The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-06

TO save all her pocket money ana buy
Miss Roberts another copy OF Natural
History"
Poor deluded child, she thought by
thus making reparation, her sin would
not be so great; but there were several
difficulties in the way The school girls
would all expect her to give handsomely
towards Miss Roberts Christmas present
and the children at home would wonder
at her refusal to aid them In their joint
annual of gifts.
Truly the way of the transgressor is
hard"
Every way Jessie turned, an obstacle
met her in the path, and another thing
dear little readers, Jessie, who was gen
orally good natured and full Of fun and
life, was now very ll-tempered; and
some of the girls declared her "bearish 4"
Alas Jessie's conscience was at work,
and she had had no peace day nor night
since that unhappy day.
Fortunately tor her plan, distant aunt
sent each one OF the Leslie children a
gold dollar to spend as they pleased 1t
came just in time to help in the purchase
OF the new book A new and handsome
copy of Natural History was priced and
bought, unknown to every one, even to
the dear mother.
All little boys and girls, never have
any secrets from your best friend, your
mother. She is never too tired or too
busy to listen to your. childish troubles /;
and above all, never deceive her.
But now the book was bought and
hidden in the bottom of an old trunk,
yet how was it to be given to Miss Rob-
erts? If left at her house the donor mi ht
be discovered, and it would be very diff
ticult to put it in her teachers desk as
that was always locked. The only thing
to be done was to find key that would
unlock it, and watch her chance of open
ing it. On the first blank Leaf Jessie
wrote in her neatest hand" For dear
Miss Roberts, from the little girl who
wishes to make some reparation (she found
that word in the dictionary and copied 1t
letter for letter. for her very thoughtless
act.
Miss Roberts surprise was great on
finding the book in her desk. After
prayers she said, holding UP the hand
some volume so all might see, e" l have to
thank one of my scholars for this beauti-
ful gift, but 1 would be more pleased,
much more thankful, if the child who
sent me this as an act of PREPARATION would
now stand up and make full and free
confession"
The kind teacher closed her remaks
with an earnest appeal to the guilty one
to finish up the generous act of that day
by confession of the accident and of the
sin committed against God, parents, and
teacher.
That afternoon Jessie was called to her
mothers private room where, to her
great confusion, she found her teacher.
Come in" said her mother, in very
sad tones, which cut poor Jessie to the
heart. Come here my child! Miss
Roberts and [ both know your unfor-
tunate secret. How could you act so
sinfully? how could you be so afraid
afraid to own what was an accident?'
80 mamma T. exclaimed Jessie, burst
ing into tears, chow did you find it out p
You betrayed yourself by this
Christmas card, answered Mrs Leslie,
drawing from the book a very pretty
card, on the back of which was written
Jessie's name in her own hand writing.
The old proverb, "be sure your sin
will find you out" had been verified in
Jessie's case. The card had been bought
by the little girl with the intention OF
giving it also to her kind teacher, but by
mistake i, had been placed in the new
book and there Miss Roberts found it.
After the sad story had been told by
the sobbing and now repentant child,
the deeply grieved mother asked her il
she knew how many of Gods command
ments had been broken by her long
course of deceit and falsehood? By her
deceit and silence she had broken the
ninth commandment, and by her irrev-
erence and disobedience the fifth.
Are you willing, Jessie" continued
Mrs. Leslie, &" to confess your sin before
the whole school?''
Miss Roberts protested, thinking it
was too much to ask from such timid
child as Jessie.
But Mrs. Leslie was firm, and much
to the surprise Of the teacher our little
girl did the next day before the assem-
bled school make free confession of her
fault 1t required no little moral
courage, Of which her school mates were
sensible, and from that day forth Jessie
lost the name OF coward
By this wrong doing Jessie lost all
chance of the prize, and it was by her
own request all Christmas gifts were
| 1apio1 70 bor ,ybar tbo bo1i1 oopoo