The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1882-11-11
Charles the Good, and Thomas the Bad
BY Mnral IInlstcad.

- $3.50 I8
was on his way to school, he passed
by a large orchard in which there
ere a great many kinds of fruit,
and as the sunshine came streaming
through the branches of the trees {;
and fell upon the rosy-cheeked APP
pies, the sweet, mellow Peaches,
and the red Cherries, Charles
thought they looked very Beautiful
indeed, and would Go Down Nicely
with the Lunch his kind Mother had
placed in the little Basket he car
ried in his hand.
Some of the fruit hung ncar the
Fence, and as Charles looked at it
W%isttully he said to himself: "lIow
easily | could climb over there and
Pluck several Of the Apples and
Pears without being Discovered,
for there is no one in the Orchard
now. But hat would be Wrong
and if did it | should always be
Sorry, and suffer drcadfully from
the Pangs of Concicncc."
So he stood there "A little longer.
The little Birds in the trees were
singing their Merricst Lays, the
soft and ballny Zephyrs of early
Summer were Kissing the Flowers
as they nodded their pretty heads
in the grass by the roadside, and
all Nature seemed rejoicing in its
Strength.
Many times Charles looked up at
the Fruit, and thought how easily
it would be to take it, but every
time he did this the small Voice
would say: THAT would be wrong.
Charles" and he would resolve not
to make any such Break.
But pretty soon Il bright Thought
struck him, and his purc'young face
lighted up with Il Sunny Smile. Il
will 90 to the Owner Of the Orch
ard" he said, "who lives in yonder
House, and tell him how | have
conquered Temptation. Then he
will give all the Fruit | want, be-
cause that is the way Sturdy Farm
ers always do in the little books |
get at Sunday School"
So he went boldly up to the farm
house, but Just as he entered the
Gate a fierce Dog grabbed him by
the seat of his Panties and Wiped
the Ground with him for Il few mo-
ments. The nice Lunch that his
mother had put up for him was Dis
tributed all over the Yard, and his
new jacket looked as if it had been
Out With the Boys. When the
Farmer heard the Noise he came
running out ofthe House and called
off the dog.
"What do you want, my Little
Man." he said to Charles.
So Charles told him he had been
tempted to take the Fruit, but
would not do so because it was
Wrong. And then he asked the
man for some Fruit.
The Farmer looked at him for a
Moment, and then he said: ''Ihave
two more Dogs, both larger than
the one you tackled, and unless
,you are out Of here in Three Jerks
Of a Lambs Tail, theywill be lunch
ing, and you will be quite Conspic-
uous in the bill-offare."
So Charles a quickly away, not
even Stopping to get his Basket. A
little way down the Road he over
took Thomas Tough, who was eat
ing a Delicious Peach.
"Where did you get hat Peach,
Thomas!" asked Charles.
"Over in that Orchard" replied
Thomas. 81 waited until the old
Crank who owns the place had gone
to Breakfast, and then appointed
myself Receiver Of the Orchard"
"Iou are a very wicked Boy"
said Charles.
eyes" replied Thomas, 81 am a
tribe wicked, but | keep Getting to
the Front all the time, and my
clothes don't seem quite so much
Disarranged as yours. You will
also notice that my lunch Basket
is with me, and that my piece OF
pie for the Noon Day Meal is not
lying in Farmer Browns Garden"
When Charles went Home that
evening he told his Papa what he
had done. "Iou know, Papa" he
said, "that would sooner be right
than President"
"Yes," replied his Papa, ''but !
am not seriously alarmed about
your being President, either"
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