sitting down by her, said: "My dear, you don't understand what you've
done: those apples are as truly stolen as if you had picked them from
the tree. You must take them to Mrs. S. and explain that you didn't
know you were stealing them. Taking little things and trying to ease the
conscience by saying, 'It doesn't amount to anything,' causes the
conscience to fall asleep and to cease its activity. Thus the evil habit
of taking what doesn't belong to us becomes a part of our nature, and
step by step we fall into greater sin.

"I once heard of a young man who was about to be hanged upon the
gallows. Just before the fatal moment he received permission to speak to
any of his friends, if he desired. Calling for his aunt, who had reared
him, he moved forward as if to speak to her, but instead he bit off her
ear. Amid the exclamations of horror that followed, the young man said:
'You think what I have done is cruel. Let me tell you that, had my aunt
done her duty by me, I should not be here today. Had she taken the pains
to inquire where I obtained the lead pencils, knives, handkerchiefs, and
other small articles which I brought home from time to time; had she
not accepted the flimsy excuse that I had found them; had she warned me
of my danger, and not praised me for "finding" the things I had
stolen,--I might have escaped this awful end.'

"So, Bessie, you can see the danger of allowing anything like
this--though it does appear a trifle--to pass by unnoticed. You may go
and return the apples to Mrs. S., who is now in the orchard."

The lesson was severe and lasting; and as Bessie returned the apples to
their rightful owner, it settled deep into her heart.

Parents, beware. Through neglect, the habit of lying begins. An untruth
is passed over carelessly and the child allowed to cover up its sins
without realizing their sinfulness. Likewise, many other evil habits
that have wrecked lives and brought sorrow and disgrace into homes may
be traced to the same carelessness on the part of parents and friends.

CHAPTER VIII.

A WISE DECISION.

The lake in front of the Worthington home, though nearly five miles in
length, had too small a harbor to permit the entrance of the large
Chicago boats. It was therefore necessary, each evening in summer, for
small steamboats to gather up the fruit from the farms along the lake
and to carry it to the nearest port for large steamers. It was
interesting to see the piles of berry crat