Cured By Kindness


"Tis well to walk with a cheerful heart,

Wherever our duties call,

With a friendly glance and an open hand,

And a gentle word for all.

Since life is a thorny and difficult path,

Where toil is the portion of man,

We all should endeavor while passing along,

To make it as smooth as we can.



Cured by Kindness.

THE following story is related by a worthy

member of the Society of Friends:

"While residing in -, I had in my

garden a pear tree, which bore most excellent

fruit. Between my garden and that of

my neighbor was a very high fence, with

sharp iron pickets upon it. I don't approve

of such things. It was the landlord's work.

Well, one year when the pear tree bore very

abundantly, there happened to be a girl 

belonging to my neighbor's family, who was as

fond of pears as I was myself, and I saw her

several times climb the high fence and walk

carefully along between the pickets, until

she came opposite the pear tree, then she

would reach over, fill her basket with fruit,

and carry it away.

"One morning, I called upon my young

friend with a basket of the nicest pears I

could find.

"'Rebecca,' said I, 'here are some fine

pears for thee.'

"She did not know what I meant. I explained

  'Rebecca, I brought these pears on

purpose for thee. I wish to make thee a

present of them, as I see thou art very fond

of them.'

"'I don't want them, sir.'

"'Ah, but thou dost, Rebecca, else thou

would not take so much pains, almost every

day, to get them.'

"'Still she would not take the pears, and

I used a little more eloquence.

"'Rebecca,' I said 'thou must go and

get a basket for these pears, or I shall leave

them on the carpet. I am sure thou must

like them, or thou would not climb such a

high and dangerous fence to get them.

Those pickets are very sharp, Rebecca, and

if thy feet should slip while thou art walking

on the fence and I am very much

afraid they will thou would get hurt a great

deal more than the pears are worth. Now,

thou art welcome to the fruit; but I will

not see thee expose thyself so foolishly.

But perhaps thou hast taken the pears so

long that they seem to belong to thee as

much as they seem to belong to me. So I

do not wish to blame thee any more than

thy conscience does. But look out for those

pickets. They are dangerous. I would

have them removed, only I am afraid the

landlord wouldn't like it. Thou art welcome

to the pears, though, and I will bring thee a

basketful every day.'

"The girl did not steal any more pears,

and I venture to say that she was sufficiently

rebuked before the end of the pear season,

for I remembered my promise and carried

her a basketful every morning." 



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