Charlotte, on the contrary, awoke late, after an uneasy slumber, and hurriedly eating her breakfast, for which she had but little appetite, dressed herself, and opening the box where she kept her little treasures, took out the gay pink ribbon, and after a long admiring gaze, pinned it carefully about her neck.  As she closed the box cover she saw the three cents lying in one corner, and hastily put them in her pocket with a feeling of self-abasement that made her cheeks glow with shame.  She ran quickly down stairs, lest her mother should see her and question her about the ribbon, for although Mrs. Murray would not have disapproved of her daughter’s purchase, Charlotte dreaded her mother’s ridicule for so soon abandoning her new-fangled notions, as she called them.

She had promised to call for Annie, and she walked quietly along, hoping her friend would not notice the ribbon nor ask to see the money.  As she slowly approached Mrs. Grey’s cottage, she saw Annie’s favorite kitten jump up in the low window seat to bask in the warm sunshine.  Charlotte saw the little cat put out her paw to play with something, and just as she was opposite the window a small bright piece rolled down into the road.  She hastened forward and picked it up; it was a bright new five-pence.

“This must be Annie’s,” she thought; and looking in the window she saw the room was empty, and Annie’s Bible and handkerchief laid on the window seat.  Puss was busy playing with the leaves of the book, and Charlotte walked slowly on with the piece yet in her hand.

“How pretty and bright it looks,” she thought.  “I wish that I had one to give.  I know the girls will stare to see Annie put in so much.  How lucky it was that I passed; if I had not it would have been lost, or some one else would have picked it up.  I will give it to her in school; I shall not keep it, of course.”  Thus quieting her conscience she walked quickly to school, and took her seat among the rest.

How gradual is the descent to sin.  Charlotte would have spurned the idea of stealing, and yet from desiring to give with a wrong motive she had been led on step by step, and when the girl who sat next her asked what she had brought, she opened her hand and showed the piece of money.

School had commenced when Annie came in; she looked disheartened, and her eyes were red with crying.  Charlotte’s heart smote her, and could she have spoken to Annie, she would doubtless have returned the piece of money, but she dared not leave her seat, and after a few moments it was whispered around the class that Annie Grey had lost her mission money.  Then the girls about Charlotte told each other how much she had brought, and she began to think,

“What difference will it make if I put it in the box? it is all the same, Annie says, who gives the money, so that it is given;” and so when the box was handed round she dropped the five cent piece in.  Her conscience reproved her severely as she glanced at poor Annie, whose tears were flowing afresh, and who, when the teacher handed her the box, said in low, broken tones, that she had lost her offering and had nothing to give.