‚ÄúAlways‚ÅÝ‚Äîtell‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe truth?‚Äù she repeated slowly.
“Yes.”
Her fingers worked nervously.
“All the truth?” she asked.
He thought a while.
“No,” said he finally, “it is not necessary always to tell all the truth; but never tell anything that isn’t the truth.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“Even if it hurts me?”
“Even if it hurts. God is good, He will not let it hurt much.”
“He’s a fair God, ain’t He?” she mused, scanning the evening sky.
‚ÄúYes‚ÅÝ‚ÄîHe‚Äôs fair, He wouldn‚Äôt take advantage of a little girl that did wrong, when she didn‚Äôt know it was wrong.‚Äù
Her face lightened and she held his hands in both hers, and said solemnly as though saying a prayer:
‚ÄúI won‚Äôt lie any more, and I won‚Äôt steal‚ÅÝ‚Äîand‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù she looked at him in startled wistfulness‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe remembered it in after years; but he felt he had preached enough.
‚ÄúAnd now for the seed!‚Äù he interrupted joyously. ‚ÄúAnd then‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe Silver Fleece!‚Äù