I once saw a little girl who was so honest, that she would not take a pin from her sister’s cushion without permission. She had a cousin who was very different in this respect, for he would take what suited his convenience, without asking any one.
One day this honest little girl went home from school with her cousin. No one was in the house when they arrived, though it was evident that some one must be near, for the baby was asleep in the cradle, and the doors were open.
“I am very hungry;’’ said Robert, “here is some nice-looking cake, just taken out of the oven. Come, Mary, I will give you a piece.”
“No, thank you,” said Mary, “please don’t cut it it would be stealing.”
“Stealing,” replied Robert, with a laugh, “stealing to take a piece of cake when I am at home!”
“Yes,” said Mary, “it is stealing, bause you would not do it if your mother was here. You know that she would not allow you to cut a rich cake just from the oven.”
“Then I shall do it before she comes,” said Robert, and he buried a knife in the cake, which fell crumbling to the table.
His mother was very angry with him, and called him a wicked, mischievous boy: but she did not tell him that this was the first step towards being a thief. No matter how small a thing you take, a pin, a needle, a bit of thread, a lump of sugar: the smallest matter if taken slyly, is a theft. God regards this as sealing, dear children, and we would impress that little verse of Scripture upon your heart,
“Thou God seest me.”
If this is always remembered, it will keep you from many a downfall. Be honest, children, you need not fear being too much so, no matter who thinks vou too particular. Honesty is a rare virtue, and an honest child will grow into an honest man or woman.
“Thus was it with little Mary; her mother was a widow, and people called her poor, but it was soon found that she possessed a treasure in this trustworthy little girl; she was one of the Lord’s little ones, and therefore under the shelter of His blood. As she grew up, Mary became so noted for her fidelity and tender conscience, that she was placed at last in a very responsible situation, which she filled with great credit to herself, and to the entire satisfaction of her employers. She was thus enabled to support her mother, in her old age, and educate her younger sister. She carried everything to the Lord in prayer, and thus He helped and sustained her.
Not so with poor Robert, who knew not the Lord. His habit of helping himself, was not long confined to the comparatively small matter of eating. He at length left his home with a large sum of money which he had taken from his father’s desk, and has not since been heard of.
May this be a lesson to all. Remember, your heart is no better than poor Robert’s.
ML 09/12/1943