,transcriber's ,note3 ,minor typographical errors have been corrected without note4 ,irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed4 ,words printed in italics are noted with underscores3 italics4 ,illustration3 ,see page #aa4 ,,the ,,penitent ,,boy3 ,,or1 ,,sin ,,brings ,,sorrow4 ,,revised ,,by ,d4 ,p4 ,,kidder4 ,new-,york4 ,,published ,,by ,,lane ,,scott1 ,,for ,,the ,,sunday-,,school ,,union ,,of ,,the ,,methodist ,,episcopal ,,church1 #bjj ,,mulberry-,,st4 ,joseph ,longking1 ,printer4 #ahea4 ,,the ,,penitent ,,boy4 ,do lend me your new knife1 which mamma gave you1 asked ,samuel2 ,i want to cut notches in my stick1 and play ,robinson ,crusoe3 do1 will you1 ,alfred8 ,no1 ,i cannot ,sam2 so do not ask any more4 ,i wish you would not tease me for my knife2 you cannot have it2 ,i do not want it hurt4 ,well1 but you lent it to cousin ,james1 on ,monday1 and he did not spoil it1 did he8 ,now do be quiet1 ,samuel2 ,i cannot lend it to you1 so that is all ,i shall say4 ,why ,i never saw you so cross1 ,alfred4 ,yes1 ,i am cross1 ,i know4 ,i feel very cross and uncomfortable1 so do not ask any more about the knife4 ,just then an aunt of the little boys entered the room1 and ,samuel turned to her in his trouble4 ,now do not you think1 aunt1 ,alfred ought to lend me his knife1 just for a minute1 to cut a ,robinson ,crusoe stick8 ,no doubt he will1 replied ,miss ,woodford2 ,i never knew ,alfred cross or unkind3 he does not mean that he will not lend it2 he is only joking1 ,i am sure4 ,yes1 aunt1 ,i do mean it2 ,i have made up my mind that nobody shall use my knife4 ,well1 then1 urged the anxious ,samuel1 do you cut my stick yourself2 ,i only want seven notches in it1 to make believe the days of the week3 of course1 you will not refuse this1 will you8 ,where is your knife1 my boy8 asked his aunt2 is it in your pocket8 ,no1 aunt4 ,well1 get it then1 my dear1 and do this little kindness for your brother1 who looks so imploringly there1 with his stick in his hand4 ,alfred left the room1 looking very thoughtful2 and ,samuel took a seat on a stool1 keeping his eye on the door1 resolved to wait quietly for ,alfred's return1 as he was not an impatient boy4 ,after a considerable time1 ,alfred came back1 with a face very much flushed1 and no knife could be seen4 ,have you got it1 ,alfred8 asked ,samuel1 jumping up2 come1 do cut my notches1 because ,i cannot get on the island and begin to play until it is done4 ,i cannot do it1 ,samuel2 ,i have not got my knife4 ,where is your pretty new knife1 then1 my dear8 ,i saw you put it carefully away in a box one day4 ,yes1 ,i did1 aunt2 but ,i have just dropped it into a crack in the hall1 and it is gone out of sight4 ,o dear6 let us try to get it1 said the kind aunt2 and away they all three ran to the crack in the passage4 ,show me exactly the place where it went in1 ,alfred4 ,just here1 aunt1 said he1 pointing to a very small crevice between the boards4 ,o no2 this cannot be the spot1 the crack is too small to admit a knife3 it must be somewhere else4 ,but ,i see no crack in any other part4 ,my dear boy1 continued ,miss ,woodford1 looking into ,alfred's face1 you did not let it down here4 ,her gentle words1 accompanied as they were with a sorrowful look1 melted him at once1 for ,alfred was not a hardened boy1 and he ran off to his room1 weeping all the way4 ,well1 said ,samuel1 as he returned to the parlor1 ,i suppose ,i must mark some make-believe notches on my stick with my pencil4 ,miss ,woodford left him to his play1 and went in search of her sister1 the mother of the boys4 ,taking a seat by her side in the dining-room1 she asked ,mrs4 ,sinclair if she knew anything of the knife she had given to ,alfred4 ,no1 replied ,mrs4 ,sinclair2 ,i have not seen it for some time3 but ,i think ,i heard ,james admiring it1 on ,monday4 ,i am afraid it is lost1 sister1 continued ,miss ,woodford3 but this is not the worst part of it2 ,i greatly fear ,alfred has told an untruth about the affair4 ,i hope not1 replied ,mrs4 ,sinclair1 with a troubled