The Apple Dumpling and Other Stories for Young Boys and Girls | Page 4

said, "Dear brother,
will you ride me on your back?" Henry was very busy just then; he was

making a bow and arrow. He looked down, and saw a sweet little face,
and two bright blue eyes, looking at him, and saying as plainly as eyes
could say, "Do, dear brother." So he said, "Yes, Charley, I will, if you
will help me to put away my things." Charles ran about, and helped
Henry put his play-room in nice order, and then climbing on his back,
and holding fast to a ribbon for a bridle, which Henry held between his
teeth, he gave him a little tap on the shoulder, and crying, "Get up, old
fellow," away they went around the room, Henry galloping so hard, that
Charles bounced about almost as much as if he was on a real pony.
"Let us go in the parlours, they are a great deal larger," said Charles;
"do, dear brother."
"I am afraid it would not be right," replied Henry; "we may break
something. Mother has said that we had better never play there."
"But we will be so careful," said the little boy; "we can play circus so
nice. I want to go in the parlour."
Henry's Father and Mother had gone out riding, so he could not ask
leave to play in the parlours. He was almost sure it was wrong to go
there, but he wanted to gratify his brother; so, promising himself to be
very careful, he trotted down stairs into the parlour, with Charles on his
back. At first he went slowly round the two rooms, but Charles began
to whip his horse and cry, "Get up, old boy, you are getting lazy. You
shall be a race-horse. Now go faster, faster; go round the room like
lightning."
So round he went, fast and faster, shaking his head, and taking great
jumps, and kicking his legs up behind, with Charley holding on,
laughing and screaming with delight, till, alas! sad to tell, his elbow
brushed against a beautiful and costly vase, which stood upon a little
table, knocked it off, and broke it into a hundred pieces.
Henry stopped short, and let Charles slide down from his back. He
looked at the broken vase, and then at his brother, and Charles looked
at Henry, and then at the pieces on the floor.

"It is all broken," said he. "It can't be mended at all; can it, brother?"
"No, it is past mending," said Henry; "and the first thing we must do
will be to tell Mother."
"Oh, no!" said the little boy; "I am afraid to tell her."
"We must never be afraid to tell the truth, dear Charley. I will set you a
good example. You shall never learn to tell a lie from me." Henry had
always remembered what his Mother had said to him, the very first
time he ever saw his little brother; and very often, when he was
tempted to be naughty, or get in a passion, the words, "Your brother
will do just as you do," would seem to come from his heart, and he
would conquer his passion.
In a few moments the boys heard the wheels of the carriage. Henry
went to the hall door, and opened it. He held Charles by the hand. He
had to hold him very tight, for Charles tried to get away. His face was
pale. He waited until his Mother got out of the carriage and came up the
steps, and, taking hold of her hand and looking up in her face, he said,
in a firm voice, "Mother, I have broken your vase."
"And I, too," said the little boy; "and it is broken all to pieces."
Henry was glad to hear his little brother say this; and oh! how happy it
made him feel, to think that the child had learned to speak the truth
from him.
Their Mother kissed them both and said, "My darling boys, I am
rejoiced that you are not afraid to speak the truth. I would rather lose
twenty vases than have you tell a lie. But you knew it was wrong to
play in the parlours; did you not?"
"Yes, dear Mother, it was wrong, and I knew it was," replied Henry. "I
will submit to any punishment you think right. I ought to have
remembered that you advised us not to go there."
"If you think you ought to be punished," said his Mother, "Charley

shall go to bed to-night without your singing to him. This will make
you both remember. Is that right?"
"Yes, dear Mother," said Henry; but he looked very sorry; and little
Charles made up a long face, for he loved his brother so much, that he
could not bear to think that