Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/186

 Rh "Oh, babushka!" said Martin. "That may be our way, but it is not God's. If you think the boy should be so severely punished for stealing only an apple, what punishment do you think should be meted out to us for our sins?"

The old woman did not reply.

Martin then related to her the parable of how a certain lord had released his tenant from a large debt, and how the tenant went out and began to abuse one who owed him a much smaller sum.

The old woman and the boy listened with great interest to the Bible story.

"God has commanded us to forgive," said Martin, "that we also may be forgiven. Everybody should be forgiven, especially the hasty and thoughtless."

The woman shook her head and heaved a deep sigh.

"Yes, yes," she said; "that is all very true. But nowadays boys are too wicked to be benefited by such Christian kindness."