as I could be; but when I was just going to put it back on the table, somebody opened the door. I thought it was mother, and I was so frightened that I let the tumbler drop on the floor, and -"Bessie then stopped to choke back a rising sob.

"Went all to smash, did it?" inquired Rob, sympathetically. Bessie nodded ruefully.

"Whew! " whistled Rob. "What did mother say?"

"O! it wasn't mother at all. It was only Bridget. O, Rob! do you think I shall have to tell mother? It would only make her feel vexed if she knew one of them was broken; if I don't tell her, perhaps she won't miss it, and won't have to feel grieved about it. I'm sure I don't want to vex her.”

This was quite a plausible view of the matter, and Bessie longed to hear Robert approve of it. At last he said, "Do you really want my advice, Bess?"

'Perhaps it isn't easy. Who said it was? But I hope I should be honest enough for that." And self-righteous Rob brought down the hammer with all his might on the knife with which he was splitting a piece of wood. Alas for him! It struck on an unseen nail, which snapped off the slender point in a trice. When he drew out the pointless, blunted blade, he gazed at it in dismay; while Bessie, in spite of her trouble, couldn't help laughing a little at the sudden change in his face.

This was anything but soothing to Robert's feelings, and he muttered that he "didn't see what business that old nail had there," and other not very amiable remarks to the same effect. "Why, Rob!" exclaimed Bessie, suddenly, "isn't that

"Well, Rob," said Bessie, at length, "we've both done something now. Let's go and confess together." "Confess!" rejoined Robert, slowly; why, I-I don't believe-that is—” and without finishing his sentence he carefully shut the knife, and going to his father's tool-chest, put it away exactly where he had found it.

Bessie's blue eyes opened very wide at this proceeding, and Robert could not meet their look as he explained, "You see, Bess, John's going to leave next week, and if father doesn't find it out before then, why, he'll-he'll think John did it; and, you see, it won't hurt John, because he won't be here."

As soon as Bessie could say anything for her amazement at this speech, she began, "But, Rob, I thought you said if you were in my place-" but Robert

rushed off to the garden, not caring to hear his own words repeated just then.

Bessie stood still on the barnfloor, looking thoughtfully towards the door where Robert had disappeared. A single streak of sunlight edged its way through a crack, making a perfect glory of her wavy, flaxen hair, so that she formed quite a pretty little picture, as she stood in deep thought for full ten minutes. At last a light flashed into her eyes, and she ran out to find Robert. She came upon him, gloomily pulling up weeds in his garden.

the burden was off her mind at least. How he envied her! If he could only have the same peace! But no, he hadn't the courage to pay the price-confession; so he ate his dinner silently enough, never opening his mouth, except to put his food into it.

As they arose from the table, Mrs. S- said to her husband, "I wish you would fasten this window, so that it won't rattle in the night."

"O yes, I will!" he answered. "It needs a wedge, doesn't it? Robert, run to the barn and get my new knife, which you'll find in the upper drawer of the tool-chest."

Poor, conscience-struck Robert! He did as he was bidden. and handed the knife to his father, hoping fervently that he wouldn't open that blade. Mr. S- did, though; and when questioned, Robert had to tell the whole story. When he had finished, his father said sternly, "Now let us look at what you have done. You have wilfully disobeyed me; and besides that, you have concealed your guilt as long as possible, in the hope of throwing the blame on some one else. You may go to your room, and stay till I give you leave to come down."

afternoon Robert

and

All the spent alone in his room, when every now and then ringing peals of laughter reached his ears from the room below, where Bessie and her cousin Laura were having a fine time together, he thought bitterly that Bessie had forgotten him in his trouble and disgrace. But he was mistaken, for when Laura had gone home, and it began to grow dark, Bessie went to her father's study, and pleaded her brother's cause very earnestly. "Poor Rob! He'll get so lonely; I'm afraid he'll throw himself out of the window, or do something dreadful."

Robert was sitting by the window in his room when Bessie softly opened the door and said, "Are you here, Rob? It's so dark I can't see."

She drew a breath of relief at his dismal answer, "Yes, of course."

"I'm so glad! Well, father says you can come down now." Robert jumped up eagerly. "Did you ask him to let me ?" "Yes."

'Well, you're a real good girl, you are," said Rob falteringly, and after a pause added, "I'll take it all back, Bess, what I said this morning. You're twice as honest as I am."

"Ono, Rob! but you did give me some good advice," said Bessie, mischievously.

"Don't, Bess," pleaded Rob. "I'm so ashamed of myself."

"Well, I won't ever say a word about it." And she kept her promise; but Rob never forgot that Saturday's lesson.

RECONCILIATION.

HE following anecdote appeared in the pages of a religious magazine. "The son of a minister had by some means displeased his father. His father thought it right to be reserved for an hour or two, and when asked a question about the business of the day, he was very short in his answer to his son. An hour or two elapsed. The time had nearly arrived when the youth was to repeat his lesson. He came to his father's study and said,

Papa, I cannot learn my lesson unless you are reconciled. am sorry I have offended you. I hope you will forgive me. I think I shall never offend you again.' His father replied, 'All I wish is to make you sensible of your fault. When you acknowledge it, you know that, with me, all is easily reconciled.'

666

"Then, papa,' said he, ' give me the token of reconciliation, and seal it with a kiss.' The hand was given, and the seal most heartily exchanged on each side. 'Now,' exclaimed the dear boy, I will learn Latin and Greek with any boy,' and fled to his little study. 'Stop, stop!' said his father; have you not a Heavenly Father? If what you have done be evil,' He is displeased, and you must apply to Him for forgiveness.' With tears starting in his eyes, he said, 'Papa, I went to Him first. I knew, except He was reconciled, I could do nothing.' And with tears falling he added, "I hope I hope He has forgiven me; and now I am happy.' His father never had occasion to look at him with a shade of disapprobation from that time to his death."

SHORT SENTENCES FOR

YOUNG THINKERS.

LXI. As the year is, so your pot must seethe.

LXII. He that hath a good trade, hath a purchase ready

made.

LXIII. The truly brave fear only what is base and wicked..

LXIV. Many hands make light work.

Answers to Scripture Questions
in Rhyme.-NO. LVIII.
ANDREW, John i. 35-40.
LEVI, Luke v. 29.
PETER, Gal. ii. 11—13.
NATHANAEL, John i. 47.
JAMES AND JOHN, Luke ix. 54.
JOHN, John xix. 27.

JUDAS ISCARIOT, John xiii. 29. PETER, JAMES, JOHN, Mark v. 37; xiv. 33.

PHILIP, John xiv. 8.
THOMAS, John xi. 16.
SIMON, Luke vi. 15.

The two omitted are JUDAS, Luke vi. 16; JAMES, Luke vi. 15.