There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was
given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods. He practiced in the
woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting discouraged, he headed
back to dinner.
As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he
let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He
was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile,
only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said
nothing.
After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But
Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen
today, didn't you Johnny?" And then she whispered to him, "Remember, the
duck?"
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma
said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help me make supper."
But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me
he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" Sally
went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally
couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he
killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said "Sweetheart, I
know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But
because I love you, I forgave you.
But, I was just wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of
you."
- - 
- 
- 
- - 