countenance2 ,i never knew either of my boys to be guilty of anything so shocking4 ,where is he8 ,miss ,woodford then related the whole of the circumstances1 adding1 ,i believe ,alfred has gone to his room4 ,mrs4 ,sinclair considered1 for a moment1 what course to pursue1 and then resolved to allow her little son to remain in the retirement he had chosen1 at least for some time4 ,samuel could not enjoy his game alone1 for he saw very plainly that his brother had been guilty of a great sin2 so he went into the garden1 and walked up and down1 feeling very melancholy4 ,he knew that ,god had said that liars have their portion with those who are shut up in eternal darkness2 and he felt very sorry that he had asked for the loan of the knife4 ,after an hour or two1 ,mrs4 ,sinclair went up to converse with the guilty boy2 but as she was drawing near his room she heard the sound of his voice1 as if conversing with some one1 and1 supposing that ,samuel had joined him1 she stopped for a moment to ascertain from whence the voice came1 when she distinctly heard ,alfred saying1 ,forgive my sin1 heavenly ,father1 for ,jesus ,christ's sake4 ,this was a confirmation to her of the sad fact that he was really guilty of the crime laid to his charge2 at the same time it was a comfort to her to hear that he was penitent4 ,she stepped gently back into the parlor1 thankful1 amid her sorrow1 to find that her little boy was confessing his sin to the holy ,god4 ,she could not1 however1 remain long absent from her erring child1 but again ascending the stairs1 and finding all silent1 she entered the room4 ,alfred was sitting1 bathed in tears1 with two books by his side1 a ,bible and a prayer-book4 ,o1 mamma6 he exclaimed1 ,i am ashamed to see you--,i am--,i am2 but ,i will tell you all about it4 ,o1 ,i am so unhappy6 ,i am afraid you will not forgive me1 and ,i feel sure the ,saviour will not4 ,when he saw the tears falling over his mother's cheeks1 he felt more distressed than ever1 and covering his face with his hands1 he wept bitterly4 ,at length he went on to confess the whole matter4 ,you know1 mamma1 my cousin ,james liked my knife1 and asked me to give it to him for some sweetmeats he had in his pocket2 so ,i consented to part with the knife you gave me1 without thinking4 ,i wish ,i had asked you about it4 ,i have been very wicked4 ,i told a lie to try to hide it4 ,what shall ,i do8 ,are you really sorry for your sin1 ,alfred8 this is the question2 or are you only mortified that your guilt is discovered8 ,o yes1 mamma1 ,i am indeed sorry1 and ,i have been trying to tell ,god about it4 ,i asked him to forgive me1 but ,i am afraid he will not4 ,how dreadful it is to think that ,god will remember that ,i have told a lie6 ,what would become of me1 if ,i were to die to-night8 ,mrs4 ,sinclair took a chair by the side of her son1 and told him if he really felt sorry1 there was hope he might be forgiven2 for although1 said she1 ,god is a ,god of truth1 and has said that whosoever loveth or maketh a lie shall be shut out of heaven1 yet he has also said1 if we repent of our sins1 resolving to forsake them1 and come to him in the name of the ,saviour1 that he will pardon us for his sake4 ,o1 ,i hope he will forgive me6 ,do pray for me1 mamma4 ,what a dreadful thing it would be if ,i should be driven away from heaven at last1 and go with liars away from ,god6 ,then bursting into tears1 ,alfred hid his face on his mother's neck1 and they wept together4 ,mrs4 ,sinclair then prayed with her penitent boy1 and he became more calm4 ,now1 my son1 she said1 we will go down to the parlor4 ,o no1 mamma2 do let me go to bed3 ,i would rather go to bed1 if you will only kiss me1 and forgive me4 ,i should like to go to bed4 ,mrs4 ,sinclair consented to ,alfred's proposal1 and after reading a chapter in the ,bible1 and praying to be forgiven all his sins1 for the sake of ,jesus ,christ1 he retired to rest2 but he passed a very uncomfortable night1 and awoke in the morning with a very sorrowful