8 BIKDS' NESTS. 



me to tell you how fearful a thing it is to have 

 a hard heart." 



Mr. Miller saw that what he had said had 

 produced a good effect on Joe, though as for 

 the others, one of them cared for no advice 

 that went against his own wishes, and the 

 other was too young to understand all that 

 was said, though he could not help feeling that 

 he had done wrong. 



" Now, boys, you may go ; but remember 

 what I have been saying to you. You did 

 mischief to me by breaking into my orchard ; 

 you acted cruelly in frightening that poor bird 

 from its nest ; you gave way to a temptation, 

 the natural effect of which is to harden your 

 own hearts ; and all these things are sins in 

 the sight of God. Give over the practice alto- 

 gether ; try to be kind-hearted boys, and with 

 God's blessing you will become merciful men. 

 You know the reward that is promised to the 

 merciful." 



The boys were glad enough to be let off so 



