a piece of wood and threw it to the other side of
the stream, trying to hit a water-rat. As it left my hand, I saw that it
was a piece I had selected for the hull of a miniature boat, just
suitable for that purpose, being straight-grained and exactly the right
thickness. I told Ben to go and get it for me, but he was probably tired
of play, for, for the first time, he refused to do my bidding, and went
and lay down under a tree. I was angry, and ordered him loudly and
roughly, picking up a stone and threatening him. He looked reproachfully
at me, and turned and walked quickly toward his home.

"Now throwing stones was one of my great faults. I can not tell how
often my mother had scolded, threatened, and punished me for it. Even at
that moment there came vividly before me the remembrance of a time when
I had killed a robin, and brought it and showed her what I had done--for
I must do myself the justice to say I was always frank in confessing my
faults. She took the poor dead bird in her hands, and with tears in her
eyes talked to me in a tone of deeper anger and sorrow than I had ever
heard from her.

"'They are God's little creatures. They are dumb, except for the sweet
songs they bring us. They are helpless, except as their helplessness
appeals to human beings for pity and protection. I believe the Lord's
blessing will _never_ rest on those who are cruel to things weaker than
themselves.'

"I was really sorry, and wanted to tell her so, but a spirit of pride
tempted me to 'brave it out,' so I said, with a poor attempt at a laugh,
'Oh, I'm sorry, of course, but you know it comes natural to boys to
throw stones.'

"If I had been at all decent about it, she would have forgiven me at
once; but, ah me! I never saw her move so quickly as when she went out
the back door and broke off a supple green apple switch. After making
most vigorous use of it she sent me to my room, with the remark, 'It
fortunately comes natural to mothers to punish.'

"I spent the rest of the day there, and as I feasted on bread and water,
and realized that there was company to tea, and that my whole being
craved spring chicken, jelly cake, and quince preserves, I made up my
mind that in future there would be one boy to whom it would come less
'natural' to throw stones.

"All this passed through my mind as I stood with the stone in my hand.
But my tyrannical temper mastered me, and as Ben turned and looked back,
I flung it at him. I did _not_