11.  As she crossed the little bridge over the narrow creek before her mother’s door, her eye fell upon a rustic seat which they had occupied during the conversation I have before narrated.  Instantly the words of Scripture, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” sounded in her ears like a trumpet.

12.  Turning suddenly round, as if flying from some unseen peril, the child hastened along the road with breathless speed until she found herself once more at farmer Thompson’s gate.  “What do you want now?” asked the gruff old fellow, as he saw her again at his side.

13.  “Sir, you paid me two bills, instead of one,” said she, trembling in every limb.  “Two bills? did I? let me see; well, so I did; but did you just find it out?  Why did you not bring it back sooner?” Susan blushed and hung her head.

14.  “You wanted to keep it, I suppose,” said he.  “Well, I am glad your mother was more honest than you, or I should have been five dollars poorer and none the wiser.”  “My mother knows nothing about it, sir,” said Susan; “I brought it back before I went home.”

15.  The old man looked at the child, and, as he saw the tears rolling down her checks, he seemed touched by her distress.  Putting his band in his pocket, he drew out a shilling and offered it to her.

16.  “No, sir, I thank you,” sobbed she; “I do not want to be paid for doing right; I only wish you would not think me dishonest, for, indeed, it was a sore temptation.  Oh! sir, if you had ever seen those you love best wanting the common comforts of life, you would know how hard it is for us always to do unto others as we would have others do unto us,”

17.  The heart of the selfish man was touched.  “There be things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise,” murmured he, as he bade the little girl good night, and entered his house a sadder, and, it is to be hoped, a better man.  Susan returned to her humble home with a lightened heart, and through the course of a long and useful life she never forgot her first temptation.

Definitions.—­1.  In-teg’ri-ty, honesty, uprightness.  Con-vic’tion, strong belief.  Ap-pealed’, referred to. 2.  Temp-ta’tion, that which has a tendency to induce one to do wrong.  As-sails’, attacks. 10.  Con’flict, struggle.  Bal’anced, weighed, compared. 12.  Gruff, rough. 17.  Mur’mured, spoke in a low voice.  Light’ened, made cheerful or lighter.

Exercises.—­What is the Golden Rule?  What does it imply?  Can a man be perfectly honest and still not follow the Golden Rule?  What parable is a perfect illustration of its meaning?  How was Susan tempted?  What did she first think of doing?  What changed her intention?  Relate what happened when she returned the money.  What effect did her action have?

LII.  THE SNOW MAN. (143) By Marian Douglas.

1.  Look! how the clouds are flying south! 
     The winds pipe loud and shrill! 
   And high above the white drifts stands
     The snow man on the hill.