Plain Tales, Chiefly Intended for the Use of Charity Schools by Anonymous

Polly Brown went one day to carry her grandmam a little broth, for the poor can do good to others as well as the rich. Her mother desired her to go carefully, not to stay by the way, and to come strait back: she said she would. As she was going, she met Sukey Playful and Dolly Careless: where are you going? said they. To take my grandmam some broth. Come, said they, set it down a little while, and have a run with us. O no, said she, I cannot now, my mammy desired I would make haste; beside, the broth will be cold. When a little girl knows what is right, she ought to listen to no persuasions to do wrong. They told her, her mammy would never know anything about it: that they were going to buy a half-penny worth of apples, and would give her one if she would go with them. Come, said they, you may set down the jug in this snug place, and we shall soon be back again. At last she consented; but she had no comfort as she went, nor when she had got her apple; for she thought, if the jug should be thrown down, what should she do. They made haste, but when they came back to the place, a dog had thrown down the jug, and spilt all the broth. Polly began to cry most terribly, and scolded Sukey and Dolly for persuading her to go, when she might have recollected that it was her own fault for not minding her duty.

They were a good deal frightened: however, they said, never mind it, as the jug is not broke, you can go home and tell your mammy you took the broth, and, perhaps, she will never know any thing about it. Polly dried her eyes, took up the jug, and went home; but she was very uneasy, and felt that she did not like her play-fellows half so well as she had done before, for they had now taught her to do wrong. When she got home, well, said her mother, how does your grandmam do, my dear, and how did she like the broth; for I dare say she was hungry enough, poor soul, and would eat them directly? Polly said, she was much as usual, and liked them very well. All the day she was very dull, and found she could not work with half so much pleasure as she used to do. At night, when she went to bed, she was very uncomfortable indeed; she had been taught always to tell the truth, as the only way to be happy herself, or of any use to others. She now felt that she had deceived her mother, and therefore did not deserve to be trusted by her.