90 , THE LAW ON STEALING.

 

Gehazi thought here was a fine chance for him to
get some money. He waited until Naaman and his sol-
diers started for home, then he ran after them as we see
him in the picture. And when he had stopped them, he
told Naaman that his master was willing, now, to take the:
present. Naaman believed what he said, and gave him
a large sum of money, What do you think he did with
it? he went and hid it, for it was stolen. Did any one
else know it? Yes; Elisha, the prophet, for God had
revealed it to him.

When Gehazi came into his presence, Elisha told him
what he had done, and that the dreadful disease which had
been upon Naaman should come upon him. Whata fear-
ful punishment for his sin, for he could never be cured.
We cannot steal without God seeing us, and punishment
will come sooner or later.

Those who steal now are not punished as they were
then, but are put in prison, and shut up in a small cell,
where they have to stay for months or years. If you do
not want to get into such a place you must not steal, nor
take the least thing which does not belong to you; for it
is just as much stealing to take a penny or a pencil as to
take a hundred dollars.

Sometimes children begin this habit very young, by
stealing sugar, cake, or pie, when mama does not know it.
But we must not forget, children, that God sees us if no.
one else does, and he has said, “Thou shalt not steal.”