The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-10-08
GhiIdrra's Column,
LED INTO TEMPTATION.

"Oh, Willie, let run down to the fence !;
there's Joe Maginness and Teddy Coyle
and lot more playing ball on the lot.
Let's 90 look at 'emI' exclaimed Charlie
Allen to his brother as the two stood at
the attic window looking down into a
vacant lot Just back of their house.
1--WE can't; mamma and papa have
both told us we mustn't, " answered Will
lie, bravely. His usual impulse was to
do everything that Charlie did
They never said we mustn't peep
through that hole in the fence Now,
did tbey?'
No; but the boys might call US, you
know, and
"Pshaw couldn't we say No? Come
along?'
Charlie was two years the older and
being of very self-con6dent, imperious
disposition, usually took the lead in every
thing. Willie trotted down stairs after
him as fast as his short legs would carry
him, for it came so natural to follow Ais
big brother. Big brothers do not always
think that they are often responsible for
q good deal of the trouble that the little
fellows get into.
The game on the lot was very inter
esting, and Charlie and Willie watched 1t
quietly for some time. The boys who
consregated on this lot were a bad set
rough, dirty, always ready to utter words
that should sully no boys mouth-or
mans either, for that matter; and Mr..
Allen had strictly forbidden his children
to have anything to do with them or even
to speak to them.
The boys, who were all good deal
older than even Charlie Allen, knew in
what estimation Mr.. Allen held them and
lost no opportunity to coax the children
to Join their rude plays Gust to spite Mr.
Allen" as Teddy Coyle put it. Pretty
soon Joe Maginnes spied the two clean
bright faces at the broken place in the
fence. He exclaimed Hi, Charlie, VIII
hel is that you? Come out here and
stand on the big stone; you can't see
worth a cent there"
Come on, Williel" exclaimed Charlie.
No, no; we oughtn't t. "
"Pshaw we amt going to play with
EN-.
But we'll be among EN-, and papa
won't like that. Besides, don't you know,
lead us not into temptation?" If we get
out there we might forget. " -
ooh, you're nothing but baby
You're afraid and with this taunt Char
lie crawled through the fence.
Willie hesitated-he did not want to
90; those boys were so big and On his
eyesl so manly, he could not see what
harm it would be. Conscience whispered,
Lead us not into temptation" and after
one more glance at Charles bold way of
perehing himself upon big stone, as if
he was almost grown up too, Willie turn
ed his back on them and went into the
house, reaching the second story just in
time to hear Aunt Minnie say, Boys
boysl where are you? Get your hats as
quick as you can, and l will take you
over to grandmas.
Here I am, aunte y cried Willie
"Wait Just one minute and III call Char
lie; he's down by the fence.
No, cant wait he has no business
to be there; those horrd boys are the at
traction, of course. Make haste, or we
Will miss the train
Off they went, and Willie had such a
pleasant afternoon that he quite forgot
the boys on the lot. 1t was late when
they got home; all the family were at
supper, and mamma said, Here are the
runaways 1t was very kind of you,
Minnie, to give the boys such treat
But where's Charlie p.
Sure enough, where was he? Aunte
had not taken him with her; no one about
the house had seen him since she went
away lust before noon. While they were
talking about him, while papa and Cousin
Charles were putting on their hats and
gloves in the hall, preparatory to a search
for him, one Of their neighbors brought
him in. But such looking boyl No one
would ever think he belonged to decent
people His neat little gray suit was
torn, his shoes dusty, his stockings peep
ing over their tops, his collar and necktie
gone, his hair so rough that comb would
have to work hard to get through the
tangles, his hands grimy, and his face so
tear-stained that no one would imagine it
had been sweet and clean at breakfast
time
ooh, Charlie" exclaimed mamma,
where have you been?"
In the poice-staton," sobbed the
poor child as if his heart would break.
Of course the boys had coaxed him to
Join their play; then they induced him
to go to a cake shop near by promising to
treat" him, for one step always leads to
another. While in the cake shop one of