"May we go, mamma? Oh, do say yes. Please say yes."

Lilian and her brother Earl were invited to a children's lawn party,and, as they were not different from most other children, they were veryanxious to attend.

"Lilian may go, but I am afraid to trust Earl," said mamma. "There willcertainly be ice cream and berries, cake and lemonade, and you know whatthe doctor said, Earl. You think you are well, but you are not strongafter your illness and you are not to eat or drink anything ice-cold forsome time to come."

"But I needn't eat things because they are there," said Earl, "and Ipromise you, mamma, that I won't."

"I'm sure he won't." Lilian added. "I don't care to go unless Earl can,and I'll promise for him, too, that he'll be good."

"That means that you will be his security," said mamma, smiling. "Youwill be a surety for him, as they call it, and give your own pledge thatEarl will do his duty. Well, then, if you both promise, I will let yougo. You must learn to do right, even if there is temptation to dowrong."

So the loving brother and sister, who wished to go together, as brothersand sisters should, went merrily off at the appointed time, and enjoyedthemselves with their playmates upon the lovely lawn.

As they went in together, Lilian said, "Now, remember, Earl, that whenwe have things to eat, you must not take ice cream and lemonade."

"I'll remember," said Earl, and then, as it was a large party, the twowere soon separated. Lilian trusted her brother so fully that she didnot think it needful to speak to him again, and when refreshments wereserved, she did not think of looking for him. As it happened, they werefar apart.

Earl was very warm. His mother had told him to be careful about playingtoo hard, but when interested in a game, the boy did not realize howfast and far he ran. When the tempting ice cream, with berries, cake andlemonade were passed, he allowed himself to be helped with the rest,thinking only how hot he was and how good the cold things would taste.He had eaten half his cream and half emptied his glass before he reallythought of his promise. Then he stopped suddenly, feeling sorry anddistressed.

"But what could I do?" he reasoned. "It would not be polite to ask forjust berries alone."

This was Earl's second mistake. The first was forgetting his promise,the second in thinking true obedience could ever be impolite.

"I might as well finish now, for if it's going to hurt me it hasalready, and the rest won't do any more harm."

Mistake number three. Why should any wrongdoing be finished? Suppose adriver should say about a horse, "He has a pretty big load now and so Imight as well pile on as much more as I can," would it be no worse forthe hors

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