look wistfully at the
rich bunches of grapes, which were within their reach. The lady had
not told them that they might gather any, and they felt that they
ought not to do so. But the tempter was near, and they listened to his
suggestions.

[Illustration: The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys
entered.]

Looking towards the house to see if they were observed, they
cautiously went up to the vine, and each gathered a bunch of grapes.
They ate them secretly, that they might avoid detection; but although
they knew it not, there was an eye in the house that saw them, and
there was another eye from which their act was not hid--the eye of the
all-seeing God.

When the note was written, the boys were recalled to the parlour, and
pleasantly dismissed. I think they must have felt somewhat ashamed,
that they had abused the confidence reposed in them, and had been
guilty of stealing from their kind friend.

After they left, the lady was informed what they had done. When she
visited "the home," where they lived, she mentioned the fact to their
teacher, although she did not allude to it to them.

The teacher took occasion to talk with her scholars about being honest
and trustworthy, and asked them what they should think of children
who, when sent on errands and permitted to go into the yard to enjoy
themselves, should stealthily take the fruit which grew there. They,
of course, condemned such conduct. She gave them the instruction they
needed, and endeavoured to impress its importance upon their minds.

Soon after the close of the school, the two boys who had taken the
grapes went to her and told her what they had done. She talked with
them kindly. They seemed truly penitent. She asked them if they would
like to go to the lady and acknowledge their fault. They said they
should, and immediately they put on their straw hats, and their clean
sacks, and went cheerfully to make all the reparation in their power
for the fault they had committed. Confession is always pleasant to the
truly penitent.

Again they stood in that shaded parlour. They were affectionately
welcomed as before. They confessed freely and fully, what they had
done on their previous visit, and asked forgiveness, which was readily
granted. Just as they were leaving, they turned and inquired, "Can you
ever trust us again?" The lady assured them that she could, and they
went away happy and strengthened in their good purposes.

From that time ther