Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-21
THE LOST PENKNIFE.


When was small boy, my mother pre-
sented me with penknile. II was the mrs.
L had ever owned, and carefully kept 1t IN
box. with other choice play things. One
day | showed the knife to my cousin, who
was so much pleased with it, that she pro-
posed to buy it by giving me for It some
nuts and candy. This was very tempt
ing offer, and without asking advice OF any
one, consented to the proposal, and sold
my knife / soon eat the nuts 81 candy
and went to bed that night with heavy
heart. saw how foolish had been, and
knew should be reproved for my foolish
ness when it should be made known. Short
" after this, my aunt wished to mend pen
asked me to lend her my knife. | said moth.
inv but left the room under the pretence
of going to my box to get it. When alone
/ was greatly perpexed TO know what to
say or what course to take. 70 confess
what had done was very Illuminating, and
/ could not humble myself to do it. 1t
seemed to me, that no alternative was left
but to tell falsehood. Accordingly, |
went back to my aunt and with much SEEM
ing dismay, told her had lost my knife
that l had dropped it into crack IN the
floor of the entry and that it had disappear
ed from my sight.
"Where did you loose itl" inquired my
aunt, rising to accompany me to the spot
"This certainly cannot be the place, y
said she, looking at the crack to which
had directed her.
"This cannot be the place for it is not
wide enough to admit a knife"
at is the place--it is the place" | re-
piled; II Just lost it there, was bringing ii
from my box to you"
The hurried manner in which | spoke
and then the blush that always attends a
Consciousness of guilt were so apparent, in
connexion with the impossbility of loosing
the knife in such place, at once ex-
posed me, and bursting into tears, con-
fessed the whole matter.
My parents reprovcd me, but more ten
DERBY than had feared. Nothing that they
said however, could in the least increase
my modification aud shame. | had been
ungratefnl to my mother, for had battered
away the present she gave me, which |
ought to have kept as token of her affection.
| had, without consulting her, sold it for
half its value, first to crafty my appe-
tIte and worse than all, to conceal the fault,
had told a lie. The lesson had recev-
ed, has been a very profitable one to me,
for was taught by it that it is best in all
our undertakings to seek the advice of SUI
periors, when we have any doubt of the act
we are about to perform. Had asked adj
vice ofmy mother ] never should have ex-
perienced the sorrow above described
Children might often save themselves much
wretchedness, if they would but seek and
follow the udvice of their parents.
was taught, also, that it is always safest
to speak the truth. 1t is very common for
children when they commit flult, to resort
to lying, to conceal it; and it is somewhat
remarkable that the course taken to conceal
guilt, is generally the surest way of discIo-
sing it. | said dropped my knife in the
crack Of the floor, which was not wide e.
nough to admit it, Thus was at once de-
tected in a falsehood
Children, if you have done wrong, con-
fess it, and you will feel happy in being
forgiven the wrong you have done Never
say what is not true, with hope of escape,
for your folly will in all probability be dis
covered and you will experience much the
feelings that | did about the knife which
my mother gave me.