"Then," said Mrs. Preston, "after all your quibbling, I don't see that
Willie told any falsehood. And, in fact, I don't believe he had any
idea of injuring you, when he told Ralph of the affair. He only spoke
of it as a little matter of news. But even if he had told a lie about
you, or had related the occurrence out of ill-will towards you, would
that be any excuse for your conduct, in beating him as you did this
afternoon! Do you remember the subject of your last Sabbath-school
lesson?"

Oscar could not recall it, and shook his head in the negative.

"I have not forgotten it," continued his mother; "it was on forgiving
our enemies, and it is a lesson that you very much need to learn. 'If
ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses,'--that was one of the verses of the lesson. It is
noble to forgive, but it is mean to retaliate. You must learn to
conquer your resentful spirit, or you will be in trouble all the time.
I shall report this matter to your father when he comes. I suppose you
remember what he promised you, when you had your fight with Sam Oliver?"

Oscar remembered it very distinctly. On that occasion, his father
reprimanded him with much severity, and assured him that any repetition
of the fault would not go unpunished.

Mr. Preston soon came in, and as the family sat at the tea-table, he
was informed of Oscar's misconduct. After scolding the culprit with
much sharpness, for his attack upon Willie, he concluded by ordering
him immediately to bed. Although it yet lacked two hours of his usual
bed-time, Oscar did not consider his punishment very severe, but
retired to his chamber, feeling delighted that he had got off so much