10 OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

pear-tree in her garden-delicious pears it bore, too-and
I have heard her say, she didn't believe one pear had ever
been stolen from it; indeed, I think the boys in our vil-
lage would as soon have cut off their fingers as have stolen
one of her pears. Was it right to steal cross Captain
Stout's? Oh no; but the fact that his were stolen and
hers were not, shows how one person doing wrong leads
to another doing it too.
 The captain had a large garden, or rather a large garden-
spot. Like most of our farmers' gardens, it was much
overgrown with weeds, and had little besides potatoes,
cabbages, and a few flaunting hollyhocks in it. To have
seen the vegetables on the Widow Ellis's table and the
captain's, you would have taken her to be the richer per-
son of the two.
 Some years ago, when Willie was about eleven, his
mother let him hire himself to one of our farmers for a
few of the busy spring weeks. The people who employed
him were much pleased with his industry and kindness;
and when he was coming away, Mrs. Hart, the farmer's
wife, said, Willie, you have always been very good-
natured and obliging to me, and you have set an excellent
example to my boys. I want to make you some little
present that will please you." Then she brought out of
her pantry four duck's eggs, carefully laid on wool, in a
basket. "You know," she continued, that our ducks are
a rare breed. They were sent to me by my cousin from
the sea-shore. I have but the one pair; and the duck is
just, as you know, going to sit upon ten eggs. I have
taken four of them out for you, Willie."
 "Oh! oh! Mrs. Hart, how much I thank you. I had
rather have these than almost anything you could have
given me."
 I thought they would please you, Willie, and I wanted
to give you something you would value; and now, if you
have good luck with them, they may be worth a great
deal to you, for Squire Clifford has offered me five shil-
lings a pair for ducks of this breed."
 "Has he? Five shillings a pair ?" Willie looked at