Christian Treatment of Enemies

A poor widow, who was a washerwoman, partly depended for support upon the produce of her garden. In it was a peach tree, the fruit of which was coveted by some boys of the village. Accordingly, one night they entered the garden to rob the tree. The widow had, however, made a timely gathering of her fruit that day. In revenge for their disappointment, the wicked lads turned some swine into the garden, who, by morning, had wrought havoc among the poor woman’s vegetables and made her suffer in consequence through the winter. In looking at the desolation, she picked up a knife with a name engraved on the handle. It was the name of a village boy whom she knew, and whom she thus recognized as the cause of her loss. However, nothing was said about the matter. During the ensuing months, a revival took place in the village in question, and among those who became convicted of sin was the owner of the knife. Becoming converted, he obeyed his conscience by going to the widow and confessing the wrong he had done her. Thereupon she told him she had long known it, and showed him his knife. “But why did you not inform the authorities about me, and make me pay the damage?” he asked. “There was a more excellent way,” she said; “I took that.” “What was it?” asked the lad. “To pray for you, in accordance with the Master’s directions.” So the widow had her revenge.