She encouraged him by a smile, and then he said, eagerly,—
"Nobody loves Oscar, and that's the reason he does so. His father drinks rum, and his mother scolds him whenever he goes into the house, and so—"
He hesitated, and the gentleman said, "That does not excuse him for hurting you."
"Oh, I don't think he meant to hurt me and, if he did, he didn't know how much I pitied him. He has real bad clothes; and all last winter he didn't wear shoes. When I get well, mother's going to send for him; and we'll fix him up real nice. Mother says he isn't half as much to blame as if he had good parents to teach him."
"And do you really forgive him for making that big bump on your head?"
Charley's eyes were wide open now; but he said, earnestly and very frankly,—
"Of course I forgive him. You know the prayer says, 'Forgive us as we forgive our debtors.' Mother says that means that, if I don't forgive those who injure me, I ask God not to forgive my sins; and that would be awful, you know."
"And you ask God to help you, I suppose?"
"I'm going to when I say my prayers. I know he will, because he loves to have boys grow good."
"Well, Charley, I feel sure you will succeed. But you must not forget to thank God for giving you a good mother."