There is a turning point in most persons’ lives, either for good or evil.  Joe White was able long afterwards to recall that miserable Sunday evening, with its storm of agitation and revenge, and then its lull of peace and love.  He who said, “Peace, be still,” to the tempestuous ocean, spoke those words to Joe’s troubled spirit, and the boy was willing to listen and to learn.  Would a long lecture on the sinfulness and impropriety of his revengeful and hardened state have had the same effect on Joe, as Emilie’s hopeful, gentle, almost silent sympathy?  We think not.  “I would try and make him lovable,” so said and so acted Emilie Schomberg, and for that effort had the orphan cause to thank her through time and eternity.

Joe was not of an open communicative turn, he was accustomed to keep his feelings and thoughts very much to himself, and he therefore did not tell either Fred or Edith of his conversation with Emilie, but when they came to bid him good night, he spoke softly to them, and when John came to his couch he did not offer one finger and turn away his face, as he had been in the habit of doing, but said, “Good night,” freely, almost kindly.

The work went on slowly but surely, still he held back forgiveness to John, and while he did this, he could not be happy, he could not himself feel that he was forgiven.  “I do forgive him, at least I wish him no ill, Miss Schomberg,” he said in one of his conversations with Emilie.  “I don’t suppose I need be very fond of him.  Am I required to be that?”

“What does the Bible say, Joe?  ’If thine enemy hunger feed him, if he thirst give him drink.’ ‘I say unto you,’ Christ says, ’Love your enemies.’  He does not say don’t hate them, he means Love them.  Do you think you have more to forgive John than Jesus had to forgive those who hung him on the cross?”

“It seems to me, Miss Schomberg, so different that example is far above me.  I cannot be like Him you know.”

“Yet Joe there have been instances of persons who have followed his example in their way and degree, and who have been taught by Him, and helped by Him to forgive their fellow-creatures.”

“But it is not in human nature to do it, I know, at least is not in mine.”

“But try and settle it in your mind, Joe, that John did not mean to injure you, that had he had the least idea that you would fall he would never have tempted you to climb.  If you look upon it as accidental on your part, and thoughtlessness on his, it will feel easier to forgive him perhaps, and I am sure you may.  You are quite wrong in supposing that John does not think of it.  He told Edith only yesterday that he never could forgive himself for tempting you to climb, and that he did not wonder at your cold and distant way to him.  Poor fellow! it would make him much happier if you would treat him as though you forgave him, which you cannot do unless you from your heart forgive him.”