Miss Ruth opened the large Bible, and turning to Proverbs, read:
“A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.”
“Better is it to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.” Then, turning to the New Testament, she read:
“Love your enemies.”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Miss Ruth closed the Bible, saying nothing, for she knew that the children understood what she had read, and that God’s word would reach their hearts better than anything she might say.
They took their seats quietly, and when Ben came in, he was much surprised to meet none but pleasant looks.
When Frankie was on his way home after school, Ben came running to overtake him, all out of breath.
“Hallo! Frank Western, stop a minute,” he shouted. Frank waited for him. It was an awkward thing for Ben to do, something he had probably never done before, but he went through with it quite well.