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of such real and great sin。 For； however children at play may like to trick
and deceive each other； and call it only play or fun； still； let me tell you；
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they are much mistaken if they flatter themselves there is no harm in it。
It is a very wrong way of behaviour； it is mean； it is dishonorable； and it is
wicked； and the boy or girl who would ever permit themselves to act in so
unjustifiable a manner； however they may excel in their learning； or
exterior accomplishments； can never be deserving of esteem； confidence；
or regard。 What esteem or respect could I ever entertain of a person's
sense or learning； who made no better use of it than to practise wickedness
with more dexterity and grace than he otherwise would be enabled to do？
Or； what confidence could I ever place in the person who； I knew； only
wanted a convenient opportunity to defraud； trick； and deceive me？ Or；
what regard and love could I possibly entertain for such a one； who； unless
I kept a constant watch over； as I must over a wild beast； would； like a
wild beast； be sure to do me some injury？ Would it be possible； I say； to
love such a character； whatever shining abilities or depth of learning he
might possess？ Ask your own hearts； my dears； whether you think you
could？'
To this they all answered at once； 'No； that I could not；' and 'I am sure I
could not。' 'Well； then；' resumed the father； 'only think how odious that
conduct must be； which robs us of the esteem； confidence； and love of our
fellow…creatures； and that too； notwithstanding we may at the same time
be very clever； and have a great deal of sense and learning。 But； for my
part； I confess I know not the least advantage of our understanding or our
learning； unless we make a proper use of them。 Knowing a great deal；
and having read a great many books； will be of no service to us； unless we
are careful to make a proper use of that knowledge； and to improve by
what we read； otherwise the time we so bestow is but lost； and we might
as well spend the whole of our lives in idleness。
'Always remember； therefore； my loves； that the whole end of our
taking the trouble to instruct you； or putting ourselves to the expense of
sending you to school； or your attending to what is taught you； is； that you
may grow better men and women than you otherwise would be； and unless；
therefore； you do improve； we might as well spare ourselves the pains and
expense； and you need not take the trouble of learning； since； if you will
act wickedly； all our labour is but thrown away to no manner of purpose。
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'Mr。 and Mrs。 Sharply； how I pity them！ What sorrow must they
endure； to behold their son acting in the manner you have described； for
nothing can give so much concern to a fond parent's heart； as to see their
children； for whom they have taken so much pains； turn out naughty； and
to deceive and cheat！ What can be worse than that？ I hope； my dear
children； you will never； any of you； give us that dreadful misery！ I hope；
my dear Tom； I hope you will never learn any of those detestable ways
your brother has been telling you of。 And if it was not that you will often
be obliged to see such things when you mix with other children； I should
be sorry you should even hear of such bad actions； as I could wish you to
pass through life without so much as knowing such wickedness ever
existed； hut that is impossible。 There are so many naughty people in the
world； that you will often be obliged to see and hear of crimes which I
hope you will shudder to think of committing yourselves； and being
warned of them beforehand； I hope it will put you more upon your guard；
not to be tempted； upon any consideration； to give the least encouragement
to them； much less to practise them yourselves。
'Perhaps； Tom； if your brother had not； by telling us of Sharply's tricks；
given me an opportunity of warning you how extremely wrong and
wicked they are； you might when you were at school； have thought them
very clever； and marks of genius； and therefore； like others of the boys；
have tried to imitate them； and by that means have become as wicked；
mean； and dishonourable yourself。 And only think how it would have
grieved your mamma and me； to find the next holidays； our dear little Tom；
instead of being that honest； open； generous…hearted boy he now is；
changed into a deceiver； a cheat； a liar； one whom we could place no trust
or confidence in； for； depend upon it； the person who will； when at play；
behave unfair； would not scruple to do so in even other action of his life。
And the boy who will deceive for the sake of a marble； or the girl who
would act ungenerously； for the sake of a doll's cap or a pin； will； when
grown up； be ready to cheat and over…reach in their trades； or any affairs
they may have to transact。 And you may assure yourselves that numbers
of people who are every year hanged； began at first to be wicked by
practising those little dishonourable mean actions； which so many children
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are too apt to do at play； without thinking of their evil consequences。
'I think； my dear；' said he； turning to his wife； 'I have heard you
mention a person who you were acquainted with when a girl； who at last
was hanged for stealing； I think； was not she？' 'No；' replied the lady； 'she
was not hanged； she was transported for one…and…twenty years。' 'Pray；
madam； how transported？ what is that？' inquired one of the children。
'People； my dear；' resumed the lady； 'are transported when they have
committed crimes； which； according to the laws of our land； are not
thought quite wicked enough to be hanged for； but still too bad to suffer
them to continue amongst other people。 So； instead of hanging them； the
judge orders that they shall be se