“How glad you must have felt, Fred, when you thought he was dead, that you had not returned his unkindness.”

“Glad!  Edith, I cannot tell you how glad; but glad is’nt the word, either.  On my knees that night, and often since, I have thanked God who helped me to check the temper that arose.  Those words out of the Bible did it:  ’If any man smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’  Emilie told me that text one day, and I said I did’nt think I could ever do that, but I was helped somehow; but come, Edith, let us go and see Emilie Schomberg, I have’nt seen her since all this happened, though you have.  How beautifully you keep my cages Edith!  I think you are very clever; the birds get on better than they did with me.  Is there any one you would like to give a bird to, dear?  For I am sure you ought to share the pleasures, you have plenty of the trouble of my canaries.”

“Oh, I have pleasure enough, and their songs always seem like rejoicings over our reconciliation that day ever so long ago; you remember, don’t you, Fred? but I should like a bird very much to give to Miss Schomberg; she seems low-spirited, and says she is often very lonely.  A bird would be nice company for her, shall we take her one?”

“It would be rather a troublesome gift without a cage, Edith, but I have money enough, I think, and I will buy a cage, and then she shall have her bird.”

“We will hang it up to greet her on Sunday morning, shall we?” Thus the brother and sister set out, and it was a beautiful sight to their mother, who dearly loved them, to see the two who once were so quarrelsome and disunited now walking together in love.

Emilie was not at home, and they stood uncertain which way to walk, when Fred said, “Edith, I want some one to teach poor Joe love; will you go with me and see him?  You taught me to love you, and I think Joe would be happier if he could see some one he could take a fancy to.  Papa said he might see one at a time now, and poor fellow, I do pity him so.  Will you go?  It is a fine fresh afternoon, let us go to Mr. Barton’s.”

The October sky was clear and the air bracing, and side by side walked Fred and Edith on their errand of mercy to poor neglected Joe, their young hearts a little saddened by the remembrance of his sufferings, “Is not his aunt coming?” asked Edith.

“No! actually she is not,” replied Fred.  “She says in her letter she could not stand the fatigue of the journey, and that her physicians order her to try the waters of Bath and Cheltenham.  Unfeeling creature!”

Thus they chatted till they arrived at Mr. Barton’s house.  Mrs. Barton received them very kindly.  “Oh, Miss Parker, she said, my heart aches for that poor lad upstairs, and yet with all this trial, and the wonderful providential escape he has had, would you believe it? his heart seems very little affected.  He is not softened that I can see.  I told him to day how thankful he ought to be that God did not cut him off in all his sins, and he answered that they who tempted him into danger would have the most to answer for.”