144 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



fered temptation to sin. There would be 

 no thieves if there was nothing to steal; 

 and I suppose, in the thieves' catechism ( 

 the provider is as bad as the thief ; and, 

 probably, I am to blame for leaving out a 

 few winter-pears, which some predatory boy 

 carried off on Sunday. At first I was an- 

 gry, and said I should like to have caught 

 the urchin in the act ; but, on second 

 thought, I was glad I did not. The inter- 

 view could not have been pleasant. I 

 should n't have known what to do with him. 

 The chances are that he would have escaped 

 away with his pockets full, and gibed at me 

 from a safe distance. And, if I had got my 

 hands on him, I should have been still more 

 embarrassed. If I had flogged him, he 

 would have got over it a good deal sooner 

 than I should. That sort of boy does not 

 mind castigation any more than he does tear- 

 ing his trousers in the briers. If I had 

 treated him with kindness, and conciliated 

 him with grapes, showing him the enormity 

 of his offence, I suppose he would have come 



