He seemed to love the
Savior, and to try in all things to abstain from sin. Some of the bad
boys were in the habit of ridiculing him, and of doing every thing
they could to tease him, because he would not join with them in
mischief. Near the school-house there was a small orchard; and the
scholars would, without the leave of the owner, take the apples. One
day a party of boys were going into the orchard for fruit, and called
upon this pious boy to accompany them.
"Come, Henry," said one of them to him, "let us go and get some
apples."
"The apples are not ours," he fearlessly replied, "and I do not think
it right to steal."
"You are a coward, and afraid to go," the other replied.
"I am afraid," said Henry, "to do wrong, and you ought to be; but I
am not afraid to do right."
This wicked boy was exceedingly irritated at this rebuke, and called
Henry all manner of names, and endeavored to hold him up to the
ridicule of the whole school.
Henry bore it very patiently, though it was hard to be endured, for
the boy who ridiculed him had a great deal of influence and talent.
Some days after this the boys were going a fishing. Henry had a
beautiful fishing-rod, which his father had bought for him.
George--for by that name I shall call the boy who abused Henry--was
very desirous of borrowing this fishing-rod, and yet was ashamed to
ask for it. At last, however, he summoned courage, and called out to
Henry upon the play-ground--
"Henry, will you lend me your rod to go a fishing?"
"O yes," said Henry; "if you will go home with me, I will get it for
you now.
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