heart4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,sinclair had resolved that nothing should be said to their son1 the next morning1 on the subject of the evening's transgression1 as they believed that he felt truly sorry that he had offended ,god4 ,when the bell rung for family worship1 ,alfred appeared1 with ,samuel by his side2 but he looked pale and unhappy1 and his eyes were downcast as he took his usual seat by his father4 ,the family sung some verses from that beautiful hymn beginning1-- ,there is a fountain fill'd with blood ,drawn from ,immanuel's veins1 ,and sinners plunged beneath that flood ,lose all their guilty stains4 ,alfred was in the habit of pitching the tunes on those occasions1 but this morning ,samuel took his place1 and began the moment the verse was given out4 ,when they came to the third line ,alfred's tears flowed so fast he was obliged to stop2 and if you had been sitting near his mamma you might have seen her cheek wet too1 for she felt deeply for her little son4 ,after breakfast1 the two boys went to their studies as usual1 and ,samuel was very kind and attentive to his brother1 watching him in all his movements1 and trying1 by all the means within his power1 to win a smile from him1 for his affectionate heart longed to see his brother as happy as usual4 ,but all his efforts were unavailing2 no one could see a gleam of cheerfulness on ,alfred's countenance all the day4 ,just before dinner1 as he was standing by the parlor fire1 with his back to the door1 ,rose1 a kind ,irish servant1 came in to prepare the table4 ,o1 then1 is it you it is1 ,master ,alfred8 ,i wanted to have a word with ye4 ,what's the matter8 sure your cheek's pale2 it's sick entirely ye'll be soon1 said the kind-hearted girl1 if you vex any more about that bit of a knife2 and it's a good half hour ,i spent too1 looking for it3 but never mind1 ,i am sure the mistress1 good creature1 will soon give ye another1 or may be you will soon find the same4 ,alfred looked at ,rose very thoughtfully1 and asked1 ,do you not know what ,i have done1 ,rose8 ,sure and ,i never knew ye do anything bad since the day ,i came with ye from ,belfast2 think of that now1 and ye'll do bravely yet1 my darlint4 ,ah1 ,rose6 ,i see very plainly how it is2 you do not know what ,i am4 ,did you ever read the fifth chapter of the ,acts1 and the twenty-first chapter of the ,revelation1 ,rose8 ,why yes1 ,master ,alfred1 to be sure1 ,i've read the ,bible through entirely1 but ,i don't just remember those particular parts by chapter and verse4 ,but what has that to do with the loss1 ,master ,alfred8 ,i want to say a word of comfort to you4 ,think of ,miss ,mary when she lost her handkerchief2 the mistress never said a word about it after3 and it's the flower of the country she is for kindness1 when we tell her our faults4 ,yes1 yes1 ,rose1 ,i know all that very well2 but do you remember hearing about ,ananias and ,sapphira in the ,bible8 ,o1 if it's ,i don't remember that6 ,i'll forget kith and kin afore ,i'll forget how afraid ,i was to tell a lie in the ,sunday school1 for fear of being struck dead2 and it's a fine scrape entirely ,i got into1 and lost a pretty new frock into the bargain4 ,did you1 ,rose1 indeed8 ,o1 ,i wish ,i had been you6 and the tears fell fast again over the penitent boy's cheeks4 ,ah now1 ,master ,alfred1 do not take on so4 ,what can be the matter8 ,sure this story has nothing to do with you1 has it8 ,i see how it is1 ,rose2 the dreadful tale has been kept a secret4 ,you do not know what ,i am4 ,is it ,i do not know what you are1 ,master ,alfred8 why sure it's your reason entirely ye'll lose by the heart-trouble1 whatever it is4 ,not know what ye are8 ,sure your're a fine young gentleman1 and it's the son of the mistress ye're for kindness2 and the likes o' ye ,i never saw1 barrin' your brother1 the darlint4 ,o1 do not talk to me so1 ,rose2 it only makes me more ashamed6 ,i am an ungrateful and a sinful boy1 and ,i am afraid ,i shall never go to heaven4 ,and is it you that is afraid of that8 ,o dear6 what