,,tip ,,lewis ,,and ,,his ,,lamp  ,,by  
,,pansy   ,,author ,,of ,,ester ,,ried1 
,,ester ,,ried ,,yet ,,speaking1 ,,mrs4 
,,solomon ,,smith ,,looking ,,on1 ,,an  
,,endless ,,chain1 ,,four ,,girls ,,at  
,,chautauqua1 ,,etc4 ,,etc4     ,,tip   
,,lewis ,,and ,,his ,,lamp4             
,,chapter ,i4  ,cast thy bread upon the 
waters4   ,the room was very full4      
,children1 large and small1 boys and    
girls1 and some looking almost old      
enough to be called men and women1      
filled the seats4 ,the scholars had just
 finished singing their best-loved hymn1
 ,happy ,land2 and the superintendent   
was walking up and down the room1 spying
 out classes here and there which were  
without teachers1 and supplying them    
from the visitors' seat1 which was up by
 the desk4  ,the long seat near the door
 was filled this morning by half a dozen
 dirty1 ragged1 barefooted boys2 their  
teacher's seat was vacant1 and those    
boys looked1 every one1 as though they  
had come thither just to have a grand   

frolic4  ,oh1 such bright1 cunning1     
wicked faces as they had6  ,their torn  
pants and jackets1 their matted hair1   
even the very twinkle in their eyes1    
showed that they were the ,mission      
,class4  ,that is1 the class which      
somebody had gathered from the little   
black1 comfortless-looking houses which 
thronged a narrow back street of that   
village1 and coaxed to come to the      
,sabbath school1--to this large1 light1 
pleasant room1 where the sun shone in   
upon little girls in white dresses1 with
 blue and pink ribbons fluttering from  
their shoulders2 and upon little boys1  
whose snowy linen collars and dainty    
knots of black ribbon had evidently been
 arranged by careful hands that very    
morning4  ,but those boys in the corner 
kicked their bare heels together1 pulled
 each other's hair1 or laughed in each  
other's faces in the greatest good      
humour4  ,the superintendent stopped    
before them4  ,well1 boys1 good morning2
 glad to see you all here4 ,where's your

 teacher8  ,hain't got none6 answered   
one1  ,gone to ,guinea6 said another4   
,she was afraid of us1 explained a      
third4 ,tip1 here1 put his foot through 
one of her lace flounces last ,sunday4  
,tip's the worst boy we've got1 anyhow4 
,the boys all seemed to think this was  
very funny1 for they laughed so loudly  
that the little girls at their right    
looked over to see what was the matter4 
,tip ran his fingers through his        
uncombed hair1 and laughed with the     
rest4  ,well1 said the superintendent1  
,i'm going to get you a teacher1--one   
you will like1 ,i guess4 ,i shall expect
 you to treat her well4  ,there was just
 one person left on the visitors'       
seat1--a young lady who looked shy and  
quiet4  ,oh1 ,mr4 ,parker1 she said1    
when the superintendent told her what he
 wanted1 ,i can't take that class2 ,i've
 watched those boys ever since they came
 in1--they look mischievous enough for  
anything1 and act as they look4  ,then  
shall we leave them with nothing but    

mischief to take up their attention8    
,no1 but--they really ought to have a   
better teacher than ,i1--some one who   
knows how to interest them4  ,but1 ,miss
 ,perry1 the choice lies between you and
 no one4  ,and1 while she still         
hesitated and looked distressed1 ,mr4   
,parker bent forward a little1 and said 
softly1--  ',inasmuch as ye did it not  
to one of the least of these ,my        
brethren1 ye did it not to ,me4'  ,the  
lady rose quickly1 and gathered her     
mantle about her4  ,i will go1 ,mr4     
,parker1 she said1 speaking quickly1 as 
if afraid her courage would fail her4   
,since there is no one else1 ,i will do 
the best ,i can2 but oh1 ,i am afraid6  
,down the long room1 past the rows of   
neatly-dressed1 attentive children1 ,mr4
 ,parker led her to the seat near the   
door4  ,now1 boys1 said he1 this is     
,miss ,perry4 ,suppose you see if you   
can't all be gentlemen1 and treat her   
well4  ,miss ,perry sat down in the     
teacher's chair1 her heart all in a     

flutter4 ,she taught a class in her own 
,sabbath school hundreds of miles       
away1--five rosy-cheeked1 bright-eyed   
little girls gathered around her every  
,sabbath2 but they were little girls    
whose mothers had taught them to love   
their lessons1 to listen respectfully to
 what their teacher said1 to bow their  
heads reverently in prayer2 and more    
than that1 they loved her1 and she loved
 them4 ,but these boys6 ,still she must 
say something3 six pairs of bright1     
roguish eyes1 brimful of fire and fun1  
were bent on her4  ,boys1 she said      
gently1 have you any lessons for me8    
,not much1 answered ,bob ,turner1 who   
always spoke first4  ,we don't get      
lessons mostly4 ,don't come unless it's 
too hot to go fishing or berrying4  ,tip
 comes 'cause he's too lazy to go past  
the door1  ,i don't6 drawled out the boy
 they called ,tip2 ,i come to get out of
 the sun2 it's hotter than sixty down   
home4  ,never mind1 boys1 said their    
frightened teacher2 for they were all   

laughing now1 as though the funniest    
thing in the world had happened4 ,see   
here1 since you have no lessons1 shall  
,i tell you a story8  ,oh yes1 they were
 willing enough to hear a story1 if it  
wasn't stupid4  ,i'll tell you something
 that happened to a boy when he was     
about thirteen years old4 ,his name is  
,robert2 he told me this story himself1 
so you may be sure it's true4  ,he said 
one evening he was walking slowly down  
the main street of the village where he 
lived--  ,where was that8 asked ,bob    
,turner4  ,oh1 it was away out west4 ,he
 said he felt cross and unhappy2 he had 
nowhere in particular to go1 and nothing
 to do4 ,as he walked1 he came to a turn
 where two roads met4 ',now1' thought   
he1 'shall ,i turn to the left and go   
home1 and hang around until bed-time1 or
 shall ,i turn to the right and go down 
to the river awhile8'  ,you see1 ,robert
 hadn't a happy home1--his mother was   
dead1 and his father was a drunkard4    
,while he stood thinking1 a boy came    

around the other corner1 and called     
out1--  ,going home1 ,rob8'  ',don't    
know1' said ,robert2 ',i can't make up  
my mind4'  ',suppose you come on down to
 our house1 and we'll have a game of    
ball8'  ,still ,robert waited4 ,he was  
fond of playing ball1--that was         
certain1--and he liked company better   
than to walk alone2 why he should think 
of wandering off down to the river by   
himself he was sure he didn't know4     
,still something seemed to keep saying  
to him1 ',go this way--turn to the      
right2 come1 go to the river1 'until he 
said at last1--  ',no2 ,i guess ,i'll   
take a walk this way first4'  ,and he   
turned the corner1 then he was but a few
 steps from the river4  ,what came of   
the other fellow8 asked ,bob4  ,why1    
some more boys came up just then1 and he
 walked along with them4  ,there was a  
large elm-tree on the river bank1 and   
there was one particular spot under it  
that ,robert called his seat2 but he    
found a gentleman seated there this     

time2 he had a book in his hand1 partly 
closed1 and he was leaning back against 
a tree1 watching the sunset4  ,he looked
 around as he heard ,robert's step1 and 
said1 ',good evening2 will you have a   
seat8'  ,he moved along1 and ,robert sat
 down on the grass near him2 then he    
said1--  ',i heard a boy call out to    
another just now1 ,going home1 ,robert8 
,are you the boy8'  ',no1' said ,robert2
 ',hal ,carter screamed that out to me  
just as he came round the corner4'      
',oh1 you are the one he was talking to4
 ,well1 ,i'll ask you the same question4
 ,are you going home8'  ',no1' said     
,robert again2 ',i have just walked     
straight away from home4'  ',yes2 but   
are you going up there8' ,and the       
gentleman pointed up to the blue sky4   
',that's the home ,i mean2 ,i've just   
been reading about it2 this river made  
me think of it4 ,where it says1 you     
know1 ,and he showed me a pure river of 
water1 clear as crystal4 ,then it goes  
on to describe the city with its gates  

of pearl and streets of gold1 the robes 
and crowns that the people wear1 the    
harps on which they play1 and1 after    
this warm day1 ,i couldn't help thinking
 that one of the pleasantest things     
about this home was the promise1        
,neither shall the sun light on them1   
nor any heat4 ,aren't you going to that 
home1 my boy8'  ',i don't know1' ,robert
 said1 feeling very much astonished4    
,at this point the superintendent's bell
 rang1 and ,miss ,perry had to hasten   
her story4  ,i haven't time1 boys1 to   
tell you all the gentleman said1 but1   
after that talk1 ,robert began to think 
about these things a great deal1 and    
pretty soon he learned to read the      
,bible and to pray4 ,that was more than 
fifty years ago4 ,he is an old minister 
now2 ,i have heard him preach a great   
many times2 and he told me once he      
should always believe ,god put it into  
his heart to turn to the right that     
evening1 instead of the left4  ,oh6     
exclaimed ,tip1 just here2 and ,miss    

,perry stopped4  ,joe pinched me1 said  
,tip1 to explain his part of the noise4 
,but their teacher felt very badly2 they
 had not listened to her story as though
 they cared to hear it2 they had slid up
 and down the seat1 pulled and pinched  
and pricked each other1 and done a great
 many mischievous things since she      
commenced2 and yet now and then they    
seemed to hear a few words2 so she kept 
on1 because she did not know what else  
to do4  ,oh1 ,mr4 ,parker1 she said1    
when the school was dismissed1 and her  
noisy class had scrambled1 some through 
the window and some through the door1   
some man who understands boys ought to  
have had that class2 ,i haven't done    
them any good1 but ,i tried2 and there  
were tears in her eyes as she spoke4    
,you did what you could1 said the       
superintendent kindly2 none of us can do
 more4  ,some loving voice ought to have
 whispered in that teacher's ear1 ,he   
that goeth forth and weepeth1 bearing   
precious seed1 shall doubtless come     

again with rejoicing1 bringing his      
sheaves with him4     ,,chapter ,,ii4   
,but other fell into good ground1 and   
brought forth fruit4   ,tip ,lewis      
yawned and stretched1 and finally opened
 his eyes rather late on ,monday        
morning4  ,oh1 bother6 he said1 with    
another yawn1 when he saw how the sun   
was pouring into the room2 ,i suppose a 
fellow has got to get up4 ,i wish       
getting up wasn't such hard             
work1--spoils all the fun of going to   
bed2 but then the old cat will be to    
pay1 if ,i don't get around soon4  ,and 
with this he rolled out2 and when he was
 dressed1 which was in a very few       
minutes after he tumbled out of his     
ragged bed1 he was the self-same ,tip   
who had been at the bottom of most of   
the mischief in ,miss ,perry's class the
 day before1--the very same1 from the   
curly hair1 not yet combed nor likely to
 be1 down to the bare1 soiled feet4     
,the bed which he had just left1 so far 
as neatness was concerned1 looked very  

much like ,tip1 and the room looked like
 the bed2 and they all looked about as  
badly as dust and rags and poverty could
 make them look4  ,after running his    
fingers through his hair1 by way of     
finishing his toilet1 ,tip made his way 
down the rickety stairs to the kitchen4 
,it seemed as though that kitchen was   
just calculated to make a boy feel      
cross4 ,the table stood against the wall
 on its three legs1 the tablecloth was  
daubed with molasses and stained with   
gravy2 a plate1 with something in it    
which looked like melted lard1 but which
 ,tip's mother called butter1 and a half
 loaf of bread1 were the only eatable   
articles as yet on the table2 and around
 these the flies had gathered in such   
numbers1 that it almost seemed as though
 they might carry the loaf away         
entirely1 if too many of them didn't    
drown themselves in the butter4 ,over   
all the ,july sun poured in its rays    
from the eastern window1 the only one in
 the room4  ,tip stumbled over his      

father's boots1 and made his way to the 
stove1 where his mother was bending over
 a spider of sizzling pork4  ,well1 she 
said1 as he came near1 did you get up   
for all day8 ,i'd be ashamed--great boy 
like you--to lie in bed till this time  
of day1 and let your mother split wood  
and bring water to cook your breakfast  
with4  ,you cooked1 a little for you1   
too1 didn't you8 asked ,tip1 in a saucy1
 good-natured tone4 ,where's father8    
,just where you have been all day so    
far1--in bed and asleep4 ,such folks as 
,i've got6 ,i'm sick of living4  ,and   
,mrs4 ,lewis stepped back from the      
steaming tea-kettle1 and wiped great    
beads of perspiration from her forehead2
 then fanned herself with her big apron1
 looking meantime very tired and cross4 
,yet ,tip's mother was not so cross     
after all as she seemed2 had ,tip only  
known it1 her heart was very heavy that 
morning4 ,she did not blame his father  
for his morning nap1 not a bit of it2   
she was only glad that the weary frame  

could rest a little after a night of    
pain4 ,she had been up since the first  
grey dawn of morning1 bathing his head1 
straightening the tangled bedclothes1   
walking the floor with the restless     
baby1 in order that her husband might   
have quiet4 ,oh no2 there were worse    
women in the world than ,mrs4 ,lewis2   
but this morning her life looked very   
wretched to her4 ,she thought of her    
idle1 mischievous boy2 of her naughty1  
high-tempered little girl2 of her fat1  
healthy baby1 who took so much of her   
time2 of her husband1 who1 though she   
never said it to him1 or even to        
herself1 yet she knew and felt was every
 day growing weaker2 and with these came
 the remembrance that her own tired     
hands were all that lay between them and
 want2 and it is hardly a wonder that   
her voice was sharp and her words ill   
chosen4 ,for this mother tried to bear  
all her trials alone2 she never went for
 help to the ,redeemer1 who said1--     
,come unto ,me1 all ye that labour and  

are heavy laden4  ,wah6 said ,johnny1   
from his cradle in the bit of a bedroom 
near the kitchen1--which kitchen was all
 the room they had1 save two tiny       
bedrooms and ,tip's little den          
up-stairs4  ,mrs4 ,lewis glanced quickly
 towards the door of her husband's room2
 it was closed4 ,then she called1--     
,kitty1 make that baby go to sleep6  ,oh
 yes6 muttered ,kitty1 who sat on the   
floor lacing her old shoe with a white  
cord2 it's easy to say that1 but ,i'd   
just like to see you do it4  ,ah yah6   
answered ,johnny from the cradle1 as    
though he tried to say1 ,so should ,i4  
,then1 not being noticed1 he gave up    
pretending to cry1 and screamed in good 
earnest1 loud1 positive yells1 which    
brought his mother in haste from the    
kitchen4  ,ugly girl6 she said to       
,kitty1 as she lifted the conquering    
hero from his cradle2 you don't care how
 soon your father is waked out of the   
only nap he has had all night4 ,why     
didn't you rock the cradle8 ,i've a     

notion to whip you this minute6  ,i did1
 answered ,kitty sulkily2 and he opened 
his eyes at me as wide as he could      
stretch them4  ,crash6 went something at
 that moment in the kitchen2 and1 with  
,johnny in her arms1 ,mrs4 ,lewis ran   
back to see what new trouble she had to 
meet4 ,tip1 meantime1 had been in       
business2 being hungry1 he had cut a    
slice of bread from the loaf1 and1 in   
the act of reaching over to help himself
 to some butter1 hit his arm against a  
pitcher of water standing on the corner 
of the table4 ,over it went and broke1  
just as pitchers will whenever they get 
a chance4 ,this was too much for the    
tired mother's patience2 what little she
 had vanished4 ,she tossed the slice of 
bread at ,tip1 and as she did so1       
said1--  ,there6 take that and be off4  
,don't let me see a sight of your face  
again to-day4 ,march this instant1 or   
you will wish you had6  ,and in the     
midst of the din1 while his mother      
looked after the pork1 which had seized 

this occasion for burning fast to the   
spider1 ,tip managed to spread his slice
 of bread1 find his hat1 and make good  
his escape from the comfortless home4   
,there was an hour yet to school-time2  
or1 for the matter of that1 he might    
have the whole day4 ,tip went to school1
 or let it alone1 just as he pleased4   
,he made his way straight to his        
favourite spot1 the broad1 deep pond1   
and laid himself down on its grassy bank
 to chat with the fishes4  ,my6 he said2
 how nice they look whisking about4     
,it's cool down there1 ,i know2 they    
don't mind the sun4 ,i wish ,i had my   
fish-pole here1 ,i'd have one of them   
shiny big fellows there for my dinner2  
only it's too hot to fish1 and it would 
seem kind of mean1 besides1 to get him  
up here in this blazing sun4 ,hang me if
 ,i make even a fish get out of the     
water to-day1 when it can stay in6  ,of 
all the scholars in ,miss ,perry's      
class1 the one who she would have said  
paid the least attention was this same  

