"Nonsense," said he, in reply, "you are not big enough to drive such a
team as this."
"Why, there was a boy, no bigger than I, that drove the horses up to
the door when we started, this morning," replied Marco.
"O yes, - Jerry," - said the driver, - "but he'll break his neck one of
these days."
"I didn't see but that he drove very well," said Marco.
The driver was silent.
"Come," persisted Marco, "let me drive a little way, and I'll do as
much for you some day."
"You little fool," said the driver, "you never can do any thing for
me. You are not big enough to be of any use at all."
Marco thought of the fable of the mouse and the lion, but since his
new companion was in such ill-humor, he thought he would say no more
to him. A resentful reply to the epithet "little fool," did in fact
rise to his lips, but he suppressed it and said nothing.
It was fortunate for Marco that he did so. For whenever any person has
said any thing harsh, unjust, or cruel, the most effectual reply is,
generally, silence.
