Litchfield enquirer., 1837-01-05
TEMPTATION.
A STORY FOR CHILDREN.

James was slowly walking tO school ane fine summer morning, when looking over tIIe fence of old Mir. L's orchard, he saw a finc plum free, loaded with bright red fruit. He laid down his book looked frs; one way and then another, to see if any body was coming, and llien placing his feet on a high r"cki began to make preparations f"I climb ing the fence. "l'il just go and see if there is any on the ground" thought he; " that will not be stealing, know it would be wr"ng to take them off the trce." Now if James thought he was doing nothing wrong, why was h" afraid of being seen!
 Alter scratching his head, and soiling his clothes, James fonnd himself on the other side ot the fence, safe in the orchard. Once more he looked to see if any body was com ing, and then ran off as fast as possible to- wards the plum tree, which stood at some distance. But while running with all possi- b!c speed, it being past school time, he hit hiS foot against stone, and fell headlong. James was now on tho point of crying a- loud, the pain in his foot was SD great, but then he remembered that somebody might hear him, and come to his assistance, and perhaps ask him how he come there. A fer recovering in some measure from his f!l, ne began to think of his good mother, who "ad dressed him that morning so neat and clean, and who twice had heard him say over all his geography lessons, in order that he might be fully prepared d, his class aud had charged him not to stop on the way and be late at school. Now he was mis- erable dirty boy, afraid to see his mother, and ashamed to go school. He however resolved, notwithstanding the pain in bis foot,'o go immediately to school, and never be guilty of taking red plum that did no, belong to him.. But just now glancing at the sleeve ofhis jacket, he perceived large rent tn it, so that he was not iI, to be seen atsch"ol. "Oh that fence ]" thought he, eff had never go, over that. should not haze got my clean clothes all torn and dirty. What shall ! do? ?" James hesitated mo- ment, and then Ike a wise boy, concluded to go immediately home, and confess tho whole. So he took up his book, and with a heavy heart, slowly re,raced his steps.
 On his way he me! Mr. l.. the owner of tho orchard, who was kind old gentleman, and had often pa,,ed James on ,he head, and called him good boy. The monlcnt James saw him, he crossed over to the o'h- CT side of the road, and quickly passed him without raising his head.
 On arriving home, hc told his mother ,hc whole story. She felt very sorry 10 hear such an account from her son, in whom she had always placed SO much confidence.
 "James," said sLc, as she was preparing 10 mend tine rent in his sleeve, how often do yo" think you havn repeated tue words. Lead as not into ,omp,ation2'
 'Oh mother,' exclaimed James, a great many times, ever since I was a little boy.'
 Did you ever understand the words ? plums tempted mo ,n:slcal. never will he tempted by them again. I'll go to schoo! on the other side nf the road.'
 'Ah. my child, you will be often led into tempa,ion, unless you sincerely ask to be delivered. Have you kept that paper safe that I gave yen the other day?' Yes, here ii is,' said James, drawing it from his pocket. You see that spoke cross to George three times yesterday and once to- day. know Pve kept right account.'
 'Oh! but wanted to speak cross to him good many times this morning. when he tore my map. ! was really angry. l think I should have struck him, bu. jus, then ! remembered the paper
 'Then it seems that once to-day, you have successfully resisted temptation. You refrained from speaking cross, when you felt cross. Now you will have to go on re- sising temptation as long as you live; 'here- fore | wanf vou to beyin while you are young. You must resist the temptation of striking your brother when he does wrong, and resist tho temptation of tasting red plums that do not belong 10 you. You cannot always fee from tempia,i"n. but yo" must learn to resist it. dn not wish you to go on the other side. of iI'e road [" school. wish you to see the red plums without feeling any inclination to eat ,hem.' Boston pdper.