98 The Brothers

 

and afterwards his own children, cheated him,
and made him suffer by deceit, as he had
made his father and brother suffer.

“T think Jacob’s lesson is, most of all, to
fear deceit—to know that, however falsehood
seems to prosper, its punishment must come
at last, even if we repent and are forgiven.
Others will distrust us, as we shall get to dis-
trust them, one way or the other; if we are
false, we must be miserable.

“ Remember this, my dear child, if you are
ever tempted to be untrue; a lie is a terrible
load ; the farther you carry it the heavier it
grows. If you are ever so unhappy as to say
what is not true, remember this lesson, and lay
down the burden at once by speaking out;
do not try to go on your way carrying that
load, or it will crush you at last.”

Stephen drew a deep sigh. Had he not
begun taking up the load of falsehood? and
how could he ever lay it down? Ah! there
was no forgetting—none! He put up the Bible,
and walked out of the room without a word.

EKG