American Sunday-School Union

“ James jumped up from the ground when Sarah mentioned the apples.
“Come, Sarah,” said he; “come: I know they were apples; beautiful red and white apples. Come, let us go and see them.”
“Why should we want to see them?” said Sarah. “We may be sure they are not for us, for, if they were, aunt would have called us before this time, and given them to us.”
James took hold of Sarah’s arm, and pulled her along with him into the house, and then into the parlour.
“Oh! here are the apples,” said James. “Oh! Sarah, see how tempting they look. I never saw
such beautiful apples in my life.” ”

“ James laid his two elbows on the end of the sideboard, on which the apples were standing, and leaned his head upon his hand, and looked, and looked, and looked, at their fair and beautiful appearance.
Foolish boy! That was the very way to make him desire to taste of them so much the more.
“Do you not think,” said he to Sarah, “that these apples must be very juicy and sweet?”
“They are not mine, brother,” said Sarah, “and I have no desire for them; and if I do not look at them, nor think about them, I shall not desire to have them.” ”

“ James was so ashamed that he could not say a word to his aunt, nor even lift up his face to look at her.
“James,” said she, “I am really sorry that you cannot look upon any thing which you think nice, without taking some of it away. I bought these waxen apples this very day, of the man who made them, because I supposed they would amuse you and Sarah. ”