, or any other remarkable visitation of Providence; insomuch,
that many young people in the place, who did not belong to the
school, and many parents also, used to drop in for an hour on a
Sunday evening, when they were sure to hear something profitable.
The minister greatly approved this practice, and often called in
himself, which was a great support to the master, and encouragement
to the people who attended.

The master had taken a deep concern in the story of Widow Brown's
apple-tree. He could not believe Tom Price was guilty, nor dared he
pronounce him innocent; but he resolved to turn the instructions of
the present evening to this subject. He began thus: "My dear boys,
however light some of you may make of robbing an orchard, yet I have
often told you there is no such thing as a _little_ sin, if it be
wilful or habitual. I wish now to explain to you, also, that there
is hardly such a thing as a _single_ solitary sin. You know I teach
you not merely to repeat the commandments as an exercise for your
memory, but as a rule for your conduct. If you were to come here
only to learn to read and spell on a Sunday, I should think that was
not employing God's day for God's work; but I teach you to read that
you may, by this means, come so to understand the Bible and the
Catechism, as to make every text in the one, and every question and
answer in the other, to be so fixed in your hearts, that they may
bring forth in you the fruits of good living."

_Master._ How many commandments are there?

_Boy._ Ten.

_Master._ How many commandments did that boy break who stole Widow
Brown's apples?

_Boy._ Only one, master; the eighth.

_Master._ What is the eighth?

_Boy. Thou shalt not steal._

_Master._ And you are very sure that this was the only one he broke?
Now suppose I could prove to you that he probably broke not less
than six out of those ten commandments, which the great Lord of
heaven himself stooped down from his eternal glory to deliver to
men, would you not, then, think it a terrible thing to steal,
whether apples or guineas?

_Boy._ Yes, master.

_Master._ I will put the case. Some wicked boy has robbed Widow
Brown's orchard. (Here the eyes of every one were turned on poor Tom
Price, except those of Dick Giles, who fixed his on the ground.) I
accuse no one, continued the master; Tom Price is a good boy, and
was not missing at the time of the robbery; these are two reasons
why I presume that he is innoce