“Nor I, neither,” said Alfred.  “I guess he did n’t expect his father’s ship would arrive so suddenly, when he tried to stuff us up so.”

“Did your father know you went off with them in the forenoon?” inquired Oscar.

“Yes, but he did n’t care much about it.  He told me I must go to school this afternoon, and not stay away again without leave.”

The rules of the school required a written note of excuse from the parents, in case of absence.  Neither of the boys was furnished with such an excuse, and after a little consultation, they concluded that their chances of escaping punishment would be greatest, if they should frankly confess how they had been duped and led astray by the young rogues whose acquaintance they had so suddenly and imprudently formed.  They supposed that the peculiar circumstances of the case, coupled with a voluntary confession, might excite some degree of sympathy, rather than displeasure, towards them.  To make the matter doubly sure, it was arranged that Alfred should speak to the master about the matter before school commenced.

When the boys reached the school-room, they found the master already at his desk.  He listened with interest to Alfred’s story of the runaways, and was evidently pleased that he had so frankly confessed his fault.  As the hour for commencing the afternoon session had arrived, he told Alfred and Oscar they might stop after school, and he would take their case into consideration.

The afternoon passed away, without any unusual occurrence.  When school was dismissed, the teacher called Alfred and Oscar to his desk, and gave them some excellent advice in regard to forming acquaintances, and yielding to the solicitations of evil associates.  He told them that the deception which had been practiced upon them, should serve as a lesson to them hereafter.  They should not form sudden acquaintances with strange and unknown boys, but should choose their associates from among those whom they knew to be of good habits.  He also earnestly cautioned them against yielding to the enticements of those who would persuade them to do wrong.  He told them that whenever they laid the blame of their faults upon others, they made a sad confession of their own moral weakness.  They must often encounter temptations, and evil examples and influences, even if they took pains to avoid them; but they were not obliged to yield to these influences.  They must learn to resist temptation, or they would speedily be swept away before it.

Having faithfully pointed out their error and danger, the teacher dismissed the boys.  They listened respectfully to his advice, and, when they were beyond his hearing, chuckled over their escape from a species of admonition that might have proved far more feeling and affecting, if not more salutary, than the kindly-meant reproof which had been administered to them.  The leniency of the teacher, however, must be attributed to his not fully understanding the character of their offence; for Alfred had so artfully represented the facts of the case, as to make their truancy appear in a milder light than it deserved to be regarded.