[Illustration:  The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys entered.]

Looking towards the house to see if they were observed, they cautiously went up to the vine, and each gathered a bunch of grapes.  They ate them secretly, that they might avoid detection; but although they knew it not, there was an eye in the house that saw them, and there was another eye from which their act was not hid—­the eye of the all-seeing God.

When the note was written, the boys were recalled to the parlour, and pleasantly dismissed.  I think they must have felt somewhat ashamed, that they had abused the confidence reposed in them, and had been guilty of stealing from their kind friend.

After they left, the lady was informed what they had done.  When she visited “the home,” where they lived, she mentioned the fact to their teacher, although she did not allude to it to them.

The teacher took occasion to talk with her scholars about being honest and trustworthy, and asked them what they should think of children who, when sent on errands and permitted to go into the yard to enjoy themselves, should stealthily take the fruit which grew there.  They, of course, condemned such conduct.  She gave them the instruction they needed, and endeavoured to impress its importance upon their minds.

Soon after the close of the school, the two boys who had taken the grapes went to her and told her what they had done.  She talked with them kindly.  They seemed truly penitent.  She asked them if they would like to go to the lady and acknowledge their fault.  They said they should, and immediately they put on their straw hats, and their clean sacks, and went cheerfully to make all the reparation in their power for the fault they had committed.  Confession is always pleasant to the truly penitent.

Again they stood in that shaded parlour.  They were affectionately welcomed as before.  They confessed freely and fully, what they had done on their previous visit, and asked forgiveness, which was readily granted.  Just as they were leaving, they turned and inquired, “Can you ever trust us again?” The lady assured them that she could, and they went away happy and strengthened in their good purposes.

From that time there has been a marked change in the children.  Their characters have much improved and they have been, in all respects, more conscientious and trustworthy.  One of the boys has, I think, found a Christian home, and the other is waiting for one.

“It almost makes me cry.”

“It almost makes me cry to think of the heathen,” said Willie Dudley, as he was standing by his mother’s work-table, with his elbow leaning upon it, and his head resting upon his hand.  “I don’t wonder missionaries go to them.”  His face was thoughtful and sad, and the tears stood in his eyes.

He had just been looking at two hideous idols, which had been brought from Africa, and his mother had been telling him that the heathen thought they were gods, and prayed to them.