After close questioning, Rupert acknowledged that he had been thinking more of John Strong’s beautiful gray horses than of anything else; and that he wished that he had them.
Mr. Penrose. “What is the second commandment, Rupert?”
Rupert undertook to say it; but could not get quite through it, and Alfred helped him.
Mr. Penrose. “It is certain that we always worship what we love best; and I fear, Rupert, although you had no graven image to worship, your heart was going out in idolatry after those ‘beautiful gray horses,’ as much as the poor Papist’s after his wooden cross, or his image of the Virgin. Do you not think so? Alfred, can you tell me of another way in which the second commandment can be broken?”
“By thinking of our clothes instead of listening to the minister, and trying to pray to God, when we are in church,” said Alfred, blushing very deeply.
“Well, that is what I did not do, I am sure,” said Rupert, whose fault was certainly not that of being too particular about his dress; for his clothes were always pitched on any way, although he was old enough to dress himself properly if he would.
Mr. Penrose. “But it is what I knew a little boy do, when he had his new suit of plaid clothes, with brass buttons, on for the first time, and two pockets in them besides. First he looked at himself in the buttons; then he put his hymn-book in his pocket; then he pulled it out.”
Alfred. “O, father! I know I did that; but I was sorry for it, and I have tried not to break the second commandment since.”
Mrs. Penrose. “Yes, father, I think that we must not talk of what is past any more.”
Mr. Penrose. “I spoke of it to show Rupert in how many different ways we can break God’s commandments; and to let him know that I did not consider him the only guilty one. Now, I am afraid you have broken two of the commandments, Rupert. Shall we go on with the others?”