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 TEMPTATION RESISTED. 
 
 33 
 
 LONDON: DEAN & SON, 
 11, Ludgate Hill. 
 
TEMPTATION RESISTED. 
 
 It was a bright, pleasant afternoon in the 
 first week of June, when two little boys 
 of eight and ten years of age, sprang 
 ioyously down the steps of the street door, 
 and waved their hats to their mother, who 
 
TEMPTATION RESISTED. 3 
 
 smiled back a " good-bye" to them from 
 the parlour window. " Don't stay later 
 than eight, boys," were her parting words 
 to them ; and promising to obey her, 
 Henry and Clarence bounded along and 
 were soon out of sight. Their mother 
 had given them permission to spend the 
 afternoon with one of their playmates, 
 who had come that morning to ask them. 
 Clarence and Henry's parents loved their 
 children very dearly, too dearly to in- 
 dulge them in what was hurtful and im- 
 proper for them, though they were always 
 glad to see them happy, and to gratify 
 them whenever what they wished was 
 reasonable and right. So these little boys 
 were trained up in strict obedience to their 
 parents, which God has not only com- 
 manded, but kindly promised to reward. 
 
 Well, Henry and Clarence walked 
 joyously along till they came to one of 
 those beautiful squares which adorn our 
 city, and then they knew they were near 
 their little friend's home, for his parents 
 lived in a handsome house fronting the 
 square. It was delightful to look on the 
 
4 TEMPTATION RESISTED. 
 
 thousand tints of green, and the varied 
 shapes of the leaves as they shone in the 
 sunshine and danced in the breeze, as if 
 rejoicing in the goodness of God, who had 
 brought all this life and beauty into exis- 
 tence, where, a few weeks since, there were 
 only bare branches, and heaps of withered 
 leaves half covered with snow. 
 
 When the brothers turned round the 
 corner of the square and rang the bell, 
 their little playmate Frank Hamilton 
 came running out to meet them — and you 
 may imagine what a fine game of romps 
 they had together in the large paved yard 
 that pleasant afternoon. 
 
 Frank's parents were rich, and had 
 given him a great many curious and ex- 
 pensive toys, which were a source of great 
 entertainment to Clarence and Henry. 
 He had many beautiful books, too, and 
 these they admired perhaps more; but 
 Frank was not fond of reading, and after 
 he had looked at the pictures a few times, 
 his books were tossed aside among the 
 despised class of "old things." 
 
TEMPTATION RESISTED. 5 
 
 By the time the three boys were pretty 
 well tired of play, they were called into 
 tea. The spring had been rather back- 
 
 ward that year, and the early fruits were 
 
6 TEMPTATION RESISTED. 
 
 just beginning to make their appearance 
 in the market. In the centre of the tea- 
 table stood a large glass dish filled with 
 rich, red strawberries, half- hidden in 
 powdered sugar, and by its side a pitcher 
 of cream. Most people would think this 
 a tempting sight, and certainly the little 
 hungry boys, who had been playing so 
 heartily all the afternoon, did not think 
 otherwise. So they sat quietly taking 
 their cup of milk, and waiting till they 
 should be helped to some of the fine 
 strawberries and cream, when suddenly 
 the door bell rang, and the servant came 
 to say that their mother had sent for 
 them. It was just striking eight. They 
 remembered their promise, but the fruit 
 looked so very inviting — and they had not 
 tasted any that year — and Mrs. Hamilton 
 urged them so very kindly to stop just a 
 few moments to eat some — what could 
 they do? What do you think they did? 
 Why, like little noble fellows, they resisted 
 the very strong temptation, and in spite 
 of the well-meant but mistaken kindness 
 of the lady, and the pressing entreaties of 
 
TEMPTATION RESISTED. 7 
 
 Frank that they would stay a little longer, 
 they took their hats, bid the family " good 
 evening," and went directly home. 
 
 Now we all hear much about the great 
 conquerors, who gained many victories and 
 took many cities — but God tells us in the 
 Bible— " Better is he that ruleth his spirit, 
 than he that taketh a city/' And when 
 these little boys, for the sake of pleasing 
 their parents, conquered their own incli- 
 nations, it was doubtless a nobler act than 
 a victory gained on the field of battle by 
 the slaughter of thousands of their fellow- 
 
 beings. 
 
 I must not forget to tell those who are 
 interested in them, that Henry and 
 Clarence had the next day as many 
 strawberries as they wished for dessert, 
 besides the lasting enjoyment of their 
 parents 1 love and approbation, and that of 
 all their friends at home. 
 
 These boys — no longer little now— are 
 very dear to me, and I pray that God will 
 lead them by His Holy Spirit to know 
 and do His will always, so they will be the 
 free and happy servants of the Lord Jesus 
 
8 
 
 TEMPTATION RESISTED. 
 
 Christ, instead of being "led captive by 
 Satan at his will," and the slaves of their 
 own evil inclinations. Let us not forget 
 that of ourselves we can do no good thing, 
 and that whenever we are enabled to do 
 what is right, we may be sure God is 
 helping us, and we should be encouraged 
 to try still more to do His will.