A Home lesson.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 78

A Home lesson.

A boy came home red, rumpled, bruised, and oxeited. "Come, my son." <>aicl his father. "What is the matter? You seem to have been fighting. Was the t^y larger than you are'"

The boy looked uneasy, and mumbled, i "No, I don't know as he was." "Really ! And what did you fight tor?" A long delay; then he blurted out the truth i " 'Cause l?e wouldn't give me half of his apple !" "Indeed ! Didn't ive you half of his apple ! So you have set up as a highway robber, taking your neighbour's goods? And a bully and a coward, whipping a smalle. boy ! Go, now, and get washed and dressed." "He deserves a whipping," said his sister. "Not at all.' He has not lied; he told frankly the truth." The boy, glad at getting off so well, soon returned to tho tea table, wearing a smiling face. "There is no place here for you," said his father, calmly. "Such principles as you act upon arc not popular at this table. You will find food proper foi a boy who conducts himself as you have done in a stand in the corner of the kitchen." But breakfast and supper thus arranged proved unendurable to the boy. j "Can I ever come back?" he asked. i "Certainly, when you. have made your affairs right." "But how can I do it?" "Take your own money, buy the little boy an apple and give it to him, with aa apology. Then you will be once more an honourable fellow, and' we shall be glad of your company."' ! And so they settled, it. 1