268 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOURS.

where you would surely skip it,-" A Ned, dropping the marbles into his
good name is rather to be chosen than pocket, and shaking them down.
great riches," even among school-boys. Yes, I will, if I want to-'taint
Ned had it, and it did him good service, much," resumed Dick, more honestly
when appearances were strongly against than he meant, and you told me your
him. sister Bessie was awful fond of sponge-
 "I don't know about the peaches, but cake, and you'd rather carry your part
the cake "-began Dick. to her."
 "Ned's word is enough," interrupted Well, what of that?" said Ned,
Will. taking up his basket, and coloring a
 "Mrs. Mayburn sent the peaches to little at the clapping of hands, with
sister Bessie," said Ned, as the boys which the boys greeted Dick's dis-
gathered round, evidently waiting for closure.
him to speak. She said the others "Why, you let him think you didn't
would decay very quickly, but that these like it yourself, and-and "-
wouldn't mellow for some weeks, and "I couldn't help what he thought,"
Bessie could enjoy looking at them. interrupted Ned, I was sorry, because
You know Bessie is sick, and will it did seem kind of mean for me to want
never be well again." to carry off what I couldn't eat; but if
 Will laid one hand sympathetically I 'd told him the real reason, of course
on Ned's shoulder. he'd a said take some for Bessie, too;
 "And about the sponge cake? said and that would have been begging; and
Jim Holrad. I wouldn't do that if we don't have cake
 Ned hesitated. Tom Harris hissed a at home very often. This'll do Bessie
little, but the boys hushed him up with a heap of good; she thinks so much
a look. of sponge-cake. Come, boys, let's go
 The Squire said it was mine, to do home."
what I pleased with," replied Ned, at Not yet, old fellow;" exclaimed Will,
length. jumping up. I know something about
 Of course, it all was," muttered Tom, this thing, now. Tom Harris, what was
again. you saying to Squire Mayburn this after-
 "No 'twa'n't; Ned never eat none,- noon about somebody's being a little
I was going to tell," began Dick, forget- stingy and saving?"
ting his grammar again, in his hurry, "That-that's what Ned heard, and
"he never eat a single speck of cake, he wouldn't tell me," cried Dick, ex-
and he asked the Squire could he do citedly.
what he pleased with it, and he said yes, "The-he-he asked me-if Ned liked
and "- sponge-cake," stammered Tom, not dar-
 "Don't tell all you know, Dick," said ing to keep silence.