Page:History of the sleeping beauty in the wood.pdf/22

22 stammered and hesitated so, that his guilt was quite evident—“because I was in the room all the time, and did not seosee [sic] him do it.”

Being farther questioned, John went on from one lie to another; at last he said hohe [sic] supposed the dog did it.

“Did you see Worthy do it?”

“Yes,” said this wicked boy.

“Fie, fie, Worthy!” said John's mother, “so it is you that is in the fault! I must really chastise you.” She then ordered John to get her a switch.

John ran to the garden to get a switch, and on his way met Charles returning, to whom he told what had happened, begging him not to expose him, but to say what he had done.

“No, I sha’n’t tell a lie,” said Charles, “and have poor Worthy beat into the bargain. I shall tell mamma the whole truth.”

They ran into the house, John striving to prevontprevent [sic] Charles from telling his mother. John threw in the switch, and, being somewhat stronger, he kept Charles back. In the meantime the switch was just about to fall on poor Worthy’s back, when Charles, who had made his way round by the window, called out to her to stop. He then told the story just as it happened.

At the same moment John’s father came in sight, and being told what had happened, he snatched up the switch, for what purpose John easily foresaw; so, falling on his knees, he besought him for mercy, crying out hohe [sic] should never again be guilty of telling lies.

“But I shall whip you now,” said his father, “and we shall see how you keep your word for the future.” So John was whipt, till he roared out so that the whole neighbourhood heard him.

“There now,” said his father, “is the reward of disobedience and wickedness—you have got a sound whipping, and you shall besides go to your bed supperless. See how liars are served!” Then, turning to Charles, he said, “ Charles, as for you, I shall keep my word so far as to deprive you of milk to-night; that for once is easily borne; but as a compensation, and to mark my satisfaction with your behaviour, I makomake [sic] you a present of Worthy; he will be to you a kind and affectionate