“I AM accustomed, when the weather is fine, to have two of my little girls drawn out by a lad in a perambulator. The elder of these children is nearly four years old, the other a year younger. In our neighborhood lives a little boy, about seven or eight years of age, who, when our little ones first went out this spring, took every opportunity he could to tease and even injure them. The little fellow’s attacks became, at last, very serious, and finding my remonstrance had no effect upon him when I was out of sight, I made up my mind to call upon his parents, with complaints against him; but that day I was taught a better lesson by my little ones. On their return that day, the younger one said to the other,” “I don’t love little Thomas, because he throws stones and is a naughty boy.”
“Oh, dear Mary” replied her sister, “but mamma says we must love everybody: so I try and love little Thomas.”
“And so will I try, too,” said Mary.
In the afternoon when they were out, little Thomas was standing at his gate, and as they passed, little Jane said to him, “I love you, little Thomas.”
The boy immediately went indoors, and they saw no more of him that day. And after this, whenever they saw him, they nodded to him, and repeated, “I love you, little Thomas.”
Soon afterward, while they were one day taking their airing, I sent each of them a bun. Just at that time little Thomas came past, and they both called out, “Little Thomas, have some of my nice bun,” at the same time giving him half.
He looked rather foolish, and said, “I don’t want so much as that”; but he took what they gave him, and walked quietly up and down by their side.
From that time he has gradually become their friend, and is now rather a protector than an annoyance, and his general behavior is also greatly changed.
Is it not easy to love those who love you? but Christ says, “Love your enemies.”―Extracted.