The chest of tools

"The Chest of Tools" by Madeline Leslie is a moral tale written during the late 19th century. The book revolves around themes of honesty and accountability as it follows two boys, Henry and Ernest, as they navigate the consequences of disobedience and dishonesty. Through their experiences, the narrative imparts lessons on the importance of truthfulness and the impact of lies on relationships. The story opens with a traumatic incident where Ernest injures himself while playing with tools from his uncle's locked chest, which Henry had unlawfully opened. As the plot unfolds, Henry struggles with guilt and the temptation to lie to protect himself from punishment, while Ernest grapples with fear of his uncle's anger. The narrative explores the fallout of Henry's lies, not only on himself but also on his relationships with family and friends. Ultimately, after a period of separation and reflection, Henry confesses to his wrongdoings, leading to a reconciliation with his father and the opportunity for a fresh start as a truthful boy. The book serves as a cautionary tale underscoring the virtues of honesty and the potential for redemption through sincere repentance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Harriette Newell Woods Baker was an American author of books for children, and editor. Her career as an author began when she was about 30 years old. She devoted herself successfully to novels; but after about 15 years, she wrote popular religious literature. Her most famous book, Tim, the Scissors Grinder, sold half a million copies, and was translated into several languages. Baker published about 200 moral and religious tales under the pen name "Mrs. Madeline Leslie". She also wrote under her own name or initials, and under that of "Aunt Hattie". She wrote chiefly for the young, and was still writing in 1893 when she died.