boy who was lying on his face by the    
pond1 envying the fishes4 ,yet ,tip had 
heard nearly every word she said2 and   
now1 as he looked into the water1 which 
lay cool in the shade of some broad1    
branching trees1 there came into his    
heart the music of those words again1-- 
,neither shall the sun light on them1   
nor any heat4  ,i declare1 he said1 as  
the meaning of those words dawned upon  
him1 ,i'd like that6 they'll never be   
too warm again4 ,it was a pretty nice   
story she told us about that boy4 ,he   
couldn't have had a very good time2 his 
father was a drunkard4 ,i wish ,i knew  
just about what kind of a fellow he was2
 he turned right square round after that
 man talked to him4 ,now he is a        
minister2 ,i suppose lots of people like
 him4 ,it must be kind of nice1 the     
whole of it4 ,i would like to be        
somebody1 as true as ,i live1 ,i would4 
,i'd like to have the people say1       
',there goes ,tip ,lewis2 he's the best 
boy in town4' ,bless me6 that would be  

funny2 ,i don't believe they could ever 
say it2 they are so used to calling me  
the worst1 they couldn't help it4 ,what 
if ,i should reform8 ,i declare ,i don't
 know but ,i will4  ,and ,tip rolled    
over on his back1 and looked up into the
 blue1 cloudless sky2 lying there1 he   
certainly had some of the most sober    
thoughts1 perhaps the only really sober 
ones he had ever known in his life4 ,and
 when at last he slowly picked himself  
up1 turned his back upon the darting    
fishes1 and walked towards the          
school-house1 he had in his mind some   
vague notion that perhaps he would be   
different from that time forth4 ,just   
what he was going to do1 or how to      
commence doing it1 he didn't know2 but  
the story1 to which he had seemed not to
 listen at all1 had crept into his      
heart1 had commenced its work2 very     
dimly was it working1 very blindly he   
might grope for a while1 but the seed   
sown had taken root4     ,,chapter      
,,iii4  ,inasmuch as ye did it unto one 

of the least of these ,my brethren1 ye  
did it unto ,me4   ,around the corner1  
and far up the street from where ,tip   
,lewis lived1 there stood a large white 
house2 not another house in the village 
was so beautiful as this4 ,many a time  
had ,tip walked slowly by the place1 and
 cast the most admiring glances on the  
broad green lawns and bubbling fountain1
 of which he caught2 glimpses from the  
road4 ,often he had stood outside1 at   
the great gate1 and fairly longed for a 
nearer view of that same fountain2 for  
the truth was1 though he was such a     
rough1 mischief-making1--yes1 a wicked  
boy1 down in his heart he had a great   
love for beautiful things4  ,on this    
,fourth of ,july morning1 ,tip was up   
and abroad very early4 ,he held a horse1
 which had been so frightened by        
fire-crackers that it wouldn't stand    
still a minute1 and the owner of it gave
 him ten cents1 with which he           
immediately bought fire-crackers for    
himself1 and frightened the very next   

horse he saw4 ,when the great cannon on 
the hill was fired1 he got in the way1  
just as much as he knew how1 which was a
 great deal2 he contrived to be around  
when the largest bell was rung1 and add 
his voice to the uproar among the boys  
who were gathered around the church     
doors2 indeed1 wherever there was       
commotion or confusion1 ,tip managed    
very soon to be1 and to do his part     
towards making the most of it4  ,about  
ten o'clock he had lived out the most of
 his pleasures1 having been on hand     
since a little after three4 ,he had no  
more money to spend1 saw no chance of   
getting any more2 he had had no         
breakfast1 and was very much in doubt as
 to whether he would get any1 if he took
 the trouble to go home2 he had some way
 lost track of all his companions2 and1 
altogether1 he was beginning to feel as 
if the ,fourth of ,july were a humbug4  
,he felt ill-used1 angry2 it seemed to  
him that he was being cheated out of a  
good time that he expected to have4 ,he 

sat down on the edge of an old          
sugar-barrel and thought about it a     
while2 then finally1 with his hands in  
his pockets1 and whistling ,yankee      
,doodle in honour of the day1 he        
sauntered along the street in search of 
something to take up his time4          
,hurrying towards him1 with hands not in
 his pockets1 but full of packages1 came
 ,mr4 ,mintum1 the owner of the grand   
white house on the hill4  ,to ,tip's    
surprise1 the gentleman halted suddenly 
before him1 and1 eyeing him closely1    
asked1 ,whose boy are you8  ,john       
,lewis's4  ,where do you live8  ,t'other
 side of the pond1 by the mill4  ,oh1   
your father is the carpenter1 ,i        
suppose1--,i know him4 ,what's your     
name8  ,tip4  ,tip6 ,what kind of a name
 is that8 is it all the one you own8    
,well1 said ,tip1 ,i suppose my name was
 ,edward when ,i was a little shaver2   
but nobody knows it now2 ,i don't       
myself4  ,well1 ,tip1 then1 ,i'll call  
you that1 for ,i want you to know       

yourself to-night4 ,what are you going  
to do8  ,when8 to-night8 ,oh1 hang      
around1 ,i s'pose1--have some fun1 if ,i
 can find any4  ,fun4 ,is that what     
you're after8 ,you come up to my house  
to-night at dark1 and see if you can    
find it there4 ,we are going to have    
fireworks1 and songs1 and all the fun we
 can4  ,tip was not by any means a      
bashful boy1 and it took a great deal to
 astonish him2 but this sudden          
invitation almost took his breath away4 
,the idea that ,mr4 ,minturn had        
actually invited him1 ,tip ,lewis1 to   
come to the white house6--to come near  
to that wonderful fountain1 near enough 
perhaps to feel the dash of its spray6  
,he could have danced for joy2 yet1 when
 ,mr4 ,minturn said1 ,well1 will you    
come8 for the first time in his life he 
was known to stammer and hesitate4      
,i--,i don't--know4 ,i haven't got any  
clothes4  ,clothes6 repeated ,mr4       
,minturn2 what do you call those things 
which you have on8  ,i call 'em rags1   

sir1 answered ,tip1 his embarrassment   
gone1 and the mischief twinkling back   
into his face again4  ,mr4 ,minturn     
laughed1 and looked down on the torn    
jacket and pants4  ,not a bad name1 he  
said at last4 ,but you've got water at  
your house1 haven't you8  ,lots of it4  
,then put your head into a tub of it1   
and a clean face up to my house         
to-night1 and we'll try and find that   
fun you're looking for4  ,and ,mr4      
,minturn1 who had spent a great deal of 
time for him1 was passing on4 ,see here6
 he called1 after he had moved forward a
 few steps2 if you see any boy raggeder 
than you are yourself1 bring him        
along1--bring every boy and girl you    
meet who haven't anywhere else to go4   
,ho6 said ,tip1 as soon as the gentleman
 was at safe distance2 if this isn't    
rich1 then ,i don't know1--fireworks in 
that great yard1 pretty near the        
fountain maybe1 and lots of fun4 ,we can
 take anybody we like4 ,i know what     
,i'll do4 ,i'll hunt up ,bob ,turner2   

his jacket has got enough sight more    
holes in it than mine has4 ,oh1 ho6     
ain't it grand1 though8 ,and ,tip       
clapped his hands and whistled1 and at  
last1 finding that didn't express his   
feeling1 said1 ,hurrah6 in a good strong
 tone4  ,yes1 hurrah6 ,tip is right2 it 
is glorious to think that one man out of
 his abundance is going to open his     
heart1 and gather in ,god's poor1 and1  
for one evening at least1 make them     
happy4  ,god bless ,mr4 ,minturn6       
,never had the good man's grounds       
entertained such a group as1 from all   
quarters of the large town1 gathered    
before it was quite dark4  ,ragged boys 
and girls6 ,if those were what be       
wanted1 he had them1 sure enough1 of    
almost every age and size4 ,there were  
some not so ragged1--some in dainty     
white dresses and shining jackets2 but  
they went down and mingled with the     
others1--brothers and sisters for that  
night at least1--and were all1 oh1 so   
happy6  ,how they did dance and laugh   

and scream around that fountain1 and    
snap torpedoes and fire-crackers1 and   
shout with wild delight when the rockets
 shot up into the sky1 or the burning   
wheels span round and round1 scattering 
showers of real fire right in among the 
crowds of children6  ,well1 the evening 
hasted away2 the very last rocket took  
its bright1 rushing way up into the blue
 sky2 and ,mr4 ,minturn gathered his    
company around the piazza with the      
words1--  ,now1 children1 ,mr4 ,holbrook
 has a few words to say to you1 and     
after that1 as soon as we have sung a   
hymn1 it will be time to go home4  ,mr4 
,holbrook was the minister2 many of the 
children knew him well1 and most of them
 were ready to hear what he had to say1 
because they knew1 by experience1 that  
he was old enough and wise enough not to
 make a long1 dry speech after nine     
o'clock on the ,fourth of ,july4  ,only 
,tip1 as he turned longingly away from  
the last dying spark of the rocket1     
muttered1 ,bother the preaching6  ,mr4  

,holbrook came forward to the steps1 as 
the boys and girls gathered around him4 
,children1 said he1 we have had a good  
time1 haven't we8  ,yes1 sir6 came in a 
loud chorus from many voices4  ,yes2 ,i 
thought you acted as though you felt    
pretty happy4 ,now this has been a busy 
day1 and we are all tired1 so ,i'm not  
going to keep you here to make a speech 
to you2 ,i just want to tell you1 in as 
few words as ,i can1 what ,i have been  
thinking about since ,i stood here      
to-night4 ,i have watched you as you    
frolicked around that fountain1--so many
 young1 bright faces1 all looking so    
happy1--and ,i said to myself1 ,when the
 time comes for us to gather around that
 fountain of living water which is      
before the throne of ,god1 ,i wonder if 
one of these boys and girls will be     
missing--one of them8 ,oh1 children1 ,i 
pray ,god that you may all be there1    
every one4  ,just a little speech it    
was1--so little that the youngest there 
might almost remember the whole of      

it1--yet it meant so much4  ,tip ,lewis 
had wedged his way in among the boys    
until he stood very near the minister1  
and his face wore a sober1 thoughtful   
look4 ,it was only two days since his   
long talk with himself at the pond4     
,fourth of ,july1 with all the          
merrymaking and mischief that it brought
 to him1 had nearly driven sober        
thoughts from his mind1 but the         
minister's solemn words brought back the
 memory of his half-formed resolves1 and
 again he said to himself he believed he
 would reform2 this time he added that  
if he knew about how to do it1 he would 
begin right away4 ,he felt it more than 
ever when the sweet voices of many      
children floated out on the evening air1
 as they sang1--    ,i have read of a   
world of beauty1     ,where there is no 
gloomy night1   ,where love is the      
mainspring of duty1     ,and ,god is the
 fountain of light4   ,i have read of   
the flowing river     ,that bursts from 
beneath the throne1   ,and beautiful    

flowers that ever     ,are found on its 
banks alone4   ,i long--,i long--,i long
 to be there6  ,if somebody had only    
known ,tip's thoughts as he stood there 
listening to the beautiful ,sabbath     
school hymn6 ,if somebody had only bent 
down to him1 and whispered a few words1 
just to set his poor wandering feet into
 the narrow way1 how blessed it would   
have been3 but nobody did4  ,ah1 never  
mind6 ,god knew1 and took care of him4  
,,chapter ,,iv4  ,they that seek ,me    
shall find ,me4   ,mrs4 ,lewis's room   
was in order for once2 swept1 and even  
dusted2 the cook-stove cooled off1 and  
the green paper curtain at the window   
let down1 to shut out the noise and     
dust2 it was quiet there too4  ,kitty   
stood in the open door1 her face and    
hands clean1 hair combed1 and dress     
mended2 stood quite still1 and with a   
sober face1 unmindful1 for once1 that   
there were butterflies to chase and     
flies to kill all around her4 ,in the   
only comfortable seat in the room1 a    

large old-fashioned arm-chair1 sat the  
worn1 wasted frame of ,kitty's father4  
,there was a look of hopeless sadness   
settled on his face4 ,neither ,tip nor  
his mother were to be seen4 ,one or two 
women were moving through the house1    
with quiet steps1 bringing in chairs and
 doing little thoughtful things in and  
about that wonderfully orderly room4    
,on the table was that which told the   
whole story of this unusual stillness   
and preparation4 ,it was a pine coffin1 
very small and plain2 and in it1 with   
folded hands and brown hair rolled      
smoothly back from his baby forehead1   
little ,johnny lay1 asleep4 ,somebody1  
with a touch of tenderness1 had placed a
 just budding rose in the tiny white    
hand1 and baby looked very sweet and    
beautiful in his narrow bed4 ,poor      
little ,johnny6 his had been a sad1     
neglected babyhood2 many weary hours had
 he spent in his cradle1 receiving only 
cross looks from ,kitty1 and neglected  
by the mother1 who1 though she loved    

,johnny1 and even because she loved him1
 must leave him to work for her daily   
bread4 ,but it was all over now3        
,johnny's cries would never disturb them
 again2 ,johnny's weary little body     
rested quietly in its coffin2 ,johnny's 
precious self was gathered in the       
,saviour's arms4  ,tip came out of the  
bedroom1 and softly approached the      
coffin2 his hair1 too1 was partly       
combed1 and some attempt had been made  
to put his ragged clothes in order4 ,his
 heart swelled1 and the tears gathered  
in his eyes1 as they rested on the baby4
  ,tip loved his little brother1 and    
though he had not had much to do with   
him1 yet he had this much to comfort    
him1--,johnny had received only kindness
 and good-natured words from him1 which 
was more than ,kitty could say4 ,as she 
stood there in the door1 it seemed to   
her that every time she had ever said   
cross1 naughty words to the poor baby1  
or turned away from his pitiful cry for 
comfort1 or shook his little helpless   

self1 came back to her now1--stood all  
around his coffin1 and looked straight  
at her4 ,poor ,kitty thought if he could
 only come back to them for a little    
while1 she would hold him in her arms   
all night1 without a murmur4  ,people   
began to come in now from the lowly     
houses about them1 and fill the empty   
chairs4 ,mrs4 ,lewis came out from the  
bedroom1 and sat down beside the        
arm-chair1 thankful that her            
tear-stained face and swollen eyes were 
hidden1 by the thick black veil which   
some thoughtful neighbour had sent for  
her use4  ,in a few minutes a dozen or  
more people had filled up the vacant    
spaces in the little room1 and ,mr4     
,holbrook arose from his seat at the    
coffin's head4  ,tip turned quickly at  
the first sound of his voice1 and       
listened eagerly while he read from the 
book in his hand1 ,and ,i saw the dead1 
small and great1 stand before ,god1     
listening until the closing sentence was
 read1 ,and there shall be no more      

death2 neither sorrow1 nor crying1      
neither shall there be any more pain1   
for the former things are passed away4  
,tip had never paid such close attention
 to anything in his life as he did to   
,mr4 ,holbrook's words2 after that they 
were very simple and plain spoken1 so   
that a child might understand them1 and 
were about heaven1 that beautiful city  
of which ,tip had heard and thought more
 during the last three weeks than he    
ever had in his life before4 ,his heart 
had been in a constant ,struggle with   
,satan1 ever since that morning in the  
,sabbath school4 ,he didn't know enough 
to understand that it was ,satan's evil 
voice which was constantly persuading   
him that he could not be anybody1       
that-he was only a poor1 miserable1     
ragged boy1 with nobody to help him1    
nobody to show him what to do2 that he  
might as well not try to be anything but
 what he was2 and he didn't know either 
that the other voice in his heart which 
struggled with the evil counsel1 which  

said to him1 ,other boys as poor and    
ignorant as you are have reformed2 that 
,robert did about whom the teacher told 
you2 and then1 if you don't1 you will   
never see that river nor the fountain1  
nor the streets of gold1 was the dear1  
loving voice of his ,redeemer4  ,now1 as
 he listened to ,mr4 ,holbrook1 and     
heard how ,johnny1 little ,johnny whom  
he loved1 had surely gone up there to be
 with ,christ for ever1 and how ,jesus1 
looking down on the father and mother1  
and the children who were left1 said to 
them1 ,i want you1 too1 to give ,me your
 hearts1 so that when ,i gather ,my     
jewels ,i may come for you4 ,the weak1  
struggling resolves in his heart grew   
strong1 and he said within himself1     
while the tears fell slowly down his    
cheeks1 ,i will2 ,i'll begin to-day4    
,the coffin-lid was screwed down1 and   
,johnny's baby-face shut out from them  
for ever4 ,a man came forward and took  
the light burden in his arms1 and bore  
it out to the waggon2 down the narrow   

