WHY does little Maud look around so uneasily while her hand grasps the rich ripe grapes? Ah! I am afraid she is not doing right, for if she had permission to help herself to the grapes she would not mind any who might look at her. Not even the tell-tale parrot on his perch, who somehow has a very unpleasant way of watching wrongdoing, and has managed to pick up a few words, and uses them in a very quaint manner.
When Mamma comes in she notices the bird chattering away, and catches the words, "Not poor Poll, not poor Poll," "Maud-grapes, not poor Poll," which gives her a clue to the missing grapes, and brings down a proper reproof and punishment on naughty Maud.
It is really a happy thing for the little wrongdoings of early days to be discovered and corrected, for temptation often given way to in youth, would lead to sad results as we grow up.
May God graciously give my young readers a real desire of doing that which is right.