The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-10-11
%on9a,s ID partEaa e au 4 i.
Confession OF FAULTS.

CONFEsSION OF FAULTS.
o,,;,mn Freeman hud often heard his tather
I,., be oush: never to deny the faults he had
.u,i,,od: but that he should always ingeniously
A al. the truth. Bennnin, like good child, rec
lated this, and resolved to act accordingly
c., he came home, therefore, and his father
Il Hyhers have you been to-day2 What have
5one;" Benjamin mentioned all the places he
E. bo.r in. all he persons he had seen, and all
n 4. ,mnsemerts he had been engaged in.
4 81, ,cridan,. he one day broke beautiful china
lamont, called a vase. rs he was alone when
Ia.b,opencd, he could easily have concealed his
s,-. in the misfortune. The suspicion would prob
4 M, have alIen on one of the domestics, rather
i,c m him; but Benjamin was incapable of the
Ions, 6ecop,un; he would, besides, have been very
ury r.. have brought any OF the servants into dis
rsq flr an accident in which he only was concer
.el, be resolved, therefore, TO go Immediately to
Il, ,.oy to whom he said. ith tears in his
,., apsDa. great misfortune has happened to
nj. ,hgyo broken ycur porcelain vase
u...,aer was much Yexe4, because the vase
Il Mad aesn given him by particular friend Never
81 ,,sra. d, Banjamin, by willingly acknowledging
hi. had given a new proof of his regard TO
rg,a. as father did not scoId him, Int merely
made him pay little forfeit, t. warm him ofbeing
4 50 rqrpss for the future; and recommended HIM TO
continue to speak the truth upon all occasions.
Benjamin faithfully followed this advice. lie
poke truth at school rs we'll as elsewhere. 1t
gmpnmes happened that he was not dilieent
md s,udous as he might have been; hut he never
|udcayored by tricks and faIshoods, to excuse bus
|n!ts On the contrary, If he had not performed
n. tutv or If he did not know his lessons perfect
ID and his master asked the reason, he replied IN
|g0ously: 'Forgive me this negligence, sir, for /
|rn!ess have bee extremely INDECENT To-day;
rprhaps, he ackn ow lodged that ne had taken
much pleasure IN play ina, he had entirely FOR
gotten he had still something 10 tesrr. This in.
AgMu.uess maGc master love him better than
#yabis other 50 huiars, who always assigned
w. r--+nDs to nxcuIpate themselves when they
Idd"" my thing wrong.
0oa ny, however, thore happened m affair IT
\ a@ &hch hal nearly deprived poor Beoiamn
ka his reputation for sincerity. One Of his
&aar...eIIovvs, ve'y wicked boy, had stolen tvVo
i py medals. which were intended rewards
n hose scholars who performed their duty best
The aa5trr, in order to discover who had perp-
nrd a,- crime ordered all the scholars to bring
her s7'chels to be examined. Immediately the
\ D,rr fearful Of being discovered and chastised
tv wcEedv pat the medals into Benjamin :
RRnre
Several scholars had already brought their satch
fs. dut nothing was 20 be found. Ben iaman, at
ERrgh. brought ia; but, in presenting il behold
fh medals fell 10 the ground The poor hoy was
Rsonshed; nevertheless. he was not confused, but
#rsO- them up. he gave them to his master.
Is it lep Benjamin. - snd he, ''vilo have rob
\ I'd ne Of Jhese urricIesa'' ''No SIR" replied the
i'ocert yonrb 81 know not who could have put
BEEN INTO nay aatcheI.'
Under such circumstances the master would not
4 ve believed any other boy, but he knew that be
&r'id rev On Bcninuin's word: ono, my boy,
w. he "you have not stolen my medals; yon
"clt have acknowledged tho truth, sure
N'ne bad boy must have put them into your satch
Then turning to the scholars he said:-
d (which among you has been wicked as to
&S""''e things, and put them into Benjamin 5
&sNchs:"
"a ''%A declared themselves innocent: but he
n ~" was guilty soon betrayed himself He colored
s''s; and, on being pressed ny the master, he
= LEGGED the fault, and severely punish
benjamin, on the contrary saw his Innocence
'ash; and'when he returned home, he said to
4 bis hthqr.-
""'t thanks owe you, my dear papa If you
~ F' hugkt me to speak the truth, and to con-
'H my iaults, ! should have been despised and
hg"