street they drove1 to the burial-ground1
 which was not far away4 ,they laid     
,johnny down to sleep under the shade of
 a large old tree2 and the grass waved  
softly1 and the birds sang low1 and the 
angels surely sang in heaven1 because   
another little form was numbered among  
the thousands of children who stand     
around the ,throne4  ,the people moved  
slowly from the grave1--all but ,tip2 he
 didn't want to leave ,johnny2 he wanted
 to follow him1 and he didn't know how4 
,mr4 ,holbrook glanced back at the boy  
standing there alone1 paused a moment1  
then1 turning back1 laid his hand gently
 on ,tip's shoulder4  ,you can go up    
there too1 my boy1 if you will1 he said1
 in a low1 kind tone4  ,tip looked up   
quickly1 then down again2 he wanted to  
ask how--what he should do2 but his     
voice choked1 he could not speak a word2
 and with the earnest sentence1 ,god    
bless you1 my little friend1 and lead   
you to ,himself1 ,mr4 ,holbrook turned  
and left him4  ,tip wandered away into  

the woods for a little4 ,when he        
returned the earth was heaped up fresh  
and black over the new mound1 and       
,johnny was left underneath it all      
alone4 ,tip walked around it slowly1    
trying to take in the thought that the  
baby was lying there2 that they should  
never see him again2 trying1 a moment   
after1 to take in the thought that he   
was not there at all1 but had gone up to
 the beautiful world which the hymn told
 about2 then he thought of the chorus1  
and almost felt it4--,i long1 ,i long1  
,i long to be there4  ,tip had heard    
people pray2 he had been to ,sabbath    
school often enough to catch and        
remember most of the words of the       
,lord's ,prayer2 he knew enough of ,god 
to understand that ,he could hear       
prayer1 and that ,his help must be asked
 if one wanted to get to heaven4 ,he    
hesitated a moment1 glanced half        
fearfully around him1--no one was there1
 no one but himself1 and ,johnny1 lying 
low at his feet1 and ,god looking down  

upon him4 ,presently he knelt down      
before the little grave1 and began1--   
,our ,father which art in heaven1       
hallowed be ,thy name1 ,thy kingdom     
come--,then he stopped4 ,tip was in     
earnest now2 he did not understand that 
prayer3 he felt as though he was not    
saying what he meant4 ,he commenced     
again1--  ,oh1 ,jesus1 ,i want--,then he
 waited a minute4 ,what did he want8 ,i 
want to be different2 ,i'm a wicked boy4
 ,i want to go where ,johnny is when ,i 
die4 ,do show me how6  ,did ,jesus ever 
fail to hear such a prayer as           
that1--simple1 earnest1 every word of it
 felt8 ,never--and ,he never will4  ,tip
 rose up from that spot feeling that    
something was different4 ,ay1 and always
 would be different2 the ,saviour had   
reached down and taken hold of the young
 seeker's hand1 and would for ever after
 lead him up toward ,god4     ,,chapter 
,v4  ,thy word is a lamp to my feet4    
,the ,sabbath morning sun awoke ,tip    
from a heavy sleep4 ,he lay still a few 

moments1 thinking who he was4 ,things   
were different3 he was not simply ,tip  
,lewis1 a ragged little street boy1 any 
longer2 this was the morning when he was
 going to start out under a new motto1  
with ,jesus for his guide4  ,he was     
going to ,sabbath school4 ,he had not   
been since the morning that ,miss ,perry
 had taught the class1 and told the     
story which was to be a blessing to him 
through all his future life4 ,his evil  
spirit had been strong upon him during  
the three ,sabbath mornings that had    
passed since then1 and persuaded him to 
stay away from the school1 but this     
morning he was resolved to go4 ,he had a
 secret hope that he should see ,miss   
,perry again1 for he did not know that  
she was hundreds of miles away from that
 village1 and would probably never be   
there again2 all he knew was1 that a    
gentleman had brought her to the door1  
and introduced her to the superintendent
 as ,miss ,perry2 that much he heard as 
he sat gazing at them4  ,this morning he

 judged by the sun that it was pretty   
late1 yet he didn't get on very fast    
with the business of dressing3 he sat   
down on the foot of the bed1 and looked 
sorrowfully at his jacket2 he even      
turned it inside out to see if it       
wouldn't improve its appearance1 but he 
shook his head1 and speedily turned it  
back again4  ,if he only had a collar1  
he said to himself1--a smooth white     
collar1 to turn down over the worn-out  
edges1--it would make things look so    
much better4 ,but that was something he 
had never had in his life1 and he put on
 the old ragged brown jacket with a     
sigh4 ,then he put on his shoes1 and    
took them off again3 the question was1  
which looked the best1--shoes which     
showed every one of his toes peeping out
 on the top1 or no shoes at all8        
,suddenly a bright idea struck him3 if  
his feet were only white and clean1 he  
thought they would certainly look much  
better4 ,down he went to the rickety    
pump in the back yard1 and face1 hands1 

and feet took such a washing as they had
 never received before2 then the old    
comb had to do duty4 ,tip had never had 
such a time getting dressed2 but1 some  
way1 he felt a great longing this       
morning to make himself look neatly2 he 
had a feeling that it was ever so much  
more respectable to be neat and clean   
than it was to go looking as he had     
always done4 ,still1 to carry a         
freshly-washed face and hands and smooth
 hair was the very best he could do2    
and1 if he had but known it1 these      
things made a great improvement4  ,he   
made his way half shyly into the mission
 seat1 for the truth was he did not know
 just how the boys would receive his    
attempt at respectability2 but he had no
 trouble1 for several of his companions 
had seen his face when he took his last 
look into that little coffin the day    
before1 and they felt sorry for him4    
,no ,miss ,perry appeared2 and it       
seemed1 at first1 that the mission boys 
were to have no teacher4 ,it was a warm 

morning1 and the visitors' seat was     
vacant4  ,but there was at last a great 
nudging of elbows1 and whispers of ,look
 out now6 ,we're in a scrape6 ,no chance
 for fun today6 ,and only ,tip's eyes   
looked glad when ,holbrook halted before
 their class1 with ,good morning1 boys4 
,then1 ,good morning ,edward2 ,i am glad
 to see you here to-day2 and the        
minister actually held out his hand to  
,tip4 ,mr4 ,holbrook never called him   
,tip2 he had asked him one morning what 
his real name was1 and since then had   
spoken it1 ,edward1 in clear1 plain     
tones4  ,it was a restless1 wearying    
class4 ,it required all ,mr4 ,holbrook's
 wits and wisdom to keep them in any    
sort of order1 to gain any part of their
 attention4 ,yet it was not as bad as   
usual2 partly because the minister knew 
how1 if anybody did1 to teach just such 
boys1 and partly because ,tip1 hitherto 
the spirit of all the mischief there1   
never took his eyes from the teacher's  
face4 ,mr4 ,holbrook watched his close  

attention1 and took courage4 ,when the  
other scholars passed out1 he laid his  
hand on ,tip's arm1 with the words1 ,you
 have been a good listener to-day1      
,edward1 ,did you understand the story  
,i told1 of the boy who started on a    
journey to the ,holy ,land8  ,some of it
 ,i did3 you meant that he started for  
heaven4  ,you understand it1 ,i see4    
,don't you want to take that journey8   
,i mean to1 sir4  ',help ,thou mine     
unbelief1' was ,mr4 ,holbrook's prayer  
just then4 ,he had hoped for1 longed    
for1 prayed for these boys1 especially  
for this one since the day before2 yet  
he was astonished when he received the  
firm1 prompt answer1 ,i mean to1        
sir1--astonished1 as too many are1 that 
his prayer was heard4  ,have you        
started1 my boy8 he asked1 speaking with
 a little tremble in his voice4  ,yes1  
sir1 ,i've tried2 ,i told ,god last     
night that ,i would1 but ,i don't much  
know how4  ,you want a lamp1 don't you8 
,a what1 sir8  ,a lamp4 ,you remember in

 the story the boy found dark places    
every little way2 then he took out his  
lamp1 so he couldn't lose the road4     
,don't you need it8  ,i want some help1 
but ,i don't know as a lamp would do me 
any good4  ,ah yes2 the one ,i mean will
 surely help you1 if you give it a      
chance4 ,mr4 ,holbrook took from his    
pocket a small1 red-covered book1 and   
held it up4 ,do you know what book this 
is8 he asked4  ,it's a ,bible1 ain't it8
  ,yes4 ,have you ever read in the      
,bible8  ,some1 at school4  ,you know1  
then1 that ,god told men just what to   
say1 and they wrote it here1 so you see 
that makes it ,god's words2 that is what
 we call it sometimes1--the ,word of    
,god4 ,now1 let me show you something4  
,he turned the leaves rapidly1 then     
pointed with his finger to a verse2 and 
,tip read1 ,thy word is a lamp to my    
feet4  ,oh1 he said1 with a bright look1
 that is the kind of lamp you mean6     
,that is it2 and1 my boy1 ,i want you to
 take this for your lamp4 ,there is no  

place on the whole road so dark but that
 it can light you through1 if you try   
it4 ,when you don't understand it1 there
 is always ,jesus to go to1 you know4   
,and1 taking out his pencil1 ,mr4       
,holbrook wrote on the fly-leaf1 in     
plain1 round letters1 ,edward ,lewis4   
,then1 handing the book to him1 with a  
bow and smile1 the minister turned away4
  ,tip walked out of the school and down
 the road1 holding his treasure closely4
 ,such a queer1 new feeling possessed   
him4 ,things were really to be          
different1 then4 ,the minister had      
talked with him1 had shaken hands with  
him1 and given him a ,bible4 ,and here  
he was walking quietly away from the    
school1 all alone1 instead of leading a 
troop of noisy boys1 intent on mischief4
  ,oh1 ,tip ,lewis1 he said to himself1 
as he hugged his book1 ,i don't know but
 you will be somebody1 after all2 you   
mean to try with all your might1 don't  
you8 and you've got a lamp now6         
,,chapter ,,vi4  ,i will instruct thee  

and teach thee in the way which thou    
shalt go4 ,i will guide thee with ,mine 
eye4   ,why1 said ,tip1 as he sat on the
 foot of the bed1 turning over the      
leaves of his ,bible1--why1 that is the 
very thing ,i want4 ',i will instruct   
thee1 and teach thee in the way which   
thou shalt go4' ,yes1 that's exactly it4
 ,i want to begin to-day1 and do every  
single thing so different from what ,i  
ever did before1 that nobody will know  
me4 ,now1 if ,he'll help me1 ,i can do  
it4 ,i'll learn that verse4  ,the verse 
was repeated many times over1 for ,tip  
was not used to study4 ,while he was    
busy thus1 the ,spirit of ,god put      
another thought into his heart4  ,i must
 ask ,christ to help me now1 he said1   
with reverent face2 and1 kneeling down1 
he made known his wants in very simple  
words1 and in that plain1 direct way    
which ,god loves4 ,then he went         
down--stairs1 prepared for whatever     
should befall him that day4  ,kitty was 
up1 and rattling the kitchen stove4     

,kitty1 what's to pay8 ,tip asked1 as he
 appeared in the door4  ,what's to pay  
with you8 ,how did you happen to get up8
 ,receiving no answer to this1 she      
continued1 ,the old cat is to           
pay1--everywhere1--and always is6 ,these
 nasty shavings are soaked through and  
through1 and the wood is rotten1--and   
there isn't any wood anyway1--and ,i    
can't make this fire burn to save my    
life4 ,mother is sick in bed1--can't sit
 up at all4 ,she told me to make a cup  
of tea for father1 and things look as if
 it would get made some time next month4
  ,kitty was only twelve years old1 but1
 like most of those children who have   
been left to bring themselves up1 and   
pick up wisdom and wickedness wherever  
they are to be found1 she was           
wonderfully old in mind2 and was so used
 to grumbling and snarling1 that she    
could do it very rapidly4  ,oh1 said    
,tip to himself1 drawing a long breath1 
what a place for me to commence in6     
,then he came bravely to ,kitty's aid4  

,see here1 ,kitty1 don't make such a    
rattling2 you'll wake father4 ,i can    
make this fire in a hurry4 ,i have made 
one out of next to nothing1 lots of     
times2 you just put some water in the   
tea-kettle1 and we'll have a cup of tea 
in a jiff4  ,kitty stood still in her   
astonishment1 and watched him while he  
took out the round green sticks that she
 had put in1 laid in bits of dry paper  
and bits of sticks1--laid them in such a
 careless1 uneven way1 that it seemed to
 her they would never burn in the world2
 only he speedily proved that they      
would1 by setting fire to the whole1 and
 they crackled and snapped in a most    
determined manner1 and finally roared   
outright4  ,certainly ,kitty had never  
been so much astonished in her life4    
,first1 because that rubbish in the     
stove had been made to become such a    
positive fire2 secondly1 that ,tip had  
actually set to work without being      
coaxed or scolded1 and made a fire6     
,there was a queer1 new feeling about it

 all to ,tip himself2 for1 strange as it
 may seem1 so entirely selfish had been 
this boy's life1 that this was actually 
the first time he had ever1 of his own  
free will1 done anything to help the    
family at home4 ,his spirits rose with  
the effort4  ,come1 ,kitty1 he said     
briskly1 here's your fire4 ,now1 let's  
fly round and get father and mother some
 breakfast4 ,say1 do you know how to    
make toast8  ,it's likely ,i do1 ,kitty 
answered shortly4 ,if you had roasted   
your face and burnt your fingers as     
often as ,i have1 making it for father1 
,i guess you would know how4  ,well1    
now1 just suppose we make two           
slices1--one for mother1 and one for    
father1--and two cups of tea4 ,my6 you  
and ,i will be jolly housekeepers1      
,kitty4  ,humph6 said ,kitty            
contemptuously4  ,you see she wasn't in 
the least used to being good-natured1   
and it took a great deal of coaxing to  
make her give other than short1 sharp   
answers to all that was said4 ,but1 for 

all that1 she went to work1 after ,tip  
had poured some water in the dingy      
little tea-kettle and set it over the   
fire1 cutting the two slices of bread1  
and getting them ready to toast when    
there should be any coals4  ,tip1       
meantime1 hunted among the confusion1 of
 all sorts of things in the cupboard1   
for two clean plates and cups4  ,you're 
taken with an awful clean fit1 seems to 
me1 ,kitty said1 as she stood watching  
him while he hunted for a cloth1 then   
carefully wiped off the plates4  ,yes1  
answered ,tip good-naturedly2 ,i'm going
 to try it for a spell1 and find out how
 things look after they are washed4     
,altogether it was a queer morning to   
both of them2 and each felt a touch of  
triumph when at last the toast lay brown
 and nice1 a slice on each plate1 and   
the hot tea1 poured into the cups1      
smelled fresh and fragrant4 ,the two    
children went softly to the bedroom door
 in time to hear their father say1--    
,what makes you try to get up1 if your  

head is so bad8  ,oh1 what makes me6    
,what else is there for me to do8 ,the  
young ones are both up1 and if ,i find  
the roof left on the house ,i'll be     
thankful4 ,i never knew them to stay    
together five minutes without having a  
battle4  ,at almost any other time in   
her life these words would have made    
,kitty very angry2 but this morning she 
was intent on not letting her tea spill 
over on the toast1 and so paid very     
little attention to them4  ,tip marched 
boldly in with his dish1 ,kitty         
following4  ,lie still1 mother1 till you
 get some of our tea and toast1 and ,i  
reckon it will cure you4  ,mrs4 ,lewis  
raised herself on one elbow1 saw the    
beautiful brown slices1 caught a whiff  
of the fragrant tea1 then asked         
wonderingly1--  ,who's here8  ,kitty and
 me1 ,tip made answer1 proudly and      
promptly4  ,something very like a smile 
gathered on ,mrs4 ,lewis's worn1 fretful
 face4  ,well1 now1 she said1 if ,i     
ain't beat6 ,it's the last thing on     

earth ,i ever expected you to do4  ,what
 spell had come over ,tip8 ,breakfast   
was a great success4 ,after it was over 
he found a great many things to do2 the 
rusty old axe was hunted up1 and some   
hard knots made to become very          
respectable-looking sticks of wood1     
which he piled in the wood-box4 ,kitty1 
under the influence of his strange      
behaviour1 washed the dishes1 and even  
got out the broom and swept a little4   
,altogether1 that was a day long to be  
remembered by ,tip1 a day in which he   
began his life afresh4 ,he made some    
mistakes2 for he fancied1 in his        
ignorance1 that the struggle was        
over1--that he had only to go forward   
joyfully over a pleasant road4  ,he     
found out his mistake3 he discovered    
that ,satan had not by any means given  
him up2 that he must yet fight many     
hard1 hard battles4     ,,chapter ,,vii4
  ,fear not1 for ,i have redeemed thee4 
,they must have had an earthquake down  
at ,lewis's this morning1 ,howard       

