n's money would not have exposed him to temptation. But his conscience had never been awakened to the iniquity of theft. So when it occurred to him that he had in his possessio

er, and balanced in his mind whether the risk

"He won't find out for a good while; when he does I shall

ad a shrewd idea that his services were not sufficiently valuable to the deacon to induce him to

or wait till morn

. It would not be very agreeable to roam about in the darkness. Besides, he was

er to Wendell, and take the train for New York. I'll be awful hungry whe

mind even when wrapped in slumber, and produce wakefulness. So Sam woke up about quarter of four. His plan flashed upon him, and he jumped out of bed. He dressed quickly, and, taking his sho

ar me," he said to hims

light which precedes dawn. There was every promise o

e is acting in a manner very unlike the well-behaved heroes of most juvenile stories, my own among the number. However, since I have chosen t

travels, let us see how the dea

e went up to Sam'

was no

on knock

ere was

Thereupon he tried the door, and found that it was unlocked. He opened it, and walked to the bed, not doubting that he would

he boy's up," eja

at this early hour, and gone to work, but he dismissed

his running away, this seemed to the deacon the most plausible way of accounting for

deacon?" asked Mrs. Hopkins.

sn't t

't wh

be

do you

got up already. I

n't fi

Mar

bed been

as sick, and couldn't sle

antry," said Mrs. Hopkins, suspi

mination, but found Sam guiltless of a fresh attempt upon the prov

ne out,"

he'll be back to break

," said

y n

think he'

deacon. "Why, I never ha

you hav

aint no home. He wouldn

anybody that had a comfortable ho

he run away?" ar

way," said his wi

d no c

him work, and he's la

surprise

ter go after him,

acon. He aint worth going after.

do much work," ad

two boys. Good riddance

goin' to get along. H

gets along, as long a

of better boy

rd this final verdict upon his merits. It must b

ory than the runaway, and Sam was no longer missed. It was not till the tenth day that he learned of

n Hopkins," said he,

ing," said

boy handed you a

any letter," said th

k that I met a boy who

gave him a letter conta

im to giv

t?" asked the d

an to say he didn'

next morning, and I h

oney-the young thief! I told

t think Sam was so bad,

you go a

od to work, and I thou

the money, I'd ha

t too la

wife what I

incensed against Sam, and would have advised pursu

, deacon," said she. "When

the deacon set eyes on him for four years, and then u