"No," replied Ned, "I don't; because we ought not to wish for other
people's things."

He then told Tom all that he could remember of what his grandmother had
said to him about the sin of coveting what does not belong to us; and
that doing so, besides breaking one commandment, is very likely to lead
to the breaking of others also.

"But," asked Tom, "how is it possible to help longing sometimes for
things we have not got, and yet see other people have?" "We may not,"
said Ned's grandmother, who had come out to call the boys in to tea, and
had overheard the latter part of their conversation; "we may not,
perhaps, be always able to prevent covetous or envious thoughts from
entering our mind; but we should directly endeavour to drive them away,
and pray to God to make us contented with 'that state of life in which
it has pleased Him to place us.' 'Be content with such things as ye
have,' says St. Paul. And again, speaking of himself, he tells us, 'I
have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.' Besides,
Tom, the rich are not always happy. They have a great many cares and
anxieties that we know nothing of. You cannot have forgotten what
trouble Farmer Tomkyns was in last spring when so many of his cattle
died of the distemper, and he was afraid he should lose the rest. It is
true the Squire can afford to have always a grand dinner to sit down to;
but of what use is that when he is, and has been for years, in such a
bad state of health that the choicest dainties afford him no pleasure!
Do not you think, Tom, that if you were in his place, you would gladly
give all the fine clothes, dainty food, and wealth that you possessed,
to be strong and hearty again, even . . . .

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