had no compunction about the robbery, for he had not been
instructed in the great principles of truth and justice; nor would
he therefore, perhaps, have had much remorse about accusing an
innocent boy. But though utterly devoid of principle, he had some
remains of natural feeling and of gratitude. Tom Price had often
given him a bit of his own bread and cheese; and once, when Dick was
like to be drowned, Tom had jumped into the pond with his clothes
on, and saved his life when he was just sinking; the remembrance of
all this made his heart heavy. He said nothing; but as he trotted
barefoot after the asses, he heard his father and brothers laugh at
having outwitted the godly ones; and he grieved to think how poor
Tom would suffer for his wickedness, yet fear kept him silent; they
called him a sulky dog, and lashed the asses till they bled.

In the mean time Tom Price kept up his spirits as well as he could.
He worked hard all day, and prayed heartily night and morning. "It
is true," said he to himself, "I am not guilty of this sin; but let
this accusation set me on examining myself, and truly repenting of
all my other sins; for I find enough to repent of, though, I thank
God, I did not steal the widow's apples."

At length Sunday came, and Tom went to school as usual. As soon as
he walked in there was a great deal of whispering and laughing among
the worst of the boys; and he overheard them say, "Who would have
thought it! This is master's favorite! This is Parson Wilson's sober
Tommy! We sha'n't have Tommy thrown in our teeth again if we go to
get a bird's nest, or gather a few nuts on a Sunday." "Your demure
ones are always hypocrites," says another. "The still sow sucks all
the milk," says a third.

Giles's family had always kept clear of the school. Dick, indeed,
had sometimes wished to go; not that he had much sense of sin, or
desire after goodness, but he thought if he could once read, he
might rise in the world, and not be forced to drive asses all his
life. Through this whole Saturday night he could not sleep. He
longed to know what would be done to Tom. He began to wish to go to
school, but he had not courage--sin is very cowardly. So on the
Sunday morning he went and sat himself down under the church wall.
Mr. Wilson passed by. It was not his way to reject the most wicked,
till he had tried every means to bring them over, and even then he
pitied and prayed for them. He had, indeed, long left off talking to