Thus rebuked. Edwin said no more; and Elmer, glad to have his own way,
yielded to his selfish desire and, again thrusting his hand into the
trousers-pocket, became a thief indeed.

How sad! Edwin had early chosen the path of right because it was right, but
Elmer was already on the road that leads to destruction and death! Why?
Because he had decided in his heart to do evil. Even the kind old lady at
the almshouse had not entered his life. Was it Elmer's fault? Not
altogether. Temptation comes to all, but with the temptation there is a way
of escape (1 Cor. 10: 13). Elmer could have chosen to do right and leave
the stones where they belonged; but when he was caught in the act of
stealing, Mrs. Fischer, who was responsible for his training, should have
carefully taught him the dangers connected with stealing. A little seed of
dishonesty sown in the heart needs only cultivation to help it to grow.

The following morning when Edwin's tasks in the house were completed, he
was told to go outside to look after the baby, and here it was that he
recalled Elmer's act. After making sure that the stones were not in his
pocket, Edwin went over to that part of the yard in which his cousin was
playing, and as their eyes met he said:

"Elmer, why did you steal my stones last night? I want them back."

"I haven't got anything that belongs to you, and I didn't steal your
stones," Elmer almost shouted; and, running to Mrs. Fischer, he said
excitedly, "Ed called me a thief and said I stole those stones out of his
pocket last night."

"I'll teach him to call you a thief!" the woman exclaimed in an exasperated
tone and ran toward her son with a club and began using it freely upon him,