,minturn said to the boys who were      
gathered around the schoolroom door4    
,the first bell has not rung yet1 and   
there comes ,tip up the hill4  ,up the  
hill came ,tip1 sure enough1 with a     
firm1 resolute step4 ,the summer        
vacation was over4 ,the fall term was to
 commence this morning1 and among the   
things which ,tip had resolved to do was
 this one1 to come steadily and promptly
 to school during the term1 which was   
something that he had never done in his 
life4 ,the public school was the best   
one in the village1 so he had the best  
boys in town for school companions1 as  
well as some of the worst4  ,hallo1     
,tip6 said ,bob ,turner1 coming partly  
down the hill to meet him4 ,how are you1
 old fellow8  ,bob had been away during 
most of the vacation1 and knew nothing  
of the changes which there had been in  
his absence4 ,tip winced a little at his
 greeting2 shivered a little at the     
thought of the temptation which ,bob    
would be to him4  ,the two had been     

linked together all their lives in every
 form of mischief and wrong2 they seemed
 almost a part of each other1--at least1
 they had seemed so until within these  
few weeks4 ,now1 ,tip felt rather than  
knew how far separated they must be4    
,the bell rang1 and the boys jostled and
 tumbled against each other to their    
seats4  ,bob ,turner1 as usual1 seated  
himself beside ,tip2 but then ,bob only 
came to school about two forenoons in a 
week1 so perhaps they might get along4  
,when the ,bible reading commenced1 ,tip
 hesitated1 and his face flushed2 he had
 never owned a ,bible to read from      
before1 but this morning his new one lay
 in his pocket4 ,the question was1 ,had 
he courage to take it out8 ,what would  
the boys think8 ,what would they say8   
,how should he answer them8  ,he began  
to think he would wait until tomorrow   
morning2 then he grew hot and ashamed as
 he saw that he was already trying to   
hide his colours4 ,suddenly he drew out 
his ,bible1 and began very hurriedly to 

turn the leaves4  ,bob heard the        
rustling1 and1 glancing around1 puckered
 his lips as if he were going to        
whistle1 and1 snatching the book1 read  
the name which ,mr4 ,holbrook had       
written therein2 then he whispered1 ,you
 don't say so6 ,when did we steal a     
,bible1 and turn saint8  ,the blood     
growing hotter and redder in ,tip's     
cheeks was his only answer2 but he felt 
that his temptation had begun4 ,the next
 thing was to read2 when he had finally 
found the place1 even though there were 
more than fifty voices reading those    
same words1 yet poor ,tip imagined that 
his would be louder than all the rest1  
and he choked and coughed1 and made more
 than one trial before he forced his    
voice to join1 even in a whisper1 at the
 words1 ,and they clothed ,him with     
purple1 and plaited a crown of thorns   
and put it about ,his head4  ,it did not
 help him in his reading that ,bob made 
his lips move with the rest1 but said1  
loud enough for him to hear1--    ,the  

man in the moon   ,came down too soon1  
and continued to repeat some senseless  
or wicked rhymes1 through the reading of
 the beautiful chapter4  ,how thankfully
 ,tip bowed his head that morning2 his  
heart had taken in some of the sweet    
words4 ,that sacred head had been       
crowned with thorns1 indeed1 but he knew
 it was crowned with glory now1--and he 
knew that ,christ had suffered and died 
for him6 ,he joined with his whole heart
 in ,mr4 ,burrows's prayer2 and1 though 
,bob pulled his hair and tickled his    
foot and stepped on his toes1 the bowed 
head was not lifted1 and his spirit     
gathered strength4  ,but ,tip never     
forgot the trials of that day1 nor the  
hard work which he had to endure them4  
,bob was1 as usual1 overflowing with    
mischief1 and1 failing in finding the   
willing helper which he had expected in 
his old companion1 took revenge in      
aiming a great many of his pranks at    
him4 ,such senseless1 silly things as he
 did to annoy6 ,tip spread his slate    

over with a long row of figures which he
 earnestly tried to add1 and1 having    
toiled slowly up the first two columns1 
,bob's wet finger was slyly drawn across
 it1 and no trace of the answer so      
hardly earned appeared4  ,then1 too1 he 
had his own heart to struggle against3  
he was so used to whispering to this and
 that boy seated near him1 to eating    
apples when the teacher's back was      
turned1 to making an ugly-looking       
picture on a piece of paper and pinning 
it on the back of a small boy before    
him4 ,he was so unused to sitting still1
 and trying to study4  ,what hard work  
it was to study1 any way6 ,it seemed to 
him that he could never get that        
spelling-lesson in the world2 the harder
 he tried1 the more bewildered he grew4 
,a dozen times he spelled the two words1
 receive and believe1 standing so       
closely together1 each time sure he was 
right1 and each time discovering that   
the i's and e's must change places2 he  
grew utterly provoked and disheartened1 

and would have fairly cried1 had not    
,bob been beside him to see the tears1  
and grow merry over them4  ,finally1 he 
lost all patience with ,bob1 and1       
turning fiercely to him1 after he had   
for the third time pitched the greasy   
old spelling-book upside down on the    
floor1 said1--  ,look here1 now1 if you 
come that thing again1 ,i'll pitch you  
out of the window quicker than wink6    
,edward ,lewis marked for whispering1   
said ,mr4 ,burrows4 ,edward1 you have   
commenced the term as usual1 ,i         
see1--the first one marked for bad      
conduct4  ,how ,tip's ears burned6 ,how 
untrue it was6 ,he had not commenced    
this term as usual2 how differently he  
had tried to commence it1 only he and   
,god knew4 ,and now to fail thus early  
in the day6 ,his head seemed to spin and
 his brain reel2 he bowed himself on the
 seat again1 but ,bob's head went down  
promptly1 and he whispered1--    ,little
 ,bo ,peep has lost her sheep6  ,how    
often ,tip had thought such things as   

these so very funny that he could not   
possibly help laughing2 how silly and   
meaningless--yes1 and cruel--did they   
seem to him now6 ,oh1 ,satan was        
struggling for ,tip to-day3 he was      
reaping the fruits of long weeks spent  
in evil company and folly4  ,he looked  
over to the back seats1 where sat       
,howard ,minturn and ,ellis ,holbrook1  
hard at work on their algebra lesson1   
nobody thinking of such a thing as      
disturbing them2 and1 as he looked1     
sighed heavily4 ,if he had only gained  
such a place as they had in the school1 
how easily he could work to-day4 ,they  
were very little older than he1 yet here
 he was trying to do an example in      
addition1 doing it over four times      
before it was right1--and they were at  
the head of the class in algebra4 ,if he
 could only jump to where they were1 and
 go on with them6 ,and the hopelessness 
of this thought made his spelling-lesson
 seem harder2 so it was no wonder1 when 
the class formed1 and he took his old   

place at the foot1 and he stayed there1 
and spelled believe ei after all2 nobody
 was surprised1 but nobody knew how     
very1 very hard he had tried4  ,the long
 day1 crowded full of trouble and       
temptation to poor ,tip1 wore away4 ,at 
recess he wandered off by himself1      
trying hard to get back some of the     
strong1 firm hopes of the morning4  ,one
 more sharp trial was in store for him4 
,towards the close of the afternoon     
,bob's fun took the form of paper balls1
 which1 at every turn of ,mr4 ,burrows's
 back1 spun through the room in all     
directions2 two or three of the smaller 
scholars joined him1 and a regular fire 
of balls was kept up4 ,the boys         
complained--,mr4 ,burrows scolded4  ,at 
last he spoke this short1 prompt        
sentence3 ,the next boy ,i catch        
throwing paper1 or anything else1 in    
this room to-day1 ,i shall punish       
severely2 and ,i shall expect any       
scholar who sees anything of this kind  
going on to inform me4  ,not five       

minutes after that ,mr4 ,burrows bent   
over his desk in search of something    
within1 when--whisk6 went the largest   
paper ball that had been thrown that    
day1 and landed on the teacher's        
forehead4 ,some of the scholars laughed1
 some looked grave and startled1 for    
,mr4 ,burrows was a man who always meant
 what he said4  ,does any one know who  
threw that ball8 he asked1 closing his  
desk and speaking in a calm1 steady     
tone4  ,no reply1--silence for a minute4
 ,then1 ,ellis ,holbrook1 do you know   
who threw that ball of paper8  ,yes1    
sir4  ,very well2 ,i am waiting to be   
told4  ,tip ,lewis threw it1 sir4  ,this
 was a little too much for ,tip4 ,the   
first time in his life that he had ever 
been in school all day without throwing 
one1 to be so accused6 ,he sprang up in 
his seat with fire in his eyes4  ,i     
didn't6 he almost screamed4 ,he knows ,i
 didn't6 ,it is a mean1 wicked lie6     
,sit down1 said ,mr4 ,burrows4 ,ellis1  
did you see him throw it8  ,yes1 sir1 ,i

 did4  ,mr4 ,burrows turned to ,tip4    
,edward1 come here4  ,tip was still     
standing4  ,say you won't1 whispered    
,bob4 ,say you won't stir a step for the
 old fellow4 ,if he goes to make you1   
we'll see who'll beat4  ,but the command
 was repeated1 and ,tip went forward1   
fixing his steady eyes on ,mr4 ,burrows 
as he spoke4  ,mr4 ,burrows1 as sure as 
,i live1 ,i did not throw that paper    
ball4  ,and yet--poor ,tip6--he knew he 
would not be believed2 he knew his word 
could not be trusted2 he knew he had    
often stood there and as boldly declared
 what was not true1 and what had been   
proved in a few minutes to be false4    
,no1 nobody believed ,tip4 ,he had      
earned1 among other things in the       
school1 the name of hardly ever speaking
 the truth2 and now he must suffer for  
it4 ,so he stood still and received the 
swift1 hard blows of the ruler on his   
hands2 stood without a tear or a        
promise4 ,mr4 ,burrows had not a doubt  
of his guilt1 for had not ,ellis        

,holbrook1 whose word was law in the    
school1 said he saw the mischief done8  
and did not ,tip always deny all        
knowledge of such matters until made to 
own them8  ,still1 this time the boy    
resolutely refused to confess that he   
had thrown a bit of paper that day1 and 
went back to his seat with smarting     
hands and the stern words of his teacher
 ringing in his ears4  ,what a heavy1   
bitter heart the poor boy carried out   
from the schoolroom that afternoon1 he  
felt as though he almost hated every    
scholar there1--quite hated ,ellis      
,holbrook4  ,mr4 ,burrows1 catching a   
glimpse of his face1 said to one of the 
other teachers1 ,that boy grows sullen2 
with all the rest1 his good-nature was  
the only good thing which he had about  
him1 and he is losing that4  ,tip heard 
him1 and felt that it was true4 ,he had 
been punished many a time before1 and   
taken it with the most provoking good   
humour4 ,but to-day it was different2   
to-day1 for the first time in his life1 

he had received a punishment which he   
did not deserve2 this day of all others1
 in which he had tried with all his     
heart to do right6  ,why didn't you hold
 on1 you simpleton8 ,bob asked4 ,never  
saw you get up so much pluck in my life4
 ,what made you back out1 and be whipped
 like a baby8  ,why didn't you own that 
you threw that plaguy paper ball1 and   
not sit there like a coward1 and see me 
take your whipping8  ,i own it6 ,that's 
a good one6 ',pon honour1 ,tip1 didn't  
you throw that ball8 ,i thought you did2
 ,i was aiming one at ,ellis ,holbrook's
 head just then1 and ,i didn't see what 
was going on behind me4 ,didn't you     
throw it--honour bright8  ,no1 ,i       
didn't2 and ,i'll throw you if you say  
so again4  ,and ,tip turned suddenly in 
the opposite direction1 but ,satan still
 walked with him4  ,it's no use1 said   
this evil spirit1 speaking out          
boldly1--it's no use2 don't you see it  
isn't8 ,you might as well give it up    
first as last2 the boys1 and the        

teacher1 and every one1 think you're    
nothing in the world but a wicked young 
scamp1 and you never can be anything    
else4 ,you've been humbugging yourself  
these four weeks1 making believe you had
 a great ,friend to help you3 why hasn't
 ,he helped you to-day8 ,you've tried   
your best all day long1 and ,he knows   
you have2 yet you never had such a hard 
day in your life4 ,if ,he cares anything
 at all about you1 why didn't ,he help  
you to-day8 ,you asked ,him to4  ,tip   
sat down on a log by the side of the    
road1 and gave himself up for a little  
to ,satan's guidance1 and the wicked    
voice went on1--  ,now1 you see1 you've 
been cheated4 ,you've tried hard for a  
whole month to be somebody1 and no one  
thinks any more of you than they did    
before1 and never will4 ,your mother    
scolds just as much1 and your home looks
 just as dismal1 and ,kitty is just as  
hateful1 and the respectable boys in the
 village have nothing to do with you4   
,you might just as well lounge around   

and have a good time4 ,nobody expects   
you to be good1 or will let you1 when   
you want to be4  ,softly there came     
another voice knocking at ,tip's heart4 
,at first he would not notice it1 but it
 would be heard4  ,what of all that8 it 
said2 suppose nobody cares for you1 or  
helps you here4 ,jesus died1 you know1  
and ,he is your friend4 ,you know that  
is not a humbug2 you know ,he has heard 
you when you knelt down and prayed4 ,he 
has helped you4 ,then there's heaven1   
where all the beauty is1 and ,he has    
promised to take you--yes1 you--there by
 and by6 ,oh1 you must not complain     
because people won't believe that such a
 bad boy as you have been has grown good
 so soon4 ,christ knows about it1 so    
it's all right4 ,just keep on trying1   
and one of these days folks will see    
that you mean it2 they will--,god has   
promised4 ,he has given you a lamp to   
light you4 ,why have not you looked at  
it all this day8  ,oh1 said ,tip1 ,i    
can't2 ,i can't be a ,christian6 ,i have

 not done right nor felt right to-day4  
,i almost hate the boys1 and ,mr4       
,burrows too4 ,i don't know what to do4 
,go on home1 said ,satan4 ,let the lamp 
and these new notions and all go6       
,christ don't care anything about you2  
such a miserable1 wicked1 story-telling 
boy as you have been1 do you expect ,him
 to notice you8  ,but ,tip's hand was in
 his pocket1 resting on his lamp1 as he 
had learned to call it2 and the low1    
sweet voice in his heart was urging him 
to let its light shine4 ,he drew it out1
 and turned the leaves1 and the same    
dear ,helper stopped his eyes at the    
words1 ,fear not1 for ,i have redeemed  
thee2 ,i have called thee by thy name2  
thou art ,mine4  ,then came hot1        
thankful tears4 ,oh1 precious words1    
sinking right into the torn1 troubled   
heart4 ,christ the ,redeemer had called 
him by his name6 ,he was--yes1 he would 
be ,his6 ,he glanced around4 ,nobody was
 to be seen2 he was sitting in the      
hollow at the foot of the hill1 and     

under the shade of a low branching tree4
 ,and there he knelt down to pray2 and  
,satan drew himself away1 for the spot  
around that kneeling boy was holy       
ground4 ,tip's soul had gained the      
victory4     ,,chapter ,,viii4  ,freely 
ye have received1 freely give4          
,whether ,tip felt it or not1 there were
 some changes in his home4 ,mrs4 ,lewis1
 though worried and hurried and cross   
enough1 still was not so much so as she 
had been4  ,the house was quieter1 there
 was no cradle to rock1 there were no   
baby footsteps to follow and keep out of
 danger2 she had more time for sewing4  
,yet this very thing1 the missing of the
 clinging arms about her neck1 sometimes
 made her heavy heart vent itself in    
short1 sharp words4  ,but ,tip had      
astonished the family at home1--it      
didn't require wonderful changes to do  
it1--rather the change which they saw in
 him seemed wonderful4  ,the fire which 
she found ready made in the morning1 the
 full pail of fresh water1 the box3     

filled with wood1 were all so many drops
 of honey to the tired mother's heart4  
,the awkward pat of his father's pillow1
 which ,tip now and then gave as he     
lingered to ask how he was1 seemed so   
new and delightful to that neglected    
father's heart1 that he lay on his hard 
bed and thought of it much all day4     
,tip got on better at home than anywhere
 else2 he had not so many temptations4  
,he had been such a lawless1 reckless   
boy1 that they had all learned to leave 
him very much to himself1 and1 as not a 
great deal of his time was spent there1 
his trials at home were not many4 ,as   
for ,kitty1 she did not cease to wonder 
what had happened to ,tip2 she perhaps  
felt the difference more than any one   
else1 for it had been the delight of his
 life to tease her4  ,now1 from the time
 that he gathered his books1 with the   
first sound of the school-bell1 and     
hurried up the hill1 until he returned  
at night1 ready to split wood1 hoe in   
the garden1 or do any of the dozen      

things that he had never been known to  
do before1 he was a never-failing       
subject of thought and wonderment to    
her4 ,watching him closely1 the only    
thing she could finally settle on as the
 cause of the change which she found in 
him was1 that he now went every ,sabbath
 morning to the ,sabbath school4 ,the   
mystery must be hidden there4 ,having   
decided that matter1 ,kitty speedily    
resolved that she would go there        
herself1 and see what they did4 ,many   
were the kind hearts that had tried to  
coax her into that same ,sabbath school1
 and had failed4 ,but this ,saturday    
afternoon's gazing out of the window1   
with a wonderfully sober face1 had ended
 in her exclaiming1--  ,i say1 mother1  
,i want a needle and thread4  ,what do  
you want with a needle and thread8 asked
 ,mrs4 ,lewis1 stirring away at some    
gruel in a tin basin1 and not even      
glancing up4  ,i want to mend my dress2 
it's torn this way and that1 and looks  
awful4 ,i want some green thread1 the   