then is come to ye1 my dear8 ,alfred was out of hearing before ,rose had finished her kind speech4 ,he could bear his sorrow no longer without talking to his mother4 ,mrs4 ,sinclair was coming out of a little back parlor1 with ,samuel1 as ,alfred crossed the hall2 and1 taking his mother's hand1 he said1 ,i want to talk to you1 mamma4 ,mrs4 ,sinclair led him to her room1 and closing the door1 she drew a chair for him by her side1 still holding his hand in hers4 ,alfred was weeping too much to utter a syllable for some minutes2 but when a little recovered1 he exclaimed1 ,o1 my dear mamma1 ,i am so miserable1 ,i cannot bear to think nor stay by myself4 ,i was afraid to go to sleep last night1 for ,i thought perhaps ,i should awake in that dreadful place where liars go2 ,i never was so unhappy before in all my life4 ,i can easily imagine this1 my dear boy1 replied ,mrs4 ,sinclair2 you were never guilty of the same sin before1 ,i believe4 ,you only believe1 mamma3 are you not sure ,i never told a lie before8 ,i hope you never did1 my boy4 ,ah6 ,i see it is as you told us one day1 a liar can neither convince nor persuade others1 and is not believed even when he tells the truth4 ,indeed1 mamma1 ,i never did tell a lie before2 but ,i was afraid you would think me an ungrateful boy for not taking more care of the present you gave me4 ,o1 ,i wish ,i had told the truth1 and been more afraid of offending ,god than even you4 ,i wish so too1 my son4 ,i have avoided saying much to you on the subject1 because ,i hope and believe that you are truly sorry1 and that you have confessed your sin to the great and glorious ,being who calls himself the ,god of truth2 and you remember after the apostle ,john had been describing the beautiful city1 where holy and redeemed people shall live when earth is passed away1 he says that no one shall enter there who maketh a lie4 ,indeed1 a liar could not live in heaven1 if he were permitted to enter1 for everything there is pure and holy4 ,yes1 mamma2 ,i have been reading the twenty-first chapter of the ,revelation1 this morning4 ,well1 my son1 then in the fifteenth ,psalm1 when the question is asked1 ,who shall dwell in thy holy hill8 the answer is1 ,he that speaketh the truth in his heart4 ,then again1 we are told by the wise man that lying lips are an abomination to the ,lord4 ,the holy ,god1 who requireth truth in the inward parts1 must look upon a child polluted with falsehood with just indignation1 and as belonging to that fallen spirit who is called the father of lies1 and who dwells where truth is unknown1 and where all liars have their part4 ,there truth is never spoken1 except to deceive1 and there repentance and prayer are of no avail4 ,o yes1 mamma1 said the sorrowful ,alfred1 ,i remember the hymn you taught me when ,i was a very little boy-- ',the ,lord delights in them that speak ,the words of truth2 but every liar ,must have his portion in the lake ,that burns with brimstone and with fire4' ,i never thought ,i should tell a lie when ,i used to say that hymn to you4 ,o1 ,i wish ,i could be a little good boy again6 said ,alfred1 wiping away the tears4 ,i trust you will yet be a good and holy boy1 my son2 and the suffering you have caused yourself and your family will prove a warning to you3 but you must not trust to your own deceitful heart1 but look to ,god for assistance to make you sincere and truthful4 ,you find your conscience does not like a lie1 but that it solemnly and dreadfully reproaches the liar2 and you find too1 my son1 that to be holy is the only way to be happy4 ,yes1 mamma1 ,i do2 but do you think the ,saviour will forgive me1 and make me happy again8 ,yes1 ,i have no doubt he will pardon your sin1 if you are really sorry1 and resolve to be watchful in future4 ,yes1 mamma1 ,i am indeed sorry1 and very sorry1 that ,i should offend ,god1 and make you unhappy1 and make myself in danger of having my portion in the lake that burns with brimstone and with fire4 ,well then the ,bible says1 if you repent and forsake your sin1 ,god