindness!”

I will pass over all that Theodore said to the boy himself.  No father could have been more earnest, more solemn in his warnings, or more kind in his expostulations.  Reuben, by this time, could understand all he said, and shame and repentance burnt in his face during a painful interview.  It is right to remind you, dear children, of the many excuses that were to be made for him.  He had been brought up, till seven years old, in total ignorance of God, and without ever having heard one duty commanded or one sin forbidden.  The woman lied daily and hourly in his sight, and made him do the same; and she took all she could lay hold of in any way, and beat him if he did not follow her example; and although Theodore’s instructions had opened a new world on the child’s mind, the evil HABITS were not so soon got rid of.  So there the mischief was; and now the great difficulty Theodore felt, was to know what to do for the best.  And, after much consideration, he decided to send him to school, as the likeliest means of eradicating the bad habits the boy had acquired.  I say habits, rather than dispositions, for there was indeed nothing mean or sneaking about his character.  On the contrary, he was both courageous and generous in the turn of his mind, and, after his health improved, his manners partook of the same freedom and candour.

To school therefore poor Reuben went; and Theodore was almost astonished himself at the blank which his absence created.