, his elbow brushed
against a beautiful and costly vase, which stood upon a little table,
knocked it off, and broke it into a hundred pieces.

Henry stopped short, and let Charles slide down from his back. He looked
at the broken vase, and then at his brother, and Charles looked at
Henry, and then at the pieces on the floor.

"It is all broken," said he. "It can't be mended at all, can it,
brother?"

"No, it is past mending," said Henry; "and the first thing we must do
will be to tell Mother."

"Oh no!" said the little boy, "I am afraid to tell her."

"We must never be afraid to tell the truth, dear Charley. I will set you
a good example. You shall never learn to tell a lie from me." Henry had
always remembered what his Mother had said to him, the very first time
he ever saw his little brother; and very often, when he was tempted to
be naughty, or get in a passion, the words "Your brother will do just as
you do," would seem to come from his heart, and he would conquer his
passion.

In a few moments the boys heard the wheels of the carriage. Henry went
to the hall door, and opened it. He held Charles by the hand. He had to
hold him pretty tight, for Charles tried to get away. His face was pale.
He waited until his Mother got out of the carriage and came up the
steps--and taking hold of her hand and looking up in her face, he said
in a firm voice, "Mother, I have broken your vase."

"And I too," said the little boy, "and it is broken all to pieces."

Henry was glad to hear his little brother say this, and oh! how happy it
made him feel, to think that he had learned to speak the truth from him.

Their Mother kissed them both and said, "My darling boys, I am rejoiced
that you are not afraid to speak the truth. I would rather lose twenty
vases than have you tell a lie; but you knew it was wrong to play in the
parlors, did you not?"

"Yes, dear Mother, it was wrong, and I knew it was," replied Henry. "I
will submit to any punishment you think right. I ought to have
remembered that you advised us not to go there."

"If you think you ought to be punished," said his Mother, "Charley shall
go to bed to-night without your singing to him. This will make you both
remember. Is that right?"

"Yes, dear Mother," said Henry; but he looked very sorry; and little
Charles made up a long face, for he loved his brother so much, that he
could not bear to think that he must go to sleep without holding his
finger and hearing him