colour of this wide stripe4  ,now for a 
minute the gruel was forgotten1 and     
,mrs4 ,lewis looked at ,kitty in        
amazement4  ,dear me6 she said at last2 
,i don't know what will happen next4 ,it
 can't be possible that you are going to
 work to mend your own dress without    
being scolded about it for a week1 and  
then made to do it4  ,yes1 ,i am1 too2  
,i ain't going to look like a rag-bag   
another hour4 ,and ,i'm going to wash   
out my sun-bonnet and iron it2 then ,i  
mean to go over to that ,sunday school  
to-morrow4 ,i ain't heard any singing   
since ,i was born1 as ,i know of1 and ,i
 mean to4  ,the gruel began to burn1 and
 ,mrs4 ,lewis turned to it again1 saying
 nothing1 but thinking a great deal4    
,once she used to go to ,sabbath school 
herself1 when she was ,kitty's age2 and 
she didn't have to mend her dress first1
 either2 she used to be dressed freshly 
and neatly1 every ,sabbath morning1 by  
her mother's own careful hands4  ,she   
poured the gruel into a bowl1 and then  

went over to her workbox4  ,here's a    
needle and thread1 she said at last1    
drawing out a snarl of green thread from
 the many snarls in her box4 ,mend your 
dress if you want to1 and ,i'll wash out
 your bonnet for you towards night1 when
 ,i get that vest done4  ,it was        
,kitty's turn to be astonished now4 ,she
 had not expected help from her mother4 
,tip lingered in the kitchen on ,sabbath
 morning4 ,he looked neat and clean2 he 
had a fresh1 clean shirt1 thanks to the 
washing which his mother had done       
towards night4 ,he was all ready for    
school1 yet he waited4  ,kitty clattered
 around1 making rather more noise even  
than usual1 as she washed up the few    
poor dishes4  ,evidently ,tip was       
thinking about her4 ,the truth was1 his 
lamp had shown him a lesson that morning
 like this3 ,freely ye have received1   
freely give4 ,he stopped at that verse1 
reading no further4 ,what did it mean ,i
 ,surely it spoke to him4 ,had not ,god 
given1 oh1 so many things to him8 ,had  

,he not promised to give him heaven for 
his home8 ,now1 here was the direction3 
,freely give4 ,what1 and to whom8 ,to   
,god8 ,surely not4 ,tip was certain that
 he had nothing to give to ,god2 nothing
 but his poor1 sinful heart1 which he   
believed the ,saviour had taken and made
 clean4  ,what could he give to any one8
 ,he leaned out of his little window1   
busy with this thought4 ,kitty came out 
to the door1 and pumped her pan full of 
water4 ,he looked down on her4 ,there   
was ,kitty2 had he anything which he    
could give her8 ,he shook his head      
mournfully2 not a thing4 ,but wouldn't  
it be the same if he could help her to  
get something8 ,what if he could coax   
her to go to ,sunday school2 perhaps it 
would do for her all that it had done   
for him4 ,and at this moment the        
unwearied ,satan came with his wicked   
thoughts4  ,kitty would be a            
pretty-looking object to go to ,sabbath 
school1--not a decent thing to wear6    
,everybody would laugh at her and at    

you4 ,besides1 ,i don't believe she     
would go1 if you did ask her2 she would 
only make fun of you4 ,better not try   
it4  ,oh1 ,tip ,lewis1 said his         
conscience1 what a miserable coward you 
are6 ,after all you have promised1 you  
won't risk a laugh for the sake of      
getting ,kitty into the ,sabbath school6
  ,yes1 ,i will1 said ,tip1 and he ran  
downstairs4  ,and this was why he       
lingered in the kitchen1--not knowing   
just what to say4 ,kitty helped him4    
,tip1 said she1 ,i suppose they sing    
over at that ,sunday school1 don't they8
  ,i guess they do2 and ,tip's eyes     
brightened4 ,ever so many of them sing  
at once1 and it sounds grand1 ,i tell   
you4 ,they play the melodeon1 too3 don't
 you want to go and hear it8  ,humph6 ,i
 don't know4 ,i don't suppose it will be
 any stupider than staying at home4 ,i  
get awful sick of that4 ,if ,i knew the 
way1 maybe ,i would go4  ,oh1 ,i'll take
 you6 said ,tip1 in a quick1 eager way4 
,he wanted to speak before his courage  

failed4  ,so ,kitty1 in her stiff blue  
sunbonnet and green calico dress1 went  
to ,sabbath school4 ,there was no       
mission class for girls1 so ,mr4 ,parker
 sent her among the gaily-dressed little
 girls in ,miss ,haley's class2 but ,mr4
 ,holbrook detained ,tip4  ,edward1 you 
intend to come to ,sabbath school       
regularly1 don't you8  ,yes1 sir4  ,then
 ,i think we must leave your place in   
the mission seat to be filled by some   
other boy1 and you may come forward to  
my class4  ,it is doubtful whether ,tip 
will ever see a prouder or happier      
moment than that one in which he        
followed the minister down the long room
 to his own class4 ,but when he saw the 
seat full of boys1 his face grew        
crimson4 ,at the end of the seat was    
,ellis ,holbrook1 the minister's        
son1--the boy who but a few days before 
had1 he believed in his heart1 told a   
wicked story about himself1 and gained  
him a severe punishment4 ,he did not    
feel as though he could sit beside that 

boy1 even in ,sabbath school4 ,but ,mr4 
,holbrook waited1 and sit down he must4 
,ellis moved along to give him room1 and
 disturbed him neither by word nor look 
during the lesson4 ,but ,tip's heart was
 full of bitterness1 and he thought the 
pleasure of that morning gone4 ,the     
lesson was of ,christ and ,his death on 
the cross1 and1 as he listened1 hard    
thoughts began to die out4 ,the story   
was too new2 it touched too near his    
heart not to calm the angry feelings and
 to interest him wonderfully4  ,as soon 
as school was dismissed1 ,mr4 ,holbrook 
turned to him4 ,what disturbs you       
to-day1 ,edward8  ,tip's face grew red  
again4 ,i--,i--nothing much1 sir4  ,have
 you and ,ellis been having trouble in  
school8  ,he has been getting me into   
trouble1 spoke ,tip boldly1 finding     
himself caught4  ,mr4 ,holbrook sat down
 again4 ,can you tell me about it1      
,edward8  ,he said ,i threw paper balls1
 and ,mr4 ,burrows whipped me2 and ,i   
didn't4  ,are you sure you didn't8      

,yes1 sir4  ,did you say so at the time8
  ,over and over again1 but he said he  
saw me4  ,edward1 have you always spoken
 the truth8 ,is your word to be         
believed8  ,tip's eyes fell and his lip 
quivered4 ,i've told a great many       
stories1 he said at last1 in a low1     
humble tone2 but this truly isn't one4  
,i'm trying to tell the truth after     
this1 and ,jesus believes what ,i have  
said this time4  ,so do ,i1 ,edward1    
answered ,mr4 ,holbrook gently1 even    
tenderly4 ,ellis was mistaken4 ,but ,i  
see you are angry with him2 can't you   
get over that8  ,tip shook his head4 ,he
 got me whipped for nothing1 sir4       
,suppose ,christ should follow that     
rule1 ,edward1 and forgive only those   
who had treated ,him well2 would you be 
forgiven to-day8  ,this was a new       
thought to ,tip1 and made him silent4   
,mr4 ,holbrook held out his hand for the
 little red ,bible4  ,let me show you   
what this lamp of yours says about the  
matter4  ,and ,tip's eyes presently read

 where the minister's finger pointed3   
,if ye forgive not men their trespasses1
 neither will your ,father forgive your 
trespasses4  ,trespasses mean sins1     
explained ,mr4 ,holbrook2 then he turned
 away4  ,all this time ,kitty had been  
standing waiting1--not for ,tip1 she    
didn't expect his company1--but for the 
stylish little girls to get fairly      
started on their way to church1 so she  
could go home without having any of them
 look at or make fun of her4  ,kitty had
 not been having a very good time3 she  
had the misfortune to fall into the     
hands of a teacher who thought if she   
asked the questions in the              
question-book1 and if one scholar could 
not answer1 passed on to the next1 she  
had done her duty4 ,so the singing was  
pretty nearly all ,kitty had cared for4 
,god was leaving most of the work for   
,tip to do1 after all4 ,he went over to 
her now1 and walked down the road with  
her4 ,the boys had all gone1 as well as 
the girls1 so there was nothing to      

hinder their walking on quietly         
together4  ,how did you like it1 ,kitty8
 he asked4  ,oh1 ,i didn't think much of
 it4 ,i sat by the ugliest girl in town1
 and she made fun of my bonnet and my   
shoes4 ,i hate her4  ,tip had a faint   
notion in his heart that ,kitty also    
needed the verse which had just been    
given him2 but he had other thoughts    
about her4 ,god's ,spirit was at work4  
,having taken her to ,sabbath school1   
having begun a good work1 he wanted it  
to go on4 ,it was very hard to speak to 
,kitty2 he didn't know what to say2 but 
all the way down the hill there seemed  
to ring in his ears the message1 ,freely
 ye have received1 freely give4  ,kitty1
 he said at last1 don't you want to be a
 ,christian8  ,i don't know what a      
,christian is4  ,but wouldn't you like  
to love ,jesus8  ,how do ,i know8       
replied ,kitty shortly4 ,i don't know   
anything about ,jesus4  ,oh1 didn't you 
hear1 in the lesson to-day1 about how   
,he loves everybody1 and wants everybody

 to love ,him1 and how ,he died so we   
could8  ,i don't know a thing about the 
lesson4 ,i counted the buttons on ,miss 
,harley's dress most all the time2 they 
went up and down the front1 and up and  
down the sides1 and everywhere4  ,oh1   
but1 ,kitty1 you surely heard the       
hymn1--    ',jesus loves me1 this ,i    
know1   ,for the ,bible tells me so4'   
,yes1 ,kitty said2 the hymn was pretty  
enough1 only nobody gave me a book1 and 
,i could just hear a word now and then4 
,altogether1 ,tip didn't feel that he   
had done ,kitty a bit of good4 ,but he  
knew this much1 that1 since he had begun
 to think about and talk to her1 he     
longed--yes1 longed--with all his heart 
to have her come to ,christ4         99 
99       99       99       99  ,ellis1  
come here a moment1 said ,mr4 ,holbrook1
 turning towards his study door1 as the 
family came in from church4 ,what is it 
about this trouble in school with       
,edward ,lewis8  ,no trouble1 father2   
only ,tip threw a paper ball1 just as he

 always is doing1 and1 as ,mr4 ,burrows 
asked me if ,i knew who threw it1 of    
course ,i had to tell him1 and that made
 ,tip mad4 ,why8 ,has he been           
complaining to you1 father8  ,ellis1 did
 you see ,edward throw paper8  ,yes1    
sir4  ,are you positive8                
,yes--why--that is--,i glanced up from  
my book just in time to see it whiz1 and
 it came from ,tip's direction1 and his 
hand was raised1 so ,i supposed of      
course he threw it4 ,i thought a minute 
ago that ,i knew he did4  ,but now you  
would not say positively that some boy  
near him might not have done it8  ,why1 
no1 sir4 ,alex ,palmer might have thrown
 it2 but ,i didn't think of such a      
thing4  ,well1 ,ellis1 my verdict is    
that you were mistaken2 ,i don't think  
,edward told a falsehood this time4     
,i'll tell you why3 he is trying to take
 the ,saviour for his pattern4 ,i       
believe he is a ,christian4 ,now1 there 
is one thing which ,i want you to think 
of4 ,edward ,lewis1 who has never been  

taught anything good1 who has never had 
any one to help him1 has given his heart
 to ,christ2 and my boy1 for whom ,i    
have prayed with1 all my soul every day 
since he was born1 has not4             
,,chapter ,,ix4  ,hitherto hath the     
,lord helped us4   ,boys1 said ,mr4     
,burrows1 one ,monday afternoon1 you may
 lay aside your books2 ,i want to have a
 talk with you4  ,books were hurriedly  
gathered and piled in their places1 and 
the boys sat up with folded arms1 ready 
for whatever their teacher had to offer4
  ,mr4 ,burrows drew out his arm-chair  
from behind the desk1 and sat down for a
 chat4  ,who will tell me what an       
acrostic is8  ,several hands were       
raised4  ,well1 ,howard1 let us hear    
what you think about it4  ,it's a piece 
of poetry1 sir1 where the first letter  
of every line spells another word4  ,do 
you mean the first letter alone spells a
 word8  ,the boys laughed1 and ,howard  
explained promptly4 ,no1 sir2 ,i mean   
the first letters of each line taken    

together form a name4  ,must an acrostic
 always be written in poetry8  ,this    
question called forth several answers1  
and made a good deal of talk2 but it was
 finally decided that there could be    
acrostics in prose as well as in rhyme2 
and ,mr4 ,burrows asked1--  ,how many   
understand now what an acrostic is8  ,a 
few more hands were raised1 but many of 
the boys did not understand yet2 it must
 be made plainer4  ,howard1 said ,mr4   
,burrows1 come to the board and give us 
an acrostic on the word boy4  ,howard   
sprang up4 ,must it be a sensible one1  
sir8  ,sense or nonsense1 just as you   
please1 so as it shows us what an       
acrostic is4  ,i can take my            
parsing-book and give you one1 ,i think1
 sir4  ,and ,howard came forward and    
wrote rapidly1--    ,b ,but you shall   
hear an odd affair1 indeed1    ,o ,of   
which all ,europe rings from side to    
side--  ,then he paused1 turning the    
leaves of his parsing-book eagerly4  ,i 
can't find anything in ,y to finish this

 up with1 he said at last4  ,can't you  
give us a line from your own brain8     
,and at this ,howard's eye brightened   
with fun1 and1 turning to the board     
after a moment of thought1 he dashed off
 the closing line1--    ,y ,you who can 
finish this may have the job2--  then   
took his seat amid bursts of laughter   
from the boys1 who all began to         
understand what an acrostic was4  ,ellis
 ,holbrook's hand was up1 and his eyes  
were full of questions4  ,mr4 ,burrows1 
why is that called by such a queer name 
as acrostic8  ,his teacher smiled4  ,you
 must study ,greek1 ,ellis4 ,we get it  
from two words in the ,greek1 or from   
one word made up of two others1 which   
mean extreme1 or beginning and order4   
,in an acrostic the beginnings of the   
lines are arranged in order4 ,do you    
understand how we get that word now8    
,yes1 sir4  ,well1 now1 you would all   
like to know what this talk is for4 ,i  
want every boy in school who can write1 
to bring an acrostic on his own name for

 his next composition4  ,the boys       
groaned1 and exclaimed1 ,they couldn't  
do it1 they were sure2 they couldn't    
begin to do it6  ,yes1 you can1 said    
,mr4 ,burrows2 ,i don't give my scholars
 any work that they can't do4 ,you may  
quote it1 or make it original1 as you   
please2 but ,i want every one of you to 
try4  ,johnny ,thorpe1 the smallest boy 
in school who could write1 now seemed in
 trouble1 and stretched up his arm to   
its full length4  ,well1 ,johnny1 what  
will you have8 asked his teacher4  ,if  
you please1 sir1 ,i don't know what you 
mean by quote4  ,mr4 ,burrows laughed   
pleasantly4  ,i must remember1 ,i see1  
to speak plain ,english2 ,i mean you may
 borrow your essay from a book1 or a    
dozen books1 if you like1 so that you   
don't try to make us believe the        
thoughts are your own4 ,you may write in
 poetry or not1 as you please2 but ,i   
want each to choose a subject1 and stick
 to it better than ,howard did just now4
 ,i have given you something to do that 

will keep you hard at work1 but you will
 succeed at last4  ,tip went home in a  
tumult4 ,what could he do8 ,he had never
 written a composition in his life1     
having made it a point to run away from 
school on composition-day2 but running  
away was done with now4 ,it didn't seem 
possible that he could write anything3  
certainly not in such a new1 queer way  
as ,mr4 ,burrows wished them to4        
,supper and wood-splitting were hurried 
over for that evening1 and ,tip took his
 way very early to the seat under the   
elm-tree down by the pond4 ,he wanted to
 think1 to see how he should meet this  
new trouble2 it was a real trouble to   
him1 for he had set out to do just      
right1 and he saw no way of getting out 
of this duty1 and thought he saw no way 
of doing it4  ,there is no place on the 
road so dark but this lamp will light   
you through1 if you give it a chance4   
,this is what ,mr4 ,holbrook had said   
when he gave ,tip his ,bible4 ,and ,tip 
had thought of his words very often1 had

