Gladys and Dora were in the same class at school, and when the teacher
promised to give a prize for the cleanest, neatest and best-written
copy-book, they determined to try and win the prize. Both the little
girls wrote their copies very carefully for several days, but by-and-by
Gladys grew a little careless, and her copies were not so well written
as Dora's. Gladys knew this quite well, and yet she longed for the
prize. What should she do? There was only one copy more to be written,
and then it would have to be decided who should get the prize. Sad to
say, Gladys thought of a very mean way by which she might spoil Dora's
chance of it.
She went to school one morning very early--no one was there; softly she
walked to Dora's desk, and drew out her neat, tidy copy-book, which she
opened at the last page, and, taking a pen, she dipped it in ink, and
splashed the page all over; then she put it back in the desk, and said
to herself, "There, now, the prize will be mine".
But why does Gladys feel so wretched all at once? A little Voice that
you have often heard spoke in her heart, and said, "Oh! Gladys, how
mean, how unkind!" and she could not =help= being miserable.
Presently the school assembled, and when the writing lesson came round
the teacher said, "Now, girls, take out your copy-books and finish
them". Dora drew hers out, and when she opened it and saw the blots her
cheeks grew scarlet and her eyes filled with tears. Just then she turned
and saw Gladys glancing at her in an ashamed sort of way (as the
elephant looked at his driver when he had stolen the cakes--Story Lesson
85), and Dora knew in her heart that it was Gladys who had spoilt her
copy-book. But she did not tell any one, not even when the teacher said,
"Oh! Dora, what a mess you have made on your nice copy-book!" but she
was thinking all the time, and when she went home she said to her
mother, "Mamma, may I give my little tin box with the flowers painted on
it to Gladys?" "Why, Dora," said her mother, "I thought you were very
fond of that pretty box!" "So I am," replied Dora, "that is why I want
Gladys to have it; please let me give it to her, mother!" So Dora's
mother consented, and next morning Gladys found a small parcel on her
desk, with a scrap of paper at the top, on which was written, "Gladys,
with love from Dora". Dora was generous, you see; she returned good for
evil, and Gladys felt far more sorrow for her fault than she would have
done had Dora caused her to be punished. Neither Gladys nor Dora won the
prize, but Gladys learnt a lesson that was worth more than many prizes,
and Dora had a gladness in her heart that was better than a prize--the
gladness that comes from listening to the Good Voice. "Good for Evil" is
a beautiful "stone" to have in your Temple.
(Blackboard.)
It is Generous to Return Good for Evil.