14 OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

held up their poor broken necks, and burst out into a
fresh peal of crying.
 As soon as she could soothe him into a little composure,
his mother inquired into all the particulars, and she too
shed some tears, for it grieved her to see Willie grieved;
and she certainly did think he had been most unjustly as
well as unkindly treated.
 It is a pity," she said, stroking Willie's head with one
hand, and laying her other hand on the favourite duck,
poor little Mrs. Hart, whom Willie was holding fast to
his bosom.
 Willie felt a little comforted when he saw that his
mother felt with him, and he stopped his loud crying;
but his tears still came as fast as he could wipe them.
 "If he had only killed the Captain," he said, I would
not have minded it; but Big-breast and Fanny, and dear,
dear little Mrs. Hart! I am sure he ought to be hung-
and I wish he was."
 "Willie !"
 "Well, mother, was not it just like murder ?"
 "No, my son, not nearly so bad as murder."
 "I'm sure I think it was; they did not mean to do
him any harm, and they were the prettiest little ducks
that ever lived, and the best, especially Mrs. Hart. I
think it was just as bad as Herod killing the innocents.
They were just as good, and ten times handsomer than
any babies that ever lived. Can't Captain Stout be pun-
ished any way, mother ?"
 "I believe not, Willie."
 "I am sure he ought to be. Mrs. Hart told me my
ducks would be worth five shillings a pair, and I meant
to have sold one pair of them-oh dear !" and Willie
thought of the silk shawl he meant to have bought for his
mother, and he burst into a fresh flood of tears, and said
he should hate Captain Stout as long as he lived.
 Willie," said his mother, let us go and bury the poor
little ducks under the pear-tree, and when they are out
of your sight you will feel better." Willie did not think
he ever should feel better ; but he began to busy himself