 already proved them true more than     
once2 but he didn't see how it could    
help him now4  ,he took it out1 and     
slowly turned the leaves2 it couldn't   
write his composition for him1 that was 
certain4 ,but oh1 the bright thought    
that came to ,tip just then6 ,why not   
find his acrostic in the ,bible1 and    
write it out8 among so many1 many       
verses1 he would be sure to find what he
 wanted4 ,but then1 how very queer it   
would be for him1 ,tip ,lewis1 to copy  
anything from the ,bible6 ,what would   
the boys think8 ,what would ,bob ,turner
 say8 ,still1 what else could he do8    
,besides his spelling-book and a worn   
arithmetic1 it was the only book that he
 had in the world4  ,i don't care1 he   
said suddenly1 after a few moments of   
troubled thought4 ,i guess ,i ain't     
ashamed of my ,bible1--it's the only    
thing ,i've got that ,i needn't be      
ashamed of4 ,i'll do it4 ,the boys have 
got to know that ,i've turned over a new
 leaf4 ,i wish they did2 the sooner they

 know it the better4 ,i say1 my lamp    
shall help me out of this scrape1 that's
 as true as can be2 it helps me whenever
 ,i give it a chance4  ,he fumbled in   
his pocket and drew out an old stump of 
a pencil4 ,the next thing was a piece of
 paper2 he dived his hand down into     
another pocket1 producing a rusty knife1
 pieces of string1 a chestnut or two1   
and1 finally1 a crumpled piece of paper 
on which ,bob ,turner had scrawled what 
he called a likeness of ,mr4 ,burrows1  
and given to ,tip for a keepsake4 ,he   
spread it out on a flat stone which lay 
near him1 and began his work4  ,a long1 
slow work it was for ,tip4 ,hours of    
that day1 and the next1 and the next1   
every day1 until the fading light drove 
him home1 did he sit under the elm-tree 
turning the leaves of his ,bible1 poring
 over its contents1 writing words       
carefully now and then on his bit of    
paper4 ,remember it was new work to him4
  ,at last1 one evening1 the sun went   
down in the bright red west1 the stars  

shone out in all their twinkling1       
sparkling glory1 the shadows began to   
fall thick and fast around the old tree1
 when ,tip1 with a little sigh of       
relief1 folded the precious piece of    
paper1 laid it carefully away in his    
,bible1 and turned his steps homeward4  
,his acrostic was finished1 and into his
 heart had crept some of the beauty of  
those precious words1 which he had found
 for the first time4 ,words they were   
which would go with him through all his 
life1 and sweetly comfort some dark and 
weary hours4  ,the school-books were all
 piled neatly on the desks that ,friday 
afternoon2 the shades were dropped to   
shut out the low afternoon sun2 and     
forty boys were still and expectant4    
,the acrostics lay in a great white heap
 on ,mr4 ,burrows' desk1 not a name     
written on any of them4 ,mr4 ,burrows   
was to read1 and the boys were to have  
the pleasure of spelling out the names  
of the owners as he read4  ,a merry time
 they had of it that afternoon4 ,some   

wonderful acrostics were read4 ,ellis   
,holbrook had a very clever one1        
arranged from his lesson in ,virgil4    
,howard ,minturn had borrowed from his  
father's library a copy of ,shakespeare1
 and worked hard over his2 the boys and 
their teacher thought it a success4     
,even ,bob ,turner had written2 the idea
 had happened to strike him as a very   
funny one1 and ,bob always did          
everything that he thought funny4 ,he   
had found three lines in rhyme which    
just suited him1 and by the time the    
eager boys had spelled out ,b ,o        
,b1--which was the only name the boy saw
 fit to own1--the schoolroom fairly     
shook with their laughter4  ,next to his
 lay a paper which ,tip knew1 and his   
heart beat so loudly when ,mr4 ,burrows 
took it up1 that he thought every one in
 the room must notice4  ,the room had   
now grown quiet1 and ,mr4 ,burrows1     
after opening the paper1 announced the  
title1--  ,,what ,,jesus ,,christ       
,,says4  ,then read slowly and          

reverently1 while the wondering scholars
 spelled out the name4    ,e ,even the  
night shall lie light about thee4    ,d 
,depart from evil and do good4    ,w    
,whosoever cometh unto ,me1 ,i will in  
no wise cast out4    ,a ,a new heart    
will ,i give you4    ,r ,resist the     
devil1 and he will flee from you4    ,d 
,draw nigh to ,god1 and ,he will draw   
nigh to thee4    ,l ,lo1 ,i am with you 
always4    ,e ,ever follow that which is
 good4    ,w ,whosoever abideth in ,him1
 sinneth not4    ,i ,i will go before   
thee1 and make the crooked paths        
straight4    ,s ,so that we may boldly  
say1 ,the ,lord is my helper4  ,what a  
silent and astonished company listened  
to this reading1 and spelled the name   
,edward ,lewis6  ,edward1 ,mr4 ,burrows 
said at last1 who found those verses for
 you8  ,i found them1 sir1 in my ,bible4
 ,i've got them all marked6 speaking    
eagerly1 willing this time to bring     
proof that he was telling the truth4    
,mr4 ,burrows' voice almost trembled as 

he answered1--  ,it is a beautiful      
collection of some of the most precious 
verses in the ,bible4 ,it was a fine    
idea2 ,i am very much surprised and     
pleased4 ,i wish that you1 and every    
scholar of mine1 could feel in your     
hearts the full meaning of those words  
of ,jesus4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,i can't to-night1 ,howard1
 said ,ellis ,holbrook1 in answer to his
 friend's coaxings to accompany him     
home2 ,i've got something else to attend
 to4 ,hallo1 ,tip6 ,tip ,lewis6 ,hold on
 a bit6 ,i'm going your way4 ,no1       
,howard1 ,i'll come up in the morning2  
,i really can't to-night4  ,tip waited  
in wondering silence1 while the boy1    
whom he counted an enemy1 hurried       
towards him4  ,ellis was a bold1 prompt 
boy3 when he had anything to say1 he    
said it2 so he came to the point at     
once4  ,see here1 ,tip1 did ,i blunder  
the other day when ,i told ,mr4 ,burrows
 you threw paper8 ,i thought ,i saw you4
  ,yes1 said ,tip1 you did4 ,i didn't   

throw a bit of paper that day4  ,well1  
father said he thought ,i was mistaken4 
,i'm sure ,i supposed ,i was telling the
 truth4 ,i'm sorry4 ,i'll say so to ,mr4
 ,burrows and the boys1 if you like1 and
 let him find out who did it1 and then  
was mean enough to see you whipped for  
it4  ,tip struggled a little4 ,no1 he   
said at last1 let it go4 ,the whipping  
is done1 and can't be undone2 ,i don't  
want to make any more bother about it4  
,ellis eyed him curiously4  ,you're a   
queer fellow1 he said at last4 ,i expect
 you had about the best acrostic1 this  
afternoon1 that can be written4  ,tip's 
heart was throbbing with pleasure as he 
walked on home after ,ellis had left    
him4 ,for the first time in his life he 
had earnest1 warm1 hearty praise from   
his teacher4 ,ellis had said1 ,father   
told me he thought ,i was mistaken4 ,mr4
 ,holbrook1 then1 did believe and trust 
him4 ,besides1 there was another thought
 which seemed delightful to him4 ,tip   
,lewis1 the worthless1 yes1 wicked boy  

that everybody thought him1 had walked  
down the main street side by side1 and  
talking earnestly with ,ellis ,holbrook1
 the minister's son4     ,,chapter ,x4  
,enter not into the path of the wicked4 
,kitty hung on the gate and watched them
 pass by1--the long train of high       
waggons with grated windows1 out of     
which strange animals peered with their 
great1 fierce eyes2 the two elephants in
 their scarlet and gold blankets2 the   
tiny ponies tossing their shaggy manes2 
the splendid carriage drawn by eight    
gaily blanketed1 gaily plumed1 dancing  
horses1 and every seat filled with      
splendidly dressed men and women2 the   
bright red band-waggon1 with the sun    
glittering over the wonderful brass     
instruments and turning them into gold4 
,kitty watched all this1--watched1 and  
listened to the loud1 full bursts of    
music1 until her heart swelled and      
bounded4 ,she sprang from the gate1 and 
stamped her foot on the ground4  ,i     
wish--oh1 ,i wish ,i could go6 she      

almost screamed at last4 ,i want to--,i 
want to6 ,oh1 ,i never wanted to go     
anywhere so bad in my life6  ,i reckon  
you'll take it out in wanting1 said her 
mother1 who had also leaned on the fence
 and watched the show pass by4 ,folks   
who have to dig as ,i do1 from morning  
to night1 just to get something to eat1 
don't have any money to spend on        
circuses4  ,kitty shook her head with   
rage4 ,i don't go anywhere1 she         
screamed4 ,never6 ,i never went to a    
circus in my life1 and all the boys and 
girls around here go every year4 ,tip   
always goes--always2 he manages to slip 
in4 ,oh1 ,tip' and she opened the gate  
and went out to him on the sidewalk1 a  
new thought having come to her1 can't   
you do something to get some money1 and 
let me go to the circus with you8 ,can't
 you manage some way8 ,oh1 ,tip1 do6    
,i'll do anything for you1 if you only  
will4 ,i never wanted anything so bad   
before4  ,and ,tip's face1 as he walked 
towards the village ten minutes after   

that1 was a study1 it looked so full of 
trouble4  ,kitty wanted to go to that   
circus1--wanted to go so very much that 
she had coaxed and begged him in a way  
that she had never done before4         
,besides1 if the truth be told1 ,tip    
wanted to go himself2 every time the    
wind wafted back to him a swell of the  
distant music1 it made his heart fairly 
jump4 ,it was true1 as ,kitty had said1 
he always managed to slip in some way2  
and the oftener he went1 the oftener he 
wanted to go4  ,well1 then1 what was the
 matter with ,tip8 ,what he had done so 
many times before1 he could surely find 
a way to do again4 ,oh yes6 ,but ,tip   
,lewis to-day was different from any    
,tip ,lewis there had ever been before  
on circus day4 ,wasn't he trying to do  
right8 ,but then1 what had circuses to  
do with that8 ,he tried to think what   
were his reasons for being troubled6    
,why did a small voice down in his heart
 keep telling him that the circus was no
 place for him now8  ,looking at the    

matter steadily1 the only reason ,tip   
knew was1 that ,ellis ,holbrook and     
,howard ,minturn never went2 their      
fathers had taught them differently4    
,ellis1 he knew1 rather looked down on  
people who did go1--called them low4    
,this had never troubled ,tip before1   
because he had always known himself to  
be low2 but now1 wasn't he trying to    
climb8 ,didn't respectable people       
generally think that circuses were bad  
things8  ,no1 poor ,tip1 they didn't2   
there was ,mr4 ,bailey1 a rich man1--so 
rich and so respectable that his son    
wouldn't stoop to lend ,tip his         
spelling-book at school1--yet ,mr4      
,bailey went to the circus last year and
 took all his children4 ,so did ,mr4    
,anderson and ,mr4 ,stone1 and oh6      
dozens of others1 rich1 great men4      
,well1 did good people go8 and ,tip's   
thoughts strayed back to ,mr4 ,holbrook1
 and ,mr4 ,parker1 and ,mr4 ,minturn1   
yea1 and others1 whose voices he had    
heard on the streets and in stores1     

condemning the circus4  ,but then1 after
 all1 where was the harm8 ,there was    
,kitty1 how much she wanted to go2 if he
 could manage to take her1 how glad she 
would be6 ,at this point ,satan thought 
there was a chance for him to speak2 so 
he walked along with ,tip1 talking like 
this3  ,kitty has never asked you to do 
anything for her before4 ,you want to   
help her2 you want to get her to go to  
,sunday school and to read the ,bible4  
,now's your time3 if you take her to the
 circus1 very likely she will do what   
you want her to4  ,this was a little too
 absurd1 even for ,tip1 who wanted to   
believe it all so badly2 but who ever   
heard of taking any one to a circus in  
order to get them to love ,jesus8 ,tip  
knew altogether too well for his        
comfort1 that day1 that ,mr4 ,holbrook's
 example was the safe one4 ,at last he  
drew a little sigh of relief2 he needn't
 think about it any more1 for he had no 
money3 he had never owned fifty cents at
 one time in his life2 so the question1 

after all1 would settle itself4  ,no1 it
 wouldn't4 ,mr4 ,dewey stood in the door
 of his market1 looking up and down the 
street4  ,hallo1 ,tip6 he called1 as    
,tip turned the corner2 you're the boy  
,i must have been looking for1 ,i guess4
 ,if you'll carry home packages for me  
for an hour1 and not steal one of them1 
,i'll give you two tickets for the      
circus4  ,tip's cheeks glowed at the    
word steal1 and he came near telling    
,mr4 ,dewey to carry his own packages1  
if he were afraid to trust him4  ,but   
then1 those two tickets6 ,here was a    
chance for ,kitty4 ,the conflict        
commenced again4  ,a whole hour in which
 to decide it1 for ,tip meant to do the 
work any way4 ,up and down the streets1 
stopping at this house and that with his
 parcels1 back again to the market for  
more1 all the time in a whirl of        
thought4 ,the question was almost       
decided when the two green tickets were 
placed in his hand2 it closed over them 
eagerly4 ,he hurried towards home4      

,towards home led him past the brick    
hotel4 ,in the bar-room sat some of the 
circus men2 he knew them by their heavy 
beards1 which almost covered their      
faces2 knew them also because he knew   
every man in town1 just who were        
strangers and who were not4 ,well1 these
 circus men were very busy drinking     
brandy and playing cards4 ,tip stopped  
and looked in at them2 and1 ignorant boy
 as he was1 the thought that good1      
respectable people would go to see and  
hear such men as these1 seemed very     
strange4 ,it couldn't be right1 could   
it8 ,how was it8 ,a great many nice     
people must have blundered terribly if  
it were wrong2 and1 on the other hand1  
if it were not wrong1 how did the       
minister happen to be so afraid of these
 things8 ,why did he himself have so    
many queer feelings about the matter8   
,what a trouble he was in6 ,if only he  
could find somebody or something that   
would decide it for him6 ,long before   
this he had walked away from the hotel2 

now he had crossed the bridge1 gone     
around behind the mill1 and was very    
near his seat under the elm4 ,down he   
sat when he came to it1 still holding   
fast the two green tickets1 but with the
 other hand diving down in his pocket   
for the little ,bible4 ,that was getting
 to be a habit with him1 to hunt for    
this lamp of his whenever he was in     
darkness4 ,he turned the leaves now with
 a perplexed face4 ,if he only knew     
where to turn for help6  ,let me see1 he
 said4 ,where was that verse that ,i    
learned for the ,sunday school concert8 
,i liked the sound of that2 it was      
somewhere in this book full of short1   
queer verses4 ,i can find it2 yes1 ,i   
see it4 ',for the ,lord shall be thy    
confidence1 and shall keep thy foot from
 being taken4'  ,it didn't seem to help 
him2 he shook his head slowly1 still    
glancing on over the verses1 until      
suddenly his listless look vanished1 and
 he read aloud2--,enter not into the    
path of the wicked1 and go not in the   

way of evil men4 ,avoid it1 pass not by 
it1 turn from it1 and pass away4  ,that 
means them1 said ,tip1 and me4 ,they're 
wicked men1 that's certain3 they were   
drinking and gambling1--swearing too1 ,i
 guess2 and this verse reads about them 
just as plain as day4 ,it says1 ',don't 
go near them1'--says it over and over   
again2 and ,i'll mind it1 ,i will4 ,i'll
 take these tickets right back to ,mr4  
,dewey1 so they won't be here to put me 
in mind of going4  ,no sooner said than 
done2 he turned around and fairly       
galloped up the hill1 around the corner1
 and landed nearly breathless at the    
market4  ,here1 ,mr4 ,dewey1 he said    
promptly1 ,i've brought back your       
tickets2 ,i don't want 'em this time4   
,what's up now8 asked ,mr4 ,dewey1      
coming out from behind his desk1 and    
eyeing the panting boy curiously4 ,won't
 the tickets pass8  ,not if they wait   
till ,i pass 'em1 answered ,tip in his  
prompt1 saucy way4 ,i ain't going to the
 circus1 not an inch1 he added1 as if to

 assure himself that he meant it4  ,but 
why not8  ,oh1 ,i've got reasons4       
,well1 now1 ,tip1 said ,mr4 ,dewey1     
that's really astonishing6 ,suppose you 
give us a few of your reasons4 ,we don't
 know what to make of this4  ,tip didn't
 know what to say2 he hesitated and     
thought1 and finally did the best thing 
he could1--spoke out boldly4 ,i've made 
up my mind that ,i won't go to any more 
circuses1 ever6 ,i don't believe in 'em 
as much as ,i did4  ,that wasn't it     
yet1--he had not owned his ,master in   
the answer4 ,neither was ,mr4 ,dewey    
satisfied4  ,but1 ,tip1 give us the     
reasons2 this is such a sudden change1  
you know4  ,well1 said ,tip1 ,i've been 
reading about them just now4  ,about    
whom8  ,why1 them circus fellows4       
,they're up here at the tavern2 they're 
drinking and fighting1 and ,i don't know
 what2 and ,i guess1 by the looks of    
things1 they're pretty wicked4 ,the book
 ,i was reading said1 ,don't go near    
wicked men1 turn around and go the other

 way2 and ,i mean to4 ,and with this    
,tip whisked out of the house and around
 the corner4  ,mr4 ,dewey shrugged his  
shoulders4  ,the world turns around1    
sure enough1 he said at last4  ,how do  
you know that8 and ,mr4 ,minturn set his
 market basket on the step1 and fanned  
himself with his hat4 ,i'm my own boy   
to-day1 you see2 give me something for  
my dinner4 ,how did you find out that   
the world turned around8  ,why1 ,tip    
,lewis has taken to preaching against   
circuses4 ,will you have a roast to-day1
 ,mr4 ,minturn8 ,i gave him a ticket1   
and he just rushed in with it and       
informed us he wasn't going to circuses 
any more1 because the ,bible says they  
are wicked fellows4 ,what do you think  
of that8  ,humph6 said ,mr4 ,minturn4   
,the ,bible says it would be better for 
a man1 sometimes1 if a millstone were   
about his neck1 and he were in the      
bottom of the sea4 ,i'd look out for    
that1 if ,i were you4 ,hurry up with    
your meat2 ,i ought to be at the store4 

