The Angel's Tear

by Ambrose Bierce

AN Unworthy Man who had laughed at the woes of a Woman whom he
loved, was bewailing his indiscretion in sack-cloth-of-gold and
ashes-of-roses, when the Angel of Compassion looked down upon him,
saying:

"Poor mortal! - how unblest not to know the wickedness of laughing
at another's misfortune!"

So saying, he let fall a great tear, which, encountering in its
descent a current of cold air, was congealed into a hail-stone.
This struck the Unworthy Man on the head and set him rubbing that
bruised organ vigorously with one hand while vainly attempting to
expand an umbrella with the other.

Thereat the Angel of Compassion did most shamelessly and wickedly
laugh.

[courtesy of Aesopfables.com]