Nor had he
any self-conceit. He realised in himself his own worst foe. Lest we
fall into this snare, it is well daily to pray: 'O Lover of Mankind,
grant unto me truly to love my fellow-men; to honour them, until they
prove worthless; to trust them, until they prove faithless; and ever to
expect better of them, than I expect of myself; to think better of
them, than I think of myself.' Let us go through life, my son,
searching for good in others, not for evil; we may miss the good, if we
search not for it; the evil, alas, will find us, quite soon enough,
unsought."
Suddenly Hugh lifted his head.
"Father," he said, "the starling! Mind you the starling with the
broken wing, which you and I found in the woods and carried home; and
you did set his wing, and tamed him, and taught him to say 'Hugh'?
Each time I brought him food, you said: 'Hugh! Hugh!' And soon the
starling, seeing me coming, also said: 'Hugh! Hugh!' Do you remember,
Father?"
"I do remember," said the Bishop. "I see thee now, coming across the
courtyard, bread and meat in thy hands--a little lad, bareheaded in the
sunshine, glowing with pleasure because the starling ran to meet thee,
shouting 'Hugh!'"
"Then listen, dear Father. (Ah, how often have I wished to tell you
this!) Soon after you were gone, that starling rudely taught me a hard
lesson. Gaining strength, one day he left the courtyard, ran through
the buttery, and wandered in the garden.
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