The old woman released the boy, who was for making off at once had not Avdeitch stopped him.
“You must beg the old woman’s pardon,” he said, “and never do such a thing again. I saw you take the apple.”
The boy burst out crying, and begged the old woman’s pardon as Avdeitch commanded.
“There, there,” said Avdeitch. “Now I will give you one. Here you are,”—and he took an apple from the basket and handed it to the boy. “I will pay you for it, my good woman,” he added.
“Yes, but you spoil the young rascal by doing that,” she objected. “He ought to have received a reward that would have made him glad to stand for a week.”
“Ah, my good dame, my good dame,” exclaimed Avdeitch. “That may be our way of rewarding, but it is not God’s. If this boy ought to have been whipped for taking the apple, ought not we also to receive something for our sins?”
The old woman was silent. Then Avdeitch related to her the parable of the master who absolved his servant from the great debt which he owed him, whereupon the servant departed and took his own debtor by the throat. The old woman listened, and also the boy.
“God has commanded us to pardon one another,” went on Avdeitch, “or He will not pardon us. We ought to pardon all men, and especially the thoughtless.”
The old woman shook her head and sighed.
“Yes, that may be so,” she said, “but these young rascals are so spoilt already!”