TOMMY'S APPLE LESSON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1, 7 January 1909, Page 37

TOMMY'S APPLE LESSON

' I don't see why Jamie and I may not play with Harry Barnes, father; I am sure he is not so very bad,' Tommy urged. •We will try to make him better. Can't we play with him? Please, father, I don't see how he can* harm iis.' Without saying a word, Tommy's father took four large fine apples, put them on a plate, and placed a badly speckled apple in the centre, then he set them in the cupboard. Tommy watched him closely, and wondered why; but his father only said, ' Wait two weeks, Tom, and then we shall see why you should not play with Harry Barnes.' Mr. Brown, always kept his word; the boy knew that he must wait two weeks. At the end of that time, Tommy again asked his father if he could play with Harry. Again without a word, Mr. Brown went to the cupboard and brought out. the plate of apples. The good apples werebad, just like the one in the centre. The boy was sur.prised, and his father, examined each apple carefully, looking puzzled. v v ' Should not four good apples make one bad apple good?' he asked. ' I fear, Tommy,' he added, ' that apples and boys are somewhat alike. One evil companion will destroy four good .ones. Do you see, now, why. Ido not want you to play with Harry Barnes?' 1 Tommy's face was very red. ' I think I do not want to play with him now,' he said, manfully.