will have mercy1 and pardon your guilt4 ,he will so forget it1 that it will never appear against you at the last great day4 ,you know ,i have often told you that the blood of ,jesus ,christ can wash away all sin1 and all must of course include yours4 ,you can read this for yourself in the ,first ,epistle of ,john1 the first chapter1 and the seventh verse4 ,just then the dinner-bell rung1 and ,mrs4 ,sinclair and ,alfred went down to dinner4 ,as they were entering the parlor1 they met ,rose1 who had been greatly concerned about her favorite2 and she whispered in his ear1 ,come down to me1 darlint1 after the dinner3 ,i want to say a word to ye4 ,everybody tried to be cheerful at dinner2 but ,alfred could not forget his heart-trouble1 as ,rose called it1 nor had he much inclination for food4 ,when the repast was over1 and ,rose had cleared the room1 he went down to hear what she had to say to him4 ,the kind-hearted girl slipped a small parcel into his hand1 wrapped in silver paper1 saying1 ,there1 then1 darlint2 now sure ye'll dry your poor red eyes up entirely1 and think no more about it and the loss4 ,on opening the parcel1 ,alfred looked upon a pretty knife1 very like the one his mamma had given him1 and putting it on the table1 he ran up to ,rose1 saying1 ,i cannot allow you to think me so much better than ,i am1 ,rose4 ,i have been guilty of the same sin as ,ananias and ,sapphira2 and it is a wonder the great ,god has not driven me away from earth too4 ,poor ,rose was so greatly surprised that she looked at him some time in silence1 while he continued1-- ,rose1 you thought me a good boy1 but ,i am very wicked4 ,i gave away my knife1 and then told a lie to try to hide it2 but ,i hope ,i shall be forgiven1 and mamma says the blood of ,christ can wash all my guilt away4 ,sure then1 dear1 the mistress is right entirely2 and ,i hope you will be happy1 as you used to be4 ,your poor eyes have done nothing but blink since the time the aunt searched in the hall for the knife2 and it was sighing ,i heard ye when sleep gave them a little rest1 that sure ,i didn't close mine very comfortably4 ,so ,i just got the boy to run for his life1 and get ye a pretty white knife at the shop1 for it's a strong pet ye are of all of us entirely4 ,this is very kind of you1 ,rose3 and may ,i do what ,i like with the knife1 ,rose8 ,sure you may1 and it's yours entirely2 only don't vex any more3 let us see ye as merry as the kitten1 as the likes o' ye ought to be4 ,the next morning ,alfred and ,samuel walked to their cousin's2 and as soon as ,james saw them1 he ran up1 presenting the unfortunate knife to ,alfred1 saying1 ,ma does not wish me to keep it2 so take it back4 ,alfred then told his aunt the whole of the affair1 as quietly as his feelings would allow2 and then desired that ,james might be allowed to have the knife ,rose had given him1 in exchange4 ,as all the sweetmeats were eaten1 it would not be fair to have back the knife without some return4 ,alfred soon ran home with his own knife1 and placed it in its own box1 intending to keep it as a warning to him in future4 ,it is believed that ,alfred was really and truly sorry for his sin2 and he grew up a truthful and pious boy1 dreading the very appearance of anything approaching to a lie4 ,dear children1 see that you always speak the truth4 ,remember anything you say ,,intending ,,to ,,deceive is a lie in the sight of ,god2 and remember too that for all such words you will be called to give an account in the day of judgment4 ,he who made the eye can see1 and he who made the ear can hear4 ,yes6 and he will remember all you say and do2 and if you should be suddenly called away1 without repenting of your sin1 and without being washed in the blood of the ,saviour1 by believing in him1 you must have your portion where the worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched4 ,now the dear ,redeemer is ready to receive you1 but to-morrow it may be too late3 to-morrow may never come to you2 for death may take you away this night4 ,,the ,,end4