Alfred, with all his brothers and sisters, had been taught to tell the exact truth. They had learned many texts of Scripture which speak of the sin and punishment of lying. These are a few of them:—

“The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.” Psa. lxiii, 11.

“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Prov. xii, 19.

“All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Rev. xxi, 8.

Alfred’s brother Frank had two very beautiful young dogs. They had been given him by a friend, and were of a scarce and valuable breed. One of the dogs he had named Flush, and the other Rover. They had brown, silken ears, and brown spots on their backs and legs. They had just been taken from their mother when Frank brought them home in his arms. They mourned a little; and Alfred and Flora felt sorry for them. They thought that they cried for their mother; and I suppose they did. Frank fed them with some warm milk. Then he let Alfred and Flora stroke them. After they had been fed they lay down very quietly, and went to sleep. It was time for Frank to go to school: so he said to Alfred and Flora,

“You must not touch my little dogs while I am at school.”

Little Flora said,

“No, brother, I will not.”

But Alfred said,

“May I not put them in my apron, very softly? I will not hurt them; for I love them.”

His brother said,

“When I am at home I will let you play with the little dogs; but you must promise me not to touch my dogs while I am at school. They are very tender; and if you were not to lift them in just the right way, you would hurt, and perhaps kill them.”

Alfred then said,

“Frank, I will not touch the pretty little things when you are away; but you will let me pat them when you are at home, won’t you?”

“Yes; you may play with them, and pat them, when I am here; and then you may feed them sometimes, too; but you will certainly remember your promise when I am away.”

Some days after this, when Frank was at school, Alfred’s mamma heard him say,

“O, pretty little fellows! nice little fellows! I love you very much, little Flush and little Rover!”

Alfred’s mamma stepped into the hall to see what her little boy was doing. He was standing by the steps of the kitchen door; and the dogs were trying to climb into the house. But when they had put their paws upon the step they would fall backward; for they were too small to climb up. Alfred would stretch out his hand to help the little dogs; and then he would draw it back again when he remembered his promise to his brother.

The little colored boy was rubbing his knives in the kitchen, and he said to Alfred,

“The dogs want to get up the steps. My hands are all brick-dust. Take hold, and help them up.”

But Alfred said,

“O, I must not touch them, John; for I promised I would not. I wish I could lift the little things up!”

It made Alfred’s mamma glad to find how well her dear boy kept his word. She lifted the dogs into the kitchen; and they seemed happy and well satisfied, for they laid down close together, behind the door, and went fast asleep.