It was, perhaps, an hour after this, that Mrs. Howland missed Andrew, and fearful that he might have been tempted to disobey the command laid upon him, raised the window and looked into the street.  Just as she did so, she saw him running back toward his home from the house of Mr. Winters, on the steps of which sat Emily.  Entering quickly, she heard him close the street-door with a slight jar, as if he designed making as little noise as possible.

“Where have you been, Andrew?” asked Mrs. Howland as soon as he came up to her room, which he did soon after.

“Down in the kitchen with Jane,” was replied without hesitation.

“Have you been nowhere else?” Mrs. Howland repented having asked this question the moment it passed her lips, and still more when the child answered as unhesitatingly as before, “No, ma’am.”

Here was falsehood added to disobedience!  Poor Mrs. Howland turned her face away to grieve and ponder.  She found herself in a narrow path, and doubtful as to the steps to be taken.  She said nothing more, for she could not see clearly what it was best for her to say; and she did nothing, for she could not see what it was best for her to do.  But she resolved to be watchful over her boy, lest he should again be tempted into disobedience.

The mother’s watchfulness, however, availed not.  Ere night-fall Andrew was with his little friend again.  Unfortunately for him, the pleasure he derived from her society caused him to forget the passing of time, and his stolen delight was, in the end, suddenly dispelled by the stern voice of his father, who passed the door of Mr. Winters on his way homeward.

Slowly and in fear did the child obey the angry command to return home.  He knew that he would be punished with great severity, and he was not mistaken.  He was so punished.  But did this avail anything?  No!  On the next day he asked his mother to let him sit at the front door.

“I’m afraid you’ll go into Mr. Winters,” said Mrs. Howland, in reply.

“Oh, no; indeed I won’t, mother,” was the ready answer.

“If you disobey me, I can’t let you go to the door again.”

“Oh, I won’t disobey you,” replied the child.

“Very well, Andrew, I’ll trust you.  Now, don’t deceive me.”

The child promised over and over again, and Mrs. Howland trusted him.  Ten minutes afterward she looked out, but he (sic) wasnowhere to be seen.  A domestic was sent to the house of Mr. Winters, where Andrew was found, as happy as a child could be, playing with his little friend Emily.  On being reproved by his mother for this act of disobedience, he looked earnestly in her face and said—­

“You won’t tell father, will you?  He’ll whip me so, and I don’t like to be whipped.”

“But why did you go in there?” said Mrs. Howland.  “Haven’t we forbidden you?  And didn’t you promise me that if I’d let you go to the front door, you would stay there?”