172 BIRDS' NESTS. 



away your washing from me in consequence ; 

 but I told him that if you had promised to 

 forgive him, there was no fear of that. It all 

 came of his being disobedient, and going about 

 with Bill Johnson." 



" That is just what I wanted to talk to you 

 about ; but here comes Joe himself/' 



The boy now entered, and seeing Mr. Miller, 

 looked confused, if not frightened. 



" Come in, my little man," said Mr. Miller, 

 " and don't be afraid. Your mother said, quite 

 truly, that I did not mean to punish her for 

 your offence. Your first and greatest fault 

 was making a companion of a boy of whom 

 she disapproved ; the offence against me, as it 

 happened, was very trifling. But I mean to 

 say no more about it now. I dare say you are 

 sorry for both the disobedience and the tres- 

 pass, or you would not have confessed it to 

 one who you knew would reprove, and perhaps 

 punish you. Now run away, and show Henry 

 your mother's garden." 



