Good for Evil by Madeline Leslie
The story revolves around themes of kindness, forgiveness, and moral lessons. A young boy named Charlie approaches his mother with a request to help a schoolmate, a girl who has not been kind to him. Despite the rainy weather and the girl's previous unkindness, Charlie is motivated by the teachings of Jesus to "do good to them that despitefully use us." He wishes to assist the girl by carrying her heavy parcel, embodying the principle of returning good for evil. The narrative explores the impact of such actions on both the giver and the recipient, highlighting the transformative power of kindness and the importance of adhering to moral and ethical teachings. Through Charlie's actions, the story illustrates how acts of goodwill can bridge gaps and foster understanding, even in the face of adversity or mistreatment.
By Madeline Leslie · First published 1872 · Genre: Children's Literature, Christian Fiction, Moral Fable · 141 words
First lines
A LITTLE boy came to his mother one rainy afternoon, and said to her, "Mother, may I go down the street with a little girl who goes to our school?"
"It is very wet for you to go out, Charlie," his mother replied. "Is the little girl a favorite of yours?"
"Oh no; she treats me worse than any other scholar in the school."
"Then why do you wish to go with her?"
What this Textopian page supports
Good for Evil is listed on Textopian as a short story by Madeline Leslie, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Madeline Leslie
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Christian Fiction, Moral Fable
- Length: 141 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Good for Evil by Madeline Leslie
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative's simple language and didactic tone geared toward teaching moral lessons indicate a target audience of young readers.
- Christian Fiction — The reference to Jesus and the moral imperative to return good for evil align with Christian themes and teachings.
- Moral Fable — The story conveys ethical lessons through a concise narrative, characteristic of traditional fables designed to impart wisdom.
Tags
Fantasy · Paranormal · Romance · Dark Romance · Supernatural · Adventure · Good versus Evil · Magic · Action · Suspense · Conflict · Redemption