426 
A LIE IS A LIE. 
first came here, Annie, I did not care any 
thing about telling the truth. I would 
almost as soon say one thing as another; 
and even now it is hard for me to be straight 
about every little thing. I suppose you 
think it very contemptible, and so do I; 
but I cannot help it,—not always.” 
“It never was one of my temptations,” 
said Annie; “ and then I was always 
brought up to hate and despise a lie.” 
“That is another thing,” interrupted 
Antoinette. “ When you call a thing a lie 
it somehow seems a great deal more serious 
matter than, it does when you talk about a 
wrong story or a falsehood.” 
“I know it,” said Annie. “My mother 
always said that a lie was a lie, and that 
the best way was to use the Bible wbrds. 
I remember once saying that one of the 
little girls in school had told a wrong story. 
Mother told me that there was no such 
word in the Bible; and for my next Sun¬ 
day’s lesson I copied out all the places 
where it speaks of lying and liars. I have 
got the paper now. There was nothing 
father and mother were so particular about; 
and Aunt Louisa is the same. She taught 
