"Joseph, have you whispered?"
"No, ma'am," was his invariable reply.
"In how many lessons have you been perfect?"
"In every one."
Even though he had repeatedly been sent to his seat to commit his lesson more thoroughly, he would not confess he had failed.
In vain she told him of his sin, and explained to him that he gained nothing by his lies; for a liar is not believed even when he speaks the truth. In vain she illustrated her meaning by stories from the Bible, and from her own observation; the habit had been formed almost before he could speak.
Aunt Clarissa lied to him when she told him the medicine was not bitter, and laughed, after he had swallowed it, at her success in deceiving him. Margaret lied when she promised to sit by him all the evening, and then slipped away when he had fallen asleep. Even his father lied when he threatened to punish disobedience to his commands, and then failed to execute the threat.
One day, when Joseph had been more than usually unruly and then insisted that he had broken no rules, the teacher detained him after the scholars were dismissed and tried to point out the wickedness of his conduct.
"Do you know, Joseph, who is the father of lies?" she asked, seriously.
"No, ma'am."