n a slow trot--when a
stump by the side of the road scar'd him--and I fell off."

"But what did you lie about it for?" demanded Chester, fiercely.

"I was afraid I'd git a licking," muttered Sam.

"And now you'll get two of 'em, as you richly deserve. If father don't
give 'em to you, I will."

"Hush, Chester, I'll attend to him," said Mr. Royden, more calm than
usual on such occasions. "James, put the saddle on Old Boy. One of us
must ride after the stray horse, and see where he is to be found. Sam,
go and finish that churning, and prepare for a settlement."

With a sinking heart, the rogue obeyed. Mark went off, leading his colt;
Chester rode to hunt up Frank; Mr. Royden proceeded to the field, and
Father Brighthopes sought the privacy of his room to write. The boys
clamored a little while at his door, then went cheerfully away to play
with Lizzie in the garden.

X.

COMPANY.

It was near sundown when Chester returned, having succeeded in finding
Frank, and returned him to his owner.

Meanwhile Father Brighthopes had had a long talk with the distressed and
remorseful Sam. The old man's kindness and sympathy touched the lad's
heart more than anything had ever done before. He could not endure the
appeals to his better nature, to his sense of right, and to his plain
reason, with which the clergyman represented the folly and wickedness of
lying.

"I am sure," said Father Brighthopes, in conclusion, "that, with as much
real good in you as you have, the falsehood has cost you more pain than
half a dozen floggings."

Sam acknowledged the fact.

"Then, aside from the wickedness of the thing, is not falsehood unwise?
Don't you always feel better to be frank and honest, let the
consequences be what they will?"

"I knowed it, all the time," sobbed Sam, "but I _darsn't_ tell the
truth! I wished I _had_ told it, but I _darsn't_!"

"Then we may conclude that lying is usually the mark of a coward. Men
would tell the truth, if they were not afraid to."

"I s'pose so. But I never thought of what you say before. When I lie, I
git licked, and folks tell me I shall go to hell. I don't mind that
much; but when you talk to me as you do, I think I never will tell
another lie, as long as I live,--never!"

Sam now confessed to all the circumstances of the last night's disaster,
and, at the old man's suggestion, repeated the same to Mr. and Mrs.
Royden. He asked for pardon; and promised to tell no more lies, and to