not again charged or accused of it, unless he is really guilty

"But liars we can never trust,

Though they should speak the thing that's true."

The child who has once been guilty of falsehood will often be suspected when he is not guilty. One falsehood will destroy confidence so far, that a long course of truth will hardly establish it again. We read in Scripture awful instances of the Divine judgments against particular offenders (see 2 Kings v. 20 to the end, and Acts v. 1-11); and we are assured that "all liars shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." And yet this dreadful vice is so common, that there is not a child who reads these lines but his conscience might testify that he has, in some degree, been guilty of it. If you have not, my dear children, directly said the thing that was untrue, have you not sometimes suffered your parents or friends to suppose that a thing was different from what it really was, when the truth, if it had been known, would have exposed you to punishment or blame? Have you never accepted praise which your conscience told you you did not deserve, or suffered a companion to be charged with a fault which you committed ? Have you never made a promise which you knew it was not in your power to perform ? or, if it was in your power, have you not been careless in performing it? If you have done these things, you have been guilty of deceit. Every one of these offences must be truly repented of, and blotted out by the precious blood of Christ, or you can never dwell with a God of truth and holiness.

.Lucy and Jane were school-féllows, about the same age, and in the same class, both in their

daily and Sunday school. Both of them were reckoned diligent, improving children, quick at work and lively in play. But Lucy was a very sincere, upright child, one who "feared a lie and spoke the truth;" but Jane had got a shocking habit of falsehood and deceit. Many a time had she got a school-fellow blamed for a fault which she herself had committed. Sometimes the children suspected her of sly, ill-natured tricks; but she was generally crafty enough to escape having anything proved against her. But no liar is cunning enough always to keep up a good character, and at last even Jane was found out.

One day, as Lucy was tripping down the street on an errand for her mother, she saw Jane standing under a gateway with a china basin in her hand, into which she was endeavouring to fix a piece that had been broken out. So intent was she on what she was about, as not to perceive Lucy coming up to her; and on hearing her say, 'What's the matter, Jane ?" she started. As soon as Jane recovered a little from her surprise and confusion, she begged of Lucy not to say anything about what she had seen.

Lucy. You know that I would not say anything out of ill-nature, and it is not likely that anybody will ask me about it; but if you have had an accident, it will be much the best to tell your mother the truth at once. It is of no use to try to stick it together so; it will soon come apart again.

Jane. I know that; but if I could only set it down safe out of my hand, I should not so much care. L. Oh, Jane, pray do not think of doing such an artful thing. Let the damage be ever so great, still the truth is the shortest and the safest to tell.

J. If I put it in its place, and say nothing about the matter, it will save me from punishment, and

I shall not tell a story. It may not be taken down again for some time, and it may be forgotten that I had it.

L. Oh, Jane, indeed this cannot be right. If we injure anybody, we should freely confess it, and offer to make all the amends in our power. Now, if it never should be found out that you broke the basin, still your conscience would be always reproaching you and making you unhappy; and if it should happen to be found out at last, the disgrace would be all the greater for your having tried to hide it. Besides, though you now say you do not intend to deny it, it will be a great temptation to you to do so if you should be charged with it some time hence. I have got sixpence, which I will freely give you towards buying another; and now do let me go home with you, and beg your mother not to be angry.

J. Oh, Lucy, sixpence is of no use. Most likely the basin is worth five shillings, and not to be matched either for any money. And it is not my mother's, that's the worst of it; it belongs to old Madam Portlock, the most particular woman in the world. What a passion she would be in if she was to know I had broken her china basin.

L. Indeed, you are quite mistaken in her; there is not a kinder nor a better lady living. If any one had an accident, and told her the truth of it, I am sure she is one of the last to be in a passion. If you are afraid of her, it is because you do not know how kind she is.

J. She is very kind where she happens to take; but, for all that, I cannot tell her about it, because the cook sent me an errand without her knowing of it.

L. Ah, Jane! then only see what distress arises from one sly action, and how it leads you to many

more to keep it concealed. I am sure you must be very unhappy.

J. Yes, I am very sorry, indeed; but it was the cook's fault, for tempting me to do it. I never did such a thing before, and I never will again.

L. I hope you never will. To be sure, it was very wicked of the cook to persuade you; but yet we know that we ought not to do anything wrong, however we may be tempted, and therefore it cannot be all her fault. But what can you do now? I am sorry, very sorry, for you.

Jane now burst into tears, and sobbing violently said, "What can I do ?"

Lucy, affectionately embracing her, replied, "I hope you will confess the whole affair to Mrs. Portlock. Let her be ever so angry, it will be the best thing you can do, and your mind will be much easier when you have done it. Indeed, she cannot be so angry if you tell her yourself, as if she should find it out in any other way."

Jane promised Lucy that she would act according to her advice, and they parted. But Jane was not sincere; she was sorry for her fault only as it exposed her to anger and disgrace, and she was concerned, not to seek pardon, but to avoid being found out. It was not, as she told Lucy, the first time she had been guilty of such a crime; for she was in the habit of doing such things. Among artful, deceitful people there is no honour between one another; so Jane slipped in the back way and put the basin on the shelf, just as if nothing had happened, not caring if even her friend the cook bore the blame. She, little suspecting anything, gave her a slice of rich plum pudding; and away went Jane, pleased with her success.

Lucy was sincerely grieved. She felt truly thankful that, by means of the watchful care and

early corrections of her kind mother, she had been kept back from the same wicked ways.

From this time the little girls were less intimate than before. Jane was always afraid that Lucy was going to question or upbraid her; and Lucy was shy, from the fear of seeming to intrude. After some months had elapsed, who should call in at the School of Industry, where these girls attended, but Madam Portlock herself! Jane trembled her conscience whispered that her artful tricks had been found out, and that the lady was come to expose her before the school; but her business was of a different nature. She was going to change her servants, and came to ask Mrs. Stevens, the governess, if she had a girl in the school whom she could recommend to her. Jane and Lucy, the two eldest girls, were called up. Jane was rather the tallest, stoutest girl of the two, and, if any difference, rather the better needlewoman; and when she found what was the cause of the visit, she took great pains to set herself off to the best advantage. Mrs. Portlock, having examined their work, and asked them several questions, gave the preference to Jane, on account of her appearing rather older. Lucy would have been very happy to get the place, but she was a good girl, and therefore she did not envy her companion; much less was she inclined to prevent her success by mentioning what she knew of her misconduct.

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Next day Jane and her mother called upon Mrs. Portlock, little doubting to get the place. After several other questions, "Pray, little maid," said the lady, were you ever in this house before ?" No, ma'am," replied Jane; "never in my life." "Recollect yourself," said Mrs. P., "and don't answer hastily." Jane persisted that she never

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