Coals Of Fire

DADDY, CRIED Donovan, running in from school, ''that boy Lionel is the meanest fellow in the school.''
Hello, hello, what's the matter now? said Daddy.     ''Oh, he's just terribly mean. He's always calling me names, and everything I do he says is bad or stupid, and he's always setting the other boys against me with his tails.''
"Tut, tut, tut!" said Daddy. "It surly can't be as bad as that."
"Yes, it is," said Donovan. "And what's more, I'm not going to stand it any longer. Big as he is, I'm going to fight him tomorrow."
"Well, that's interesting," said Daddy, smiling. "I hope you will tell me when it's going to come off, so I can come along and pick up the pieces."
"There won't be any pieces left of him," said Donovan angrily. "What, are you going to swallow him afterwards?"
Donovan laughed. " Do you know," said Daddy, "I can tell you how to pay that boy back."
"Can you ?" cried Donovan, all eagerness. "How?" "Would you like to put some coals of fire on his head ?'
"Anything," said Donovan. "anything."
"Well, I'll get the perscription fro you so you can do it."
So Daddy went into his study and brought out a book. After a little searching he found the place. "Ah, here it is," he said. "Listen, Donovan : 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing though shalt heap coals of fire on his head.' Rom. 12:20."
"Aw," said Donovan, "that's no good; I'd rather fight him."
          "But," said Daddy, "this is much better. If you fight him, you cannot hurt him vary much; but this way you pour coals of fire on his head.
You well burn him all the meanness out of him."
"Fine!" said Donovan. "But I don't like that way of doing it." "why not try it?" said Daddy.     "It's worth trying anyways."     "I'll see, said Donovan. "I'll think it over."
Donovan thought it over, and it was not long before something began to happen.
Next morning, on his way to school, whom should he meet but the hated Lionel.
"Just my luck," Lionel said as he came up with Donovan. "Got up late and missed my breakfast. Suppose you've been eating the fat of the land."
"No breakfast!" said Donovan kindly. "You must be starved. Do have my lunch right now. Yes i did have a good breakfast, and I am not a bit hungry, so you really must have my lunch."

Lionel was as surprised as if he had received a blow between the eyes.  He looked at Donovan and then at the lunch. "You don't mean it," he said.  "Really I do," aid Donovan. "do take it."
"That's nice of you, Thanks," said Lionel, taking the little parcel and beginning to eat.  "But you will have have a bit yourself, won't you?"
Donovan took a sandwich, and they walked on to school together, munching in silence.
"Hot this morning," said Lionel after they had gone some distance. "Wish i could get a drink somewhere."
"A drink?" said Donovan. "Let me see, where can we we get one? I should like one too."
"Pity we can't get some lemonade in that store over there," said Lionel.
"I've an idea," said Donovan. "I have two dimes with me. What about it? Let's go over, shall we?"
"Well, I don't want to take your money," said Lionel. "I'll wait till i get to the playground." said Lionel.
"Oh no, come along with me," said Donovan.  "we'll have a glass each. Looks good, doesn't it?"

So they went in, bought a glass of lemonade each, and then hurried on to school.
That evening Daddy was waiting at the gate for Donovan.
"Well," he said, "how did the fight go? I hope you won."
"I did," said Donovan with a twinkle in his eye. "I just burned him all up."
"Whatever do you mean?" asked Daddy.
"Why, I did what you said. I fed him with my lunch, and i gave him drink of lemonade, and----well,
he suddenly changed. He's been as different as could be all day. We've been like old friends all the time."
''Splendid! Well done Donovan!" said Daddy. "I hope you'll win all you battles just like that."