"Oh boys, boys, don't throw stones at that poor bird, "said an old gray-headed man.
"Why, sir, "said a little boy, "she makes such a scream, that we can't bear her." "Yes, but she uses the voice which God gave her. And it is probably as pleasant to her friends as yours is to those who love you. Besides, I am afraid the stone will rebound（弹回）, and hurt you as long as you live!"
"Rebound!We don't understand you, sir!""Well, come and I will tell you a story." "Is it a true story?""Yes. Every word is true. "
"Fifty years ago, I was a boy like you. I used to throw stones, and as I had no other boy very near me to play with, I threw them till I became very accurate（精确的）in my aim.
"One day I went to work for an aged couple named Hamilton. They were very kind to everybody and everything. Few people had so many swallows（燕子）making their nests（鸟巢）under houses. Few had so many pets that seemed to love the couple.
"For seven years a bird had come. After the long winter, the bird built her nest in the same place and raised her young ones there. She had just returned on the day that I went there to work.
"During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her. She sat upon a stick near her nest, and looked at me trustfully. I found a nice stone and threw it with my best skill.
"It shot（击中）the bird on the head, and she dropped dead!
"I was sorry as soon as I saw her fall. But the deed was done. All day long her mate flew about, and was so sad that he made my heart ache. Why had I taken a life so innocent（无辜的）, and hurt the poor mate so deeply?
"I said nothing to the old couple about it. But, through a grandchild, they found it out. Though they never said a word to me on the matter, theymourned the birdand buried（埋葬）it. I could never look them in the face afterwards. Oh, I had told them how sorry I was!
"They have been dead many, many years. But don't you see how that stone rebounded and hit me? How deep it made upon my memory! How deep upon my conscience（良知）！Why, my dear boys, how I want to give a great deal today if I could do something for that deed!
"For fifty years I have carried it in my memory. I have never spoken of it before. Yet if what I have now said shall prevent you from throwing a stone that may rebound and deeply hurt your conscience. I shall be very cheerful. "
The boys at once dropped the stones they had in their hands.
