n also rushed to the
rescue. It was unfair, two boys upon one. They soon threw Ishmael down
upon the ground and beat his breath nearly out of his body. They were so
absorbed in their cowardly work that they were unconscious of the
approach of the party from the shop, until the gentleman left the ladies
and hurried to the scene of action, exclaiming:

"What's this? What's this? What's all this, young gentlemen? Let that
poor lad alone! Shame on you both!"

The two culprits ceased their blows and started up panic-stricken. But
only for a moment. The ready and reckless falsehood sprang to Alfred's
lips.

"Why, sir, you see, we were walking along and saw your carriage standing
here and saw that boy stealing the fruit and nuts from it. And we
ordered him to stop and he wouldn't, and we pitched into him and beat
him. Didn't we, Ben"

"Yes, we beat him," said Ben evasively.

"Humph! And he stole the very articles that he was put here to guard!
Sad! sad! but the fault was mine! He is but a child! a poor child, and
was most likely hungry. I should not have left the fruit right under his
keen young nose to tempt him! Boys, you did very wrong to beat him so!
You, who are pampered so much, know little of the severe privations and
great temptations of the poor. And we cannot expect children to resist
their natural appetites," said the gentleman gently, as he stooped to
examine the condition of the fallen boy.

Ishmael was half stunned, exhausted, and bleeding; but his confused
senses had gathered the meaning of the false accusation made against
him. And, through the blood bursting from his mouth, he gurgled forth
the words:

"I didn't, sir! The Lord above, he knows I didn't!"

"He did! he did! Didn't he, Ben?" cried Master Alfred.

Ben was silent.

"And we beat him! Didn't we, Ben?" questioned the young villain, who
well understood his weak younger brother.

"Yes," replied Ben, who was always willing to oblige his elder brother
if he could do so without telling an out and out falsehood; "we did beat
him."

The gentleman raised the battered boy to his feet, took a look at him
and murmured to himself:

"Well! if this lad is a thief and a liar, there is no truth in
phrenology or physiognomy either."

Then, speaking aloud, he said:

"My boy! I am very sorry for what has just happened! You were placed
here to guard my property. You betrayed your trust! You, yourself, stole
it! And you have told a falsehood to conceal