BIRDS' NESTS. 159 



encourage him to spend his time in so idle 

 and cruel a work ; but it was about this I 

 called to speak with you to-day. When was 

 it that you last sent him to Mr. Long's ? " 



" Last Tuesday." 



" That w-as the very day I caught him and 

 his brother in my orchard, cutting one of my 

 apple-trees." 



" Oh, I heard him say that some one had 

 made a great fuss about his trespassing and 

 coming after apples ; but for my part I can't 

 see any great harm in the poor boy's just 

 going into a wood or an orchard at this time 

 of the year. It's few amusements that poor 

 folks have at any time, and it seems to me very 

 hard that they should be grudged those few." 



" Well, Mrs. Johnson, I find I shall have 

 very little chance of teaching your boy that it 

 is wrong to break down fences and commit 

 trespasses; if you make excuses for him in that 

 way. I warn you, however, as I have warned 

 him, that even if his intentions in breaking 