,tip went home to ,kitty4 ,she still    
swung on the gate2 at least she was     
there when he came up4  ,oh1 ,tip1 she  
said1 are you going to take me8 ,oh1    
,tip1 do6 ,i never asked you for        
anything before4  ,tip walked slowly up 
the yard1 with his hands in his pockets1
 troubled1--not knowing what to say1 or 
how to say it4 ,at last he stopped and  
wheeled about4 ,kitty1 ,i can't2 ,i     
can't go4 ,i could get tickets if ,i    
dared1 but ,i don't mean to go any more4
 ,they're bad1 wicked men1 and ,i'm     
trying to be--  ,but ,kitty twitched    
herself away from him1 and wouldn't hear
 any more4  ,do go off6 she said4       
,you're a mean1 ugly1 hateful boy6 ,i'm 
sorry you got so awful good1 if you     
can't do that little much for me4 ,go   
away and let me alone4  ,even in his    
sore trouble a little flash of joy shot 
through ,tip's heart4 ,he was different1
 then4 ,kitty had noticed it2 she knew  
he was trying to be different4 ,there   
must be a little bit of change in him4  

,,chapter ,,xi4  ,avoid it1 pass not by 
it1 turn from it1 and pass away4   ,over
 and over in his mind did ,tip repeat   
this verse2 it seemed to sound all      
around him1 and mixed up with everything
 he did4 ,and yet he went out of the    
house that evening1 and turned straight 
down the street in the direction leading
 to the tented circus grounds1 walking  
along slowly1 talking to himself4  ,it  
won't do any harm just to listen to the 
music4 ,i don't mean to go in--of course
 ,i don't6 ,suppose ,i'd do that1 after 
all ,i said to ,kitty6 ,besides1 ,i     
couldn't if ,i would2 ,i haven't got any
 ticket4 ,i'm just going to walk down   
that way1 and see if there's lots of    
folks going1 and if the music sounds    
nice4  ,avoid it1 pass not by it4 ,oh   
yes1 ,tip knew2 he heard the voice1 yet 
on he went2 beginning to walk swiftly1  
only saying in answer1 ,i ain't going   
in2 ,i couldn't if ,i wanted to2 and ,i 
don't want to4  ,by and by he came      
within sight of the tents and within    

sound of the music1 which1 to his       
untaught ears1 was wonderfully          
beautiful2 came up even to the very door
 of the large tent1 bewitched to go just
 a step nearer1 though he didn't mean to
 go in1 not he4  ,yes1 the people were  
crowding in4 ,mr4 ,douglass stood by the
 door4 ,tip knew him very well2 that is1
 he knew he lived in a large house and  
had plenty of money2 and he knew1 when  
the men were trying to raise any money1 
some one was sure to say1 ,go to ,mr4   
,douglass2 he's always ready to give4   
,everybody liked ,mr4 ,douglass4 ,he    
turned around now from looking down the 
road1 and looked down at ,tip4  ,well1  
,tip1 he said1 going to the circus8     
,tip shook his head4  ,what's the       
matter8--no money8 ,pity to get so near 
and not go in2 isn't it1 pet8  ,this    
last to the dainty little girl whose    
hand he held4  ,yes1 she answered1 with 
a happy smile4 ,papa1 why don't mamma   
come8  ,oh1 she'll be along soon4 ,here1
 sir1 to the doorkeeper1 handing him    

twenty-five cents1 let this ragamuffin  
in4 ,in with you1 ,tip1 and practise    
standing on your head for a month to    
come4  ,it was all done in a hurry2 the 
doorkeeper stepped aside1 the crowd     
jostled and pushed against him1 the     
music burst forth in a new loud swell4  
,a moment more1 and ,tip stood in the   
brightly-lighted room1 staring eagerly  
around him4 ,there was enough to see2   
the seats were filling rapidly with     
gaily--dressed ladies and gentlemen4 ,he
 knew them1 many of them1 had seen them 
on the streets often and often2 had seen
 some of them in ,sabbath school1 seated
 before their classes4  ,tip was        
speedily giving himself up to enjoyment1
 hushing the small voice in his heart4  
,one of the nicest men in town had let  
him in2 yes1 and there he was now with  
his wife and little girl2 ,mrs4 ,douglas
 was not only a teacher in the ,sabbath 
school1 but a member of the church4 ,if 
she could go to the circus1 why couldn't
 he8 ,so ,tip reasoned1 and nobody told 

him that his lamp said1 ,every one of us
 shall give account of himself to ,god4 
,presently the wonderful little shaggy  
ponies trotted out2 and back behind the 
curtains was one of the riders2 he got a
 peep of her every now and then in her  
splendid dress2 he knew she would be out
 pretty soon1 and then she would ride4  
,oh1 that music6 how it rolled around   
the ring6 ,tip was too busy looking and 
listening to keep out of people's way2  
he stepped back1 still jostled by the   
crowd who were pouring in1 and stepped  
directly in front of a man who was      
trying to make his way through the crowd
 around the entrance4 ,tip knew him in  
an instant2 he was one of the circus    
men1--the one with the ugly face that he
 had noticed in the morning2 it was ugly
 still1 and red with liquor4 ,he turned 
a pair of fiery eyes on ,tip1 and a     
dreadful oath fell from his lips as he  
swung him angrily out of his way4  ,oh1 
,tip ,lewis6 ,no wonder your heart      
fairly stops its beating for an instant1

 then bounds on with rapid throbs4 ,only
 a few days ago you listened to the     
story of a bleeding1 dying ,saviour1    
bleeding and dying for you2 and you     
promised1 with honest tears1 that for   
this you would love and serve and honour
 ,him for ever4 ,and yet1 to-night1 here
 you are1 watching the tricks of men who
 can speak that sacred name in such a   
way that it will make even you1 who are 
used to this1 shudder and turn cold4 ,in
 the name of the ,saviour whom you love1
 what do you here8  ,it was to ,tip as  
if ,christ ,himself had asked that      
question4 ,he turned suddenly1 and1 with
 both hands pressed to his ears1 fairly 
fought his way through the crowd4  ,let 
me out6 let me go6 ,he fairly shrieked  
the words at the astonished doorkeeper1 
who stood aside to let him pass4 ,up the
 hill with swift1 eager steps he ran1   
trying still to shut out the ring of    
that awful oath1 the sound of that      
hateful voice1 speaking the name which  
had so lately become to him the one dear

 and precious name in earth or heaven4  
,on1 on1 up the hill1 and then down on  
the other side1 stopping finally at the 
great tree under the hill1 just across  
the pond4 ,stopping and sitting down1 he
 tried to think4 ,what had he done8 ,he 
had been warned1 he had been tempted1   
and he had fallen4 ,it didn't help him  
now to think that good men and women    
were there4 ,perhaps ,god had not so    
plainly shown them the wrong4 ,perhaps  
they had never found that verse3 ,avoid 
it1 pass not by it4 ,perhaps--oh1       
anything--it was nothing to him now4    
,this much was certain3 he had done     
wrong4 ,such a heavy1 heavy heart as    
,tip had to-night4 ,what should he do8  
,what would ,kitty say1 if she found it 
out8 ,oh1 what would ,mr4 ,dewey think1 
or ,mr4 ,holbrook8 and then1 above all  
else1 came the thought1 ,what could     
,jesus1 looking down on him now from    
heaven1 what could ,he think of him8    
,this thought brought the bitter tears1 
but it brought him also on his knees2   

and he said1--  ,oh1 ,jesus ,christ1 in 
spite of it all1 you know ,i love you4  
,won't you forgive me and let me try    
again8 ,long he knelt there1 trying to  
get close to ,christ1 and his ,saviour  
did not leave him alone4 ,it was only   
yesterday he had learned the verse1 and 
it came to him softly now3 ,thou art a  
,god ready to pardon1 gracious and      
merciful1 slow to anger1 of great       
kindness4  ,in his sore trouble1 ,tip's 
lamp had not failed him4     ,,chapter  
,,xii4  ,he honoureth them that fear the
 ,lord4   ,slowly1 but surely1 as the   
late autumn days came on1 ,tip was      
growing into a better place in the      
schoolroom1 in the opinion of his       
teachers and his schoolmates4 ,in ,mr4  
,burrows' school1 ten was the perfect   
mark1 and x was the very lowest grade a 
boy could reach4 ,it had once been an   
everyday joke with ,tip1 that1 being x1 
he must be perfect1 because it said in  
the spelling-book that x was ten4  ,but 
it had been a good many days since ,tip 

had said x2 the boys had ceased to be   
amazed when he answered ten in prompt1  
proud tone4  ,they were growing1 many of
 them1 to be surprised and sorry for    
him1 when1 in his days of failures1 he  
answered1 with drooped eyes and very    
red1 ashamed face1 seven1 or1 it might  
be1 six4  ,though he was still anything 
but a good reader1 no one could fail to 
see that he blundered less and less     
every day1 and ,mr4 ,burrows was growing
 patient with his blunders1 growing     
helpful in his troubles4  ,the boys saw 
him working hard over his spelling-book1
 and few of them now had the meanness to
 laugh when a word passed him4  ,mr4    
,burrows' tones were not so harsh to him
 as they used to be2 and now-a-days1    
when he was accused of breaking rules1  
instead of being called up and          
unhesitatingly punished1 his teacher1   
who grew every day less and less sure   
that he was at the bottom of all the    
mischief done1 always gave him a chance 
to speak for himself1 and was learning  

to believe him4  ,oh yes6 things were   
different1 and were all the time growing
 more so4 ,bob ,turner saw this plainly3
 he began to find ,tip a very stupid    
companion1 and stayed away from school  
more afternoons than ever4  ,but poor   
,tip noticed the change less1--yes1 much
 less than any of the others4 ,you don't
 know how hard it was for him4 ,do you  
think ,satan was willing to leave him1  
and let him grow quietly into a good    
boy8 ,not a bit of it4 ,you see he had  
been born bubbling over with fun and    
frolic2 he had never learned to have    
them come in at the right place or the  
right time4  ,sometimes he felt willing 
to give up all trying to do right1 for  
the sake of having a grand frolic just  
when and where he wanted it1--no matter 
what might be going on just then4       
,sometimes1 when he failed1 he felt     
fierce and sullen1 and told himself it  
was all humbug1 this trying to be good4 
,sometimes he felt so utterly sad and   
discouraged1 that it seemed to him he   

never could try again2 yet through it   
all he did try heartily4  ,his          
arithmetic was the hardest4 ,he was     
still in the dunce class1--so the boys  
called it1 because it was made up of the
 drones from several classes1 and was   
constantly being put back to addition4  
,it was a sharp winter's morning4 ,no   
more make-believe winter for a          
while1--the snow lay white and crisp on 
the ground1 and the frosty air stung    
every nose and every finger it could    
reach4  ,tip's study1 at the foot of the
 hill under the elm1 had been quite     
broken up1 and he found it very hard to 
study at home1--especially this morning4
 ,his father's cough had been bad all   
night1 and this made his mother troubled
 and cross4  ,kitty1 these days1 seemed 
trying to see just how cross and        
disagreeable she could be2 and the      
kitchen--at best a dismal place--was    
just now at the worst4 ,the wet wood in 
the stove sizzled and stewed and made a 
smoke2 and in the midst of ,tip's fifth 

trial on an example which was puzzling  
him terribly1 he was called on to split 
some kindlings4  ,this instant6--,i     
won't wait a minute6 ,kitty said in a   
provokingly commanding tone2 and ,tip   
went at it sullenly1 saying1 with every 
spiteful drive of his axe through the   
pine board which he had picked up1 ,it's
 no use2 ,i cant do that sum1 and ,i    
ain't going to try4 ,i don't know       
anything1 and never will4 ,i've done it 
over fifty times1 and twisted it every  
way ,i can think of4 ,there's no sense  
to it1 any way1--sixteen sheep stood him
 in two dollars apiece4 ,what does that 
mean1 ,i'd like to know8 ,he had forty  
sheep and twenty-five cows4 ,i know it  
all by heart2 but ,i can't do it1 and   
that's the whole of it4 ,i wish his     
sheep had choked to death1 and his old  
cows run away1 before ,i ever heard of  
them4 ,i'll go over it just once more4  
7,tip was back by the kitchen window    
now1 with his slate and book47 ,let's   
see3 twenty-five cows at thirty-four    

dollars apiece2 and he worked away in   
nervous haste1 until he came to stood   
him in4 ,if he only could find out what 
that meant1 he felt sure he could do it4
 ,if he had somebody to help him2 but he
 hadn't4 ,there would be no time after  
he went to school before the class was  
called4  ,just then he thought of his   
father2 he used to be a carpenter before
 he was sick1 and he used to make a     
great many figures sometimes on smooth  
boards4 ,tip remembered it was just     
possible that he might know something   
about the sum4 ,suppose he should ask   
him8  ,he started up suddenly1 and went 
towards the bedroom door4  ,father1 he  
said softly1 can't you tell me what     
'stood him in' means8  ,the sick man    
turned himself on his pillow1 and looked
 wonderingly at ,tip4  ,what do you     
mean8 he asked at last4  ,why1 said     
,tip1 in a despairing tone1 it says     
'stood him in' in the arithmetic1--the  
sheep stood him in two dollars          
apiece1--and ,i don't see any sense to  

it4  ,oh6 said ,mr4 ,lewis2 ,i see what 
you mean2 then he went back to his      
long-ago deserted carpenter's shop4     
,why1 ,tip1 if ,i had ten pounds of     
nails1 and they were worth eight cents a
 pound1 they would stand me just so     
much1--that is1 they would be worth that
 to me2 and if ,i should sell them ,i'd 
get so much for them4 ,don't you see8   
,light began to dawn on ,tip's mind4    
,then it means1 he said1 that the man   
didn't sell his sixteen sheep2 he just  
counted them worth two dollars apiece4  
,yes1 ,i see2 if that's it1 ,i'll try   
it4 ,and he rushed to his work again4   
,and ,tip will never forget the         
eagerness with which he presently turned
 to the answer in his arithmetic1 and   
from that back to the one on the slate1 
nor the way in which the blood bounded  
through his veins when he found that    
they agreed perfectly4  ,it's exactly   
it1 he called out to his father1 in a   
hearty1 grateful voice4 ,i've got it1   
and ,i've been at work on it this whole 

morning4  ,ellis ,holbrook1 about that  
time1 conquered a most puzzling example 
in algebra2 but he felt not prouder than
 did ,tip4  ,thomas1 said ,mr4 ,burrows 
to the head boy in ,tip's arithmetic    
class1 you may take the twenty-third    
example to the board4  ,can't do it1    
answered ,thomas promptly4  ,henry may  
do it1 then4  ,i couldn't get it either1
 was ,henry's answer4 ,so on down the   
class2 ,tip's heart meantime beating    
eagerly1 for the twenty-third example   
was about his troublesome1 but by this  
time very much-beloved sheep4  ,robert8 
said ,mr4 ,burrows1 more for form's sake
 than because he had the slightest doubt
 about ,robert's reply4  ,my6 said ,bob 
,turner good-naturedly2 ,i can't do it4 
,tip sat next1 and something in his face
 made ,mr4 ,burrows put the question to 
him1 though he had nearly resolved to   
waste no more time in the matter4  ,can 
you do this1 ,edward8  ,yes1 sir1 said  
,tip promptly and proudly1 ,i can4  ,and
 no nobler figures or firmer lines did  

