"Because I promised to go straight home; and I have to take some clothes for father to the pit."
"Oh, that's it, is it?" exclaimed Tom. "Well, then, look here, your father won't be ready for nearly half an hour yet—I know what time they come up,—and you'll be wandering about there, cooling your heels, when you might as well be here."
"If I hadn't promised," thought Charlie, with a longing look in the direction of the pond.
"You needn't stay long," urged Tom. "The ship is close by; I hid her amongst some bushes so as not to have to go home again."
"Don't go; remember your promise," whispered Charlie's conscience. "But I want to go so much," answered Charlie's selfish little heart.
"Don't go, it would be ungrateful: think of your father's kindness to you," whispered the voice again. "I'm not ungrateful, and I mean to take the clothes," Charlie's heart answered, angrily.
The voice began to whisper again, something about it being a temptation, and he ought to ask God's help, but Charlie turned a deaf ear.
Tom Brown, seeing Charlie hesitate, felt pretty sure he would give in. Leaving loose of his arm, and moving off towards the field, he said, in a careless tone, "Come, make up your mind; do one thing or the other. I don't care whether you go or not, only I can tell you you'll not have such a chance again; Joe Denton would have jumped at it."
CHARLIE AND THE TEMPTATION.