Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. [Illustration: See page 11.] THE PENITENT BOY: OR, SIN BRINGS SORROW. REVISED BY D. P. KIDDER. New-York. PUBLISHED BY LANE & SCOTT, FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-ST. Joseph Longking, Printer. 1851. THE PENITENT BOY. "Do lend me your new knife, which mamma gave you," asked Samuel; "I want to cut notches in my stick, and play Robinson Crusoe: do, will you, Alfred?" "No, I cannot Sam; so do not ask any more. I wish you would not tease me for my knife; you cannot have it; I do not want it hurt." "Well, but you lent it to cousin James, on Monday, and he did not spoil it, did he?" "Now do be quiet, Samuel; I cannot lend it to you, so that is all I shall say." "Why I never saw you so cross, Alfred." "Yes, I am cross, I know. I feel very cross and uncomfortable, so do not ask any more about the knife." Just then an aunt of the little boys entered the room, and Samuel turned to her in his trouble. "Now do not you think, aunt, Alfred ought to lend me his knife, just for a minute, to cut a Robinson Crusoe stick?" "No doubt he will," replied Miss Woodford; "I never knew Alfred cross or unkind: he does not mean that he will not lend it; he is only joking, I am sure." "Yes, aunt, I do mean it; I have made up my mind that nobody shall use my knife." "Well, then," urged the anxious Samuel, "do you cut my stick yourself; I only want seven notches in it, to make believe the days of the week: of course, you will not refuse this, will you?" "Where is your knife, my boy?" asked his aunt; "is it in your pocket?" "No, aunt." "Well, get it then, my dear, and do this little kindness for your brother, who looks so imploringly there, with his stick in his hand." Alfred left the room, looking very thoughtful; and Samuel took a seat on a stool, keeping his eye on the door, resolved to wait quietly for Alfred's return, as he was not an impatient boy. After a considerable time, Alfred came back, with a face very much flushed, and no knife could be seen. "Have you got it, Alfred?" asked Samuel, jumping up; "come, do cut my notches, because I cannot get on the island and begin to play until it is done." "I cannot do it, Samuel; I have not got my knife." "Where is your pretty new knife, then, my dear? I saw you put it carefully away in a box one day." "Yes, I did, aunt; but I have just dropped it into a crack in the hall, and it is gone out of sight." "O dear! let us try to get it," said the kind aunt; and away they all three ran to the crack in the passage. "Show me exactly the place where it went in, Alfred." "Just here, aunt," said he, pointing to a very small crevice between the boards.