A LIE FROM AN ERRAND

A boy went on an errand for his father, with the charge not to stop by the way.  However, on his way home he stopped by the house where two of his friends and playmates lived.  He could not resist the temptation to see them.  He thought there would be no harm if he merely stopped a minute or two, and his parents would never know it.  He spent two hours there playing and then left. 

His father, fearing that an accident had happened, went to look for him.  The boy trembled as he saw him approaching.  One mind told him to confess the truth at once, and ask forgiveness.  However, another mind told him to hide his deed with a lie.  When his father met him, the boy said, "Father, I lost the road, and it took me some time to get back again."  His father had never known him to tell a lie.  He was so happy to find him safe; that he did not doubt what he said was true.  The boy went home and repeated the lie to his mother. 

The first thought which occurred to him, on waking the next morning, was the lie of the preceding day.  He could not forget it.  He was afraid to go into the room where his parents were, lest they should discover, by his appearance, that he had told a lie.  He was continually fearing that something would occur which should lead to the truth being known. 

After several weeks, the man at whose house he stopped came to see his father.  As soon as this boy saw him, his heart beat violently.  He was afraid that the whole truth would be known.  The man, after conversing a few moments with his father, turned to the boy, and said, "Well, how did you get home the other day?  My boys had a very pleasant visit from you.”  Then he told the boy’s father, “You must let your son come up again and see my boys.  They were quite disappointed when he was there a few weeks ago, for he only stayed about two hours, and they hoped he had come to spend the whole day with them."  There, the whole truth was out.  He had disobeyed his parents and told a lie to conceal it. 

He stood before his parents with shame.  He burst into tears, and asked his parents' forgiveness. His parents told him that he had sinned, not only against them, but also against God.  The boy prayed to God for forgiveness and told his parents everything, and obtained their forgiveness. Then he had peace of mind again.