chalk ever make on a blackboard than was
 made while that troublesome example was
 being done4  ,he was roused from his   
flutter of satisfaction by hearing ,mr4 
,burrows' voice4  ,do you know anything 
about the lesson1 any of you8  ,i'm sure
 ,i don't1 answered ,bob1 still         
good-naturedly4  ,mr4 ,burrows was      
growing utterly out of patience2 this   
same scene had been acted too often to  
be endured longer4 ,he turned back to   
the first pages in the book4  ,very     
well1 he said at last2 you may take the 
first page in addition to-morrow        
morning1 and we'll see if you can be    
made to know anything about that4       
,tip's hopes fell2 his heart was as     
heavy as lead4 ,not one of the others   
cared2 they were used to it2 so indeed  
was he1 only now he was trying1 he did  
so long to go on2 just when he was      
working so hard1 to be put away back to 
the beginning again made him feel       
utterly disgraced4  ,wait a minute1     
,tip4 ,mr4 ,burrows' eye fell first on  

him1 then on the neatly and correctly   
worked example2 then he turned1 and     
asked1 ,charlie ,wilcox1 on what page is
 your arithmetic lesson for to-morrow8  
,we commence multiplication1 sir1       
answered ,charlie1 a bright little boy1 
who belonged to a bright class1 that did
 not idle over any pages in their work4 
,edward1 said ,mr4 ,burrows1 turning    
back to ,tip1 you have done well to-day4
 ,you mean to study1 after this1 ,i     
think2 ,i have been watching you for    
some time4 ,the third arithmetic class  
take the first page in multiplication   
for their next lesson to-morrow2 you may
 take your place in that class1 and     
remain there as long as you can keep up 
with it4  ,now ,tip was too much        
astonished to speak or move2 his wildest
 dreams had not taken in promotion1 at  
least not for a long1 long time4  ,bob  
,turner leaned over and looked at him in
 actual sober wonder1 that ,tip was to  
be in a higher class4  ,not a word did  
,tip say4 ,he did not even raise his    

eyes to his teacher's face2 and that    
teacher had not the least idea how the  
boy before him felt4 ,he did not know   
how ,tip's heart was throbbing1 nor how 
he was saying over and over to himself1 
,things are different2 they're surely   
different4 ,he did not know how those   
few words of his1 spoken that winter    
morning1 were going to help to make the 
boy a man4  ,it was that very morning1  
standing in that room before the        
blackboard1 with his toe on the third   
crack from the wall1 that ,tip resolved 
to have an education4     ,,chapter     
,,xiii4  ,the rich and poor meet        
together2 the ,lord is the ,maker of    
them all4   ,the boys gathered around   
the stove before school1 and talked4    
,the boys1--not all of them1 by any     
means4 ,only that small1 select number  
who were above1 and led all the rest4   
,tip wandered outside of the circle1    
feeling very forlorn2 he didn't belong  
anywhere these days4 ,bob and his       
friends had very nearly deserted him2   

there was scarcely any of their fun in  
which he had time or desire to join1 and
 the other cliques in school had never  
noticed him2 so he stood outside1 and   
wondered what he should do with himself4
 ,howard ,minturn wheeled suddenly away 
from the boys1 and called to him1--     
,tip1 see here4  ,and ,tip went there4  
,what do you want8 he asked crossly2 for
 some way he felt out of sorts with that
 company of finely-dressed boys around  
the stove4  ,want you to come over      
to-night4 ,it's my birthday1 you know1  
and some of the boys are coming to take 
tea1 and spend the evening4 ,can you    
come8  ,tip's wide-open eyes spoke his  
astonishment4 ,what do you want of me8  
he asked at last1 speaking boldly just  
what he thought4  ,why1 ,i want you to  
come and help have a nice time1 returned
 ,howard1 with great kindness1 but just 
a little condescension in his tone4     
,tip heard it1 and his bitterness showed
 itself a little4 ,it's a new streak    
you've got1 ain't it8 he said1 still    

speaking crossly4 ,you've had lots of   
birthdays1 and this is the first one    
,i've heard of4  ,oh1 well6 said ,howard
 proudly1 flushing as he spoke2 if you  
don't want to come1 why--  ,mr4         
,burrows' hand was laid on ,howard's    
arm4 ,don't spoil a good1 noble thing1  
my boy4 ,it is all new to ,edward2 urge 
him4  ,mr4 ,burrows spoke low1 so no one
 else could hear him1 and turned away4  
,at recess ,howard sought out ,tip4  ,i 
honestly hope you'll come to-night1     
,tip1 for you're a good fellow to play  
games with1 and the boys would all like 
to have you4  ,tip had quarrelled with  
his ill-humour1 and it had vanished4    
,i'll come1 he said1 in a cheery tone2  
only ,i'll look like a big rag-bag by   
the side of you fellows4  ,never mind1  
said ,howard1 turning to join the boys1 
you come4  ,why had ,howard ,minturn    
invited him to the grand birthday party8
 ,this was the question that puzzled    
,tip4 ,had he known the reason1 it would
 have been like this3 ,mr4 ,minturn had 

never quite lost sight of ,tip since the
 circus4 ,he wanted to help him1--wanted
 to do it through his son2 only he      
wanted the son to think that he did it  
himself4 ,knowing ,howard pretty well1  
he said1 when they were seated at       
breakfast that morning1--  ,i've just   
been reading about a real hero4  ,howard
 longed to be a hero2 he looked up      
eagerly4  ,who was he1 father8 ,what did
 he do8  ,he was a rich young man1 and  
he had the courage to take for his      
friend a poor fellow who hadn't two     
cents to his name4 ,to pay him1 the time
 came when he was proud to be noticed by
 the great man who was once so low4     
,this thought was still in ,howard's    
mind when he walked with ,ellis to      
school4 ,so1 when ,ellis said1 ,there   
goes ,tip ,lewis2 father thinks we boys 
ought to notice him2 he is trying real  
hard now-a-days to behave himself1 you  
know1 it was easy for ,howard to mingle 
,tip in with his thoughts4  ,ellis1 he  
said1 after a moment's silence1 suppose 

,i invite him to come to our house      
to-night8 ,he's a splendid good fellow  
to have a game2 never gets mad1 you     
know4  ,s'pose he'd come8 asked ,ellis4 
,yes1 of course2 jump at the chance4    
,i'll do it4 ,our boys will think it    
odd1 ,i suppose2 but ,i guess ,i have   
courage enough to do as ,i please4  ,and
 ,howard drew himself up proudly1 and   
thought of his father's hero4  ,so this 
was why ,tip was invited to the birthday
 gathering at the grand house on the    
hill4  ,mrs4 ,lewis sewed1 that         
afternoon1 on his jacket1 mending it up 
more neatly than ever before4 ,she had  
said very little about this invitation1 
but she couldn't help feeling proud and 
gratified over it4 ,it was certainly a  
wonderful jump for ,tip1 from mingling  
with the worst and lowest boys in town1 
to find himself taking a long stride1   
and reaching the very top4 ,so ,mrs4    
,lewis sewed1 and ,kitty1 as she sat    
watching the needle fly back and forth1 
spoke her thoughts3  ,all of the boys   

down to ,mr4 ,burrows' school wear white
 collars on their jackets4  ,well1      
answered her mother snappishly1 what's  
that to me8 ,s'posing they wear white   
cats on their jackets1 ,i could get him 
one just as easy as t'other4  ,it was a 
sore subject with ,mrs4 ,lewis4 ,from   
her very heart she wished she could     
dress ,tip in broadcloth to-day1 just as
 fine as that which ,howard ,minturn    
himself wore1 and a collar so white and 
shiny that it would fairly dazzle the   
eyes of the others to look upon it2 but1
 since she was so powerless to do what  
she would1 it made her cross4  ,the     
bedroom door was open1 and ,tip's father
 heard4 ,by and by1 when his cough was  
quieter1 he called1 ,kitty6 and the     
little girl went in to him4 ,is the     
jacket fixed1 ,kitty8  ,yes4  ,does it  
look nice8  ,some4  ,would you like to  
find a collar for ,tip to wear8  ,well  
enough1 said ,kitty wonderingly4  ,well1
 now1 ,i've got two or three that ,i    
don't wear any more1 and never shall1 ,i

 guess 7this last spoken sadly72 s'pose 
you take one of 'em--they're in that    
square box under the table--and see if  
you can't sew it on the jacket1 and make
 it look like what the other boys wear8 
,now1 you try what you can do1 just to  
see what ,tip will say4  ,kitty went    
slowly over to the box4 ,this was new   
work for her1 but her father was very   
pale to-day1 and those sadly-spoken     
words1 and never shall1 ,i guess1 had   
quieted her2 so she made no answer1 but 
drew out one of the collars4 ,it looked 
nice and white1 and shone1 too4 ,mrs4   
,lewis had done it up late one night1   
with tears in her eyes1 because she     
could not hope that it would be worn    
again4  ,what are you doing with that8  
she asked sharply1 as ,kitty appeared   
from the bedroom4  ,father wants ,tip to
 wear it1 answered ,kitty4  ,i'll lend  
it to him1 spoke the sick man2 we want  
him to look as decent as we can to-day1 
you know4  ,mrs4 ,lewis said no more1   
but it seemed to her like giving up one 

more hope of her husband's life4  ,tip  
came down from the garret1 with         
neatly-brushed hair1 and dressed in his 
clean shirt1 nicely mended jacket1 and  
the shiny collar4 ,it was wonderful what
 a difference that collar made2 he      
didn't look like the same boy4  ,kitty1 
he said1 his face all aglow with        
pleasure1 where did ,i get a collar8    
,it's father's2 he said wear it1        
answered ,kitty4  ,and how did it get on
 my jacket8  ,jumped on1 likely4  ,kitty
 spoke in a short1 half provoked tone2  
she was so unused to doing a kind thing1
 that she really felt half ashamed of   
it4  ,well1 said ,tip1 smiling all over 
his face1 if that's so1 it's the best   
jump it ever took1 and ,i thank it from 
the bottom of my heart4 ,then he carried
 his bright1 good-natured face out of   
the little house in the hollow1 and went
 towards the great house on the hill4   
,,chapter ,,xiv4  ,every idle word that 
men shall speak1 they shall give account
 thereof in the day of judgment4        

,howard ,minturn was a king among the   
schoolboys2 so1 though some of them     
nudged each other and laughed a little  
when ,tip swung open the iron gate and  
appeared in ,mr4 ,minturn's grounds1 the
 most of them1 seeing how quickly       
,howard sprang forward1 and how heartily
 he greeted the newcomer1 did the same4 
,howard was his father over again2 if he
 did a thing at all1 he did it well4    
,every moment of that afternoon was     
enjoyed as only boys know how to enjoy  
holidays3 the whole round of winter fun 
was gone through with1--coasting1       
snowballing1 building forts1 rolling in 
the snow1 each had their turn4  ,tip was
 not one whit behind the rest in all    
these matters1 and if ever boy enjoyed  
an afternoon1 he did that one4 ,the sun 
had set in its clear1 cold beauty1 and  
the sharp winter night was coming down2 
the boys stood at the foot of the hill  
waiting for ,ellis and his sled1 which  
were at the top2 they came at last1     
shooting down the glassy surface4       

,hurry up1 called out ,howard1 as he    
spun along4 ,what the mischief became of
 you8 ,we thought you had gone to hunt  
up ,sir ,john ,franklin and crew4       
,hurry down1 ,i should say you meant1   
answered ,ellis1 guiding his sled       
skilfully around the curve1 and         
springing to his feet4 ,i waited for the
 rest of you2 thought you were coming   
back4  ,no1 said ,howard1 we just ain't4
 ,we appointed a committee to find out  
how many were frozen up altogether      
entirely1 and found that every single   
one of us were2 so we're going in to the
 library fire to get thawed out by      
tea-time4  ,all right1 said ,ellis1     
shouldering his sled2 ,howard1 where's  
your skates8  ,oh1 bother6 they're at   
the top of that awful hill4 ,never mind2
 you walk on slowly1 and ,i'll run back 
and get them4  ,the boys obeyed1 and    
,ellis ,holbrook was just swinging open 
the little gate that led to ,mr4        
,minturn's grounds1 when ,howard called1
 as he ran down the hill1 ,hold on6     

,don't go that way1 it will lead you    
right through the deepest snow there is2
 take the big gate4 ,and by the time he 
reached them1 panting and breathless1   
they were at the big gate4  ,this is    
jolly1 said ,will ,bailey1 throwing     
himself into a great arm-chair before   
the glowing fire4 ,my6 ,i believe ,i'm a
 snowball4  ,you'd have been an icicle  
if you had gone the way ,ellis was      
leading you2 why1 the snow is so high1  
said ,howard1 raising his hand almost on
 a level with his head4  ,ellis laughed4
 ,i'm sure ,i thought ,i was going      
right1 he said4 ,i must have been       
thinking of yesterday's lesson in       
,sunday school1--',enter ye in at the   
strait gate4'  ,ho6 said ,will ,bailey2 
for that matter1 one gate is as straight
 as the other4  ,you don't understand   
the ,bible1 my boy1 said ,howard1 laying
 his hand on ,will's shoulder with a    
provoking little pat1 or you'd know that
 strait means narrow4  ,i'll bet a      
dollar that you were no wiser yourself  

until father explained the verse        
yesterday1 said ,ellis1 laughing4  ,tip1
 meantime1 stood apart flushed and      
silent2 he knew about the ,sunday       
lesson1 and remembered the solemn talk  
which ,mr4 ,holbrook gave them2 and     
remembered how he urged them1 while they
 were young1 to enter into that strait  
gate2 he felt shocked and troubled at   
the sound of ,ellis's careless words4   
,i know one thing1 he said abruptly4    
,do you8 said ,will ,bailey in a mocking
 tone4 ,that's very strange6 ,will felt 
above ,tip1 and took care to let him    
know it4  ,ellis turned a quick1        
indignant glance on him2 then spoke to  
,tip in a kind and interested tone3     
,what were you going to say1 ,tip4      
,that1 if ,i were the minister's son1 ,i
 wouldn't make fun of the ,bible4       
,ellis's face was crimson in an instant4
 ,what do you mean by that8 he asked    
haughtily4  ,just what ,i say1 was      
,tip's cool reply4  ,do you pretend to  
say that ,i make fun of the ,bible8     

,humph6 ,didn't ,i hear you8  ,no1 said 
,ellis1 in a heat1 you didn't6 and ,i'd 
thank you not to say so neither4  ,well1
 now1 said ,tip1 ,i'll leave it to any  
boy here if you didn't4 ,when a fellow  
takes a thing in the ,bible and twists  
it around1 and makes believe it means   
some little silly thing that it don't   
mean at all1 ,i call that making fun4   
,poh6 said ,howard1 coming to the rescue
 of his friend4 ,what a fuss you're     
making about nothing4 ,you're getting   
wise1 aren't you1 ,tip8 ,ellis was only 
saying that verse in fun1 just as lots  
of people do4 ,i've heard good men quote
 the ,bible and laugh over it4  ,can't  
help that1 said ,tip boldly2 ,i say it's
 wicked1 and ,ellis ,holbrook's father  
says so too4 ,i heard him tell ,will    
,bailey once that folks ought to be very
 careful how they said things that were 
in the ,bible4'  ,did he tell you to go 
around preaching for him through the    
week8 ,how much does he pay you for your
 services8 ,come1 let's hear4  ,this was

 said in ,will ,bailey's most           
disagreeable tone4 ,before ,tip had time
 to answer1 ,ellis spoke again4  ,well1 
,i don't pretend to be as good as some  
people are1 but ,i really can't see any 
awful wickedness in anything that ,i've 
said to-night4  ,neither can anybody    
else1 except ,tip1 said ,will1 and he's 
good1 you know2 he never does anything  
wrong1 except to tell lies and swear1 or
 some little matters4  ,ellis was an    
honest boy4 ,no1 he said gravely1 there 
is no use in saying what isn't true1 for
 the sake of helping my side along4 ,tip
 don't do either of those things        
now-a-days1 ,i believe2 but ,i'm sure ,i
 don't thank him for his good opinion of
 me4  ,howard was glad at this moment to
 hear the tea-bell peal through the     
house1 for the boys were growing cross4 
,most of them had been so astonished at 
the bold stand which ,tip had taken1    
that they said nothing1 only gathered   
round1 and waited to see what would come
 next4  ,howard sprang up4 ,there's     

something ,i1 for one1 am ready for4    
,come1 boys2 and he led the way to the  
dining-room4 ,oh1 that dining-room1 with
 its bright lights and splendid table1  
was such a wonderful sight to ,tip6 ,it 
was a very nice birthday supper1--plates
 of warm biscuit1 platters of cold      
chicken1 dishes of beautiful honey1     
silver cake-baskets1 filled with        
