A TRUE FRIEND.
“I regard Squire Peternot’s course very much as you do,” said Annie, still soothing the lad, with one hand pressing his own and the other on his shoulder, “though I’m not so angry at him. He has acted according to his nature; not according to the Golden Rule, very sure. But how few people act according to the Golden Rule, Jack! If we were to quarrel with all who fail in that respect, I am afraid we should find ourselves in difficulty with nearly the whole world. No, Jack; it’s useless to fly into a passion with everybody we see acting selfishly and meanly. It is much better to look carefully after our own conduct, and see what we may be doing that is wrong. Now I want you to walk home with me, and tell me your story by the way; then we will see what had better be done. Aunt Patsy will leave her door unbarred, so that you can come back and see her again.”
They went out together, and talked long in low tones as they walked under the starlit sky across the fields.
“Now, Jack,” said Annie, when they had reached Mr. Chatford’s orchard, and stopped beside the little brook that kept up its low liquid babble in the dark shadows that half concealed it, “I have heard your own story, and I can’t say that I blame you very much for anything you have done. You have acted naturally, but not always wisely. No doubt so much money appeared a great fortune to you, and of course something very desirable. But I am by no means sure it would have been a good thing for you to have. I’m afraid your head would have been turned by it. You were doing well enough before. You were sure of a good living, a good home, and a chance for yourself, as I have heard you say with honest pride so many times.”
“This is what my chance has finally come to!” said Jack,—“no home, no future, but a constable at my heels!”
“I can think of something that might be worse for you than all that,—getting rich too fast. That’s what ruins many. You were happy in slowly working your way up the ladder, happier than you could ever be again if you should suddenly find yourself at the top. The money might not have harmed you, but I am sure you could have done very well without it. Don’t regret it if it is lost. And, of all things, don’t associate yourself with bad companions or adopt unjustifiable means to gain even justifiable ends. Better submit to a little wrong. If your enemies succeed in overreaching you, so much the worse for them. Wouldn’t you rather be robbed than feel that you have robbed another? I know you would, Jack!”
“You talk just like Percy Lanman!” said the boy, his heart beginning to feel warmed and comforted.
“The young man who dove for you in the pond? I heard Mr. Chatford tell about him.”
“I saw him in the fields afterwards, and he lent me some money. He talked just as you do!” Jack declared.