and
indeed He did, for from that day Lucy never felt envious of Emily's
doll, but helped Emily to take care of it and make its clothes, and was
happy to have it laid on her bed betwixt herself and sister.

[Illustration: "_She saw that it was a ring._"--Page 19.]

Story of the Apples

[Illustration: Henry stood under the apple-tree]

Just opposite Mr. Fairchild's parlour window was a young apple-tree,
which had never yet brought forth any fruit; at length it produced two
blossoms, from which came two apples. As these apples grew they became
very beautiful, and promised to be very fine fruit.

"I desire," said Mr. Fairchild, one morning, to his children, "that
none of you touch the apples on that young tree, for I wish to see what
kind of fruit they will be when they are quite ripe."

That same evening, as Henry and his sisters were playing in the parlour
window, Henry said:

"Those are beautiful apples indeed that are upon that tree."

"Do not look upon them, Henry," said Lucy.

"Why not, Lucy?" asked Henry.

"Because papa has forbidden us to meddle with them."

_Henry._ "Well, I am not going to meddle with them; I am only looking
at them."

_Lucy._ "Oh! but if you look much at them, you will begin to wish for
them, and may be tempted to take them at last."

_Henry._ "How can you think of any such thing, Lucy? Do you take me for
a thief?"

The next evening the children were playing again in the parlour window.
Henry said to his sister, "I dare say that those beautiful apples will
taste very good when papa gathers them."

"There, now, Henry!" said Lucy; "I told you that the next thing would
be wishing for those apples. Why do you look at them?"

"Well, and if I do wish for them, is there any harm in that," answered
Henry, "if I do not touch them?"

_Lucy._ "Oh! but now you have set your heart upon them, the devil may
tempt you to take one of them, as he tempted Eve to eat the forbidden
fruit. You should not have looked at them, Henry."

_Henry._ "Oh, I shan't touch the apples! Don't be afraid."

[Illustration: "_There was one he could just reach._"--Page 26.]

Now Henry did not mean to steal the apples, it is true; but when people
give way to sinful desires, their passions get so much power over them
that they cannot say, "I will sin so far, and no further." That night,
whenever Henry awoke, he thought of the beautiful apples. He got up
before his parents, or his sisters, and went down in