Presently the teacher said,
"James, do you know your lesson?"

"Yes, sir," said James. He went up to the desk and said it very well.

"You know it perfectly," said his teacher; "you are a good boy. Now go
to your seat."

In a few moments he said, "George, come and say your lesson."

But George did not know a word of it; and James whispered to him, "I
don't want you to be punished, brother; I will go for you and say it
again."

So James went and repeated his lesson. The teacher thought of course it
was George; he said, "Very well indeed, George; you know it just as well
as James: you are _both_ good boys."

When George heard this praise, which he did not deserve, he was
troubled. He had been taught never to deceive. He did not think at first
how wrong he had been; _now_, he saw plainly, that it was very wrong;
that he and his brother had been _acting_ a lie.

He whispered to James, "Brother, I can't bear to cheat, so I will go
right away and tell the teacher."

So he went directly up to the desk, and said, "Sir, I have not yet said
my lesson."

"Why, yes you have," replied the teacher, "I have just heard you say
it."

"No, sir, if you please," said George, "I do not know it at all. James
said it twice, to save me from being punished."

"Well, George," replied his teacher, "I am very glad you have told me
this. I never should have found it out. But your conscience told you
that you were doing wrong; and I am thankful you have listened to its
warnings, and made up your mind at once, to be an honest boy. I will not
punish you, or James, for I am sure neither of you will do so again."

The little boys promised him they never would--and they never did. They
grew up honest and good.

Some other day, I will tell you more about them.

THE LITTLE BOY THAT WAS AFRAID OF THE WATER.

Once on a time, there were two little boys. William was five years old,
and Johnny was not quite three. The weather was very warm, and these
little boys got very weak, and looked so pale and sick, that the doctor
said their parents had better take them to Newport, and let them bathe
in the surf. So their Mother packed up their clothes, and some books,
for she did not wish them to be idle; and, one pleasant afternoon, they
all went on board of the steamboat that was going to Newport.

The little boys were very much amused at all they saw. There were a good
many other boys in the boat, and William and Johnny looked very hard a