Joe Murray was quite right in telling Edith that a little of the leaven of kindness and love went a great way in a family.  No man can live to himself, that is to say, no man’s acts can affect himself only.  Had Fred set an example of revenge and retaliation, other boys would have no doubt acted in like manner on the first occasion of irritation.  Now they all helped to reform Joe White, and did not return evil for evil, as had been their custom.  Fred was the oldest but one of the little community, and had always been looked up to as a clever boy, up to all kinds of spore and diversion.  He was the leader of their plays and amusements, and but for the occasional outbreaks of his violent temper would have been a great favourite.  As it was, the boys liked him, and his master was undoubtedly very fond of Fred Parker.  He was an honest truthful boy though impetuous and headstrong.

Permission was given the lads, who as we have said were six in number, to walk out one fine September afternoon without the guardianship of their master.  They were to gather blackberries, highly esteemed by Mrs. Barton for preserves, and it was the great delight of the boys to supply her every year with this fruit.  Blackberrying is a very amusing thing to country children.  It is less so perhaps in its consequences to the nurse, or sempstress, who has to repair the terrible rents which merciless brambles make, but of that children, boys especially, think little or nothing.  On they went, each provided with a basket and a long crome stick, for the purpose of drawing distant clusters over ditches or from some height within the reach of the gatherer.  At first they jumped and ran and sang in all the merriment of independence.  The very consciousness of life, health, and freedom was sufficient enjoyment, and there was no end to their fun and their frolics until they came to the spot where the blackberries grew in the greatest abundance.  Then they began to gather and eat and fill their baskets in good earnest.  The most energetic amongst them was Fred, and he had opportunities enough this afternoon for practising kindness and self-denial, for White was in one of his bad moods, and pushed before Fred whenever he saw a fine and easily to be obtained cluster of fruit; and once, (Fred thought purposely,) upset his basket, which stood upon the pathway, all in the dust.  Still Fred bore all this very well, and set about the gathering with renewed ardour, though one or two of the party called out, “Give it him, Parker; toss his out and see how he likes it.”  No, Fred had begun to taste the sweet fruits of kindness, he would not turn aside to pluck the bitter fruits of revenge and passion.  So he gave no heed to the matter, only leaving the coast clear for White whenever he could, and helping a little boy whom White had pushed aside to fill his basket.

Without any particular adventures, and with only the usual number of scratches and falls, and only the common depth of dye in lips and fingers, the boys sat down to rest beneath the shade of some fine trees, which skirted a beautiful wood.