mother died when he
was a baby. His father was very rich, but was a coarse, hard man--one
who, like the unjust judge, feared not God, nor regarded man. He was
fond of his poor boy, who was his only child, but he showed his
fondness by indulging his every wish, and suffering him to do in all
things exactly as he pleased. So that Alick grew more and more wicked,
cruel, and selfish every year, until he had come to be disliked and
avoided by every one who knew him. Georgie had a particular dislike to
him. For Alick, knowing that Georgie was far too brave to strike a
cripple who could not help himself, took the greatest pleasure in
teasing, and provoking, and working him up into passions which George
could not vent upon him.

The two boys saw each other a good while before they met, and Alick
had time to prepare a taunting speech which he knew would be
particularly provoking to George. But George also had time to think of
Alick, time to recollect what Annie had said about the utter
dreariness of going through the world without God; and God, answering
George's earnest prayer, caused this recollection to move his heart to
the tenderest pity and concern for poor Alick. So when the mocking,
provoking speech was given forth in the bitterest way, George's only
answer was a look of tender, even of loving compassion.

Alick misunderstood George's feeling. He thought that look was meant
to express pity for his infirmities, and pity on that account he
could not bear. His cheek flushed crimson with anger, and he poured
forth a volley of fearful oaths and curses upon George, who was now
passing him upon the opposite side of the road. Again George only
answered with that look so strangely full of deep, tender pity, that
Alick's heart was stirred by it, he knew not how nor why. He felt half
provoked, as if he were being cheated out of his anger, and taking up
a small stone from the old wall against which he leaned, he threw it
at George, hitting him pretty smartly upon the arm. George took no
further notice than merely to turn round and walk backward, so as to
be able to watch for and avoid future compliments of the same kind.
Many such were sent after him without effect. But just as he was
getting beyond reach, Alick, in a last violent effort to throw far
enough, overbalanced himself, one crutch slipped from under him, and
he fell forward on his face in the mud!

In an instant George was by his side, helping him to rise, and asking
t