"Lucy," said her mother, "just run to the dairy and fetch a pint of milk
for me, here is the money; and do remember, child, to look where you are
going, so that you do not stumble and drop the jug." I am afraid Lucy
was a little like another girl you will hear of (Story Lesson 103); she
was too fond of staring about, and perhaps rather careless.
However, she went to the dairy and bought the milk, and had returned
half-way home without any mishap, when she met a flock of sheep coming
down the road, followed by a large sheep-dog. Lucy stood on the pavement
to watch them pass; it was such fun to see the sheep-dog scamper from
one side to the other, and the timid sheep spring forward as soon as the
dog came near them. So far the milk was safe; but, after the sheep had
passed, Lucy thought she would just turn round to have one more peep at
them, and oh, dear, her foot tripped against a stone, and down she fell,
milk, and jug, and all, and the jug was smashed to pieces.
Lucy was in great trouble, and as she stood there and looked at the
broken jug, and the milk trickling down the gutter, she cried bitterly.
A big boy who was passing by at the time, and had seen the accident,
came across the road and said to her: "Don't cry, little girl, just run
home and tell your mother that the sheep-dog bounced up against you and
knocked the jug out of your hand; then you will not be punished".
Lucy dried her eyes quickly, and gazed at the boy in astonishment. "Tell
my mother a =lie=!" said she; "=no=, I would rather be punished a dozen
times than do so. I shall tell her the truth," and she walked away home.
Lucy was careless, but she was not untruthful; surely the boy must have
felt ashamed!
You remember the Fairy Queen said that =Truth= was the foundation of our
beautiful Temple (Story Lesson 1), and the building will all tumble down
in ruins if we do not have a strong foundation, so we must be brave to
bear punishment (as Lucy was) if we deserve it, and be sure to
(Blackboard)
Tell the Truth Whatever it Costs.
(UNTRUTH, BY NOT SPEAKING.)