OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. 15

about nailing up a box to put the ducks in, and digging
a grave, and his mother helped him, and they covered
the grave with green sods, and Willie's mother took up
some violets and set round the sods, and Willie did feel
a little better. When they went back to the house his
mother asked him which he had rather be, the man that
killed the little ducks, or the little boy whose ducks were
killed.
 "I had rather be myself, a million times, mother."
 Then the person that suffers wrong, my son, is much
better off than he that does it ?"
 "Yes, mother, I suppose so, but it's dreadful to bear."
 "Then should not you be sorry for Captain Stout ?"
 "Sorry for him! I can't feel so, if I ought."
 "Perhaps you will, Willie, when you think a little
more about it. Captain Stout was angry when he killed
your little ducks, and the moment the deed was done he
felt-I am sure he did-that he had done as one neighbour
should not do to another, as an old man should not do to
a little boy, and whenever he sees you or thinks of you,
he will feel uncomfortable."
 "I hope he will! I hope he will feel awfully!"
 "Don't say so, my son, or, rather, don't feel so. Do
you remember those texts you wrote off into the first leaf
of your Bible ?"
 "Yes, mother."
 "What were they ?"
 "Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, pray
for those that despitefully use you, overcome evil with
good, and so on."
 What did you copy them off for ?"
 "So that I might remember them."
 "Why did you wish to remember them ?"
 "You told me I must, mother, so as to act accordingly,
if ever I had a chance."
 Have not you a chance now, Willie ?"
 Willie did not reply, and his mother went on. "We
never should lose the opportunity of obeying these laws
which Christ has given us. You have now a great occa-