And besides, you are bringing discredit on your beloved country by such
behavior."
Stevie looked up with wide-open, astonished eyes. "Why, papa!" he said.
"I heard you tell Guiseppi the other day," went on his papa, "that all
Americans were nice. Do you expect him to believe that, when you, the
only little American boy he knows, speak so rudely to him, and he hears
you ordering your sisters about as you do?"
Stevie hung his head without a word, but his cheeks got very red.
"You know, Stevie," said Mr. Lawrence, "great honors always bring great
responsibilities with them. You are a Christian and an American--two
great honors; and you mustn't shirk the responsibility to be courteous
and noble and kind, which they entail. Even our dear Lord Christ
pleased not Himself, you know; don't you suppose it grieves Him to see
His little follower flying into rages because he can't have his own
way? And can you possibly imagine Washington or Lincoln ordering
people about as you like to do?"
There was a moment's silence; then Stevie straightened himself up and
poked his hands deep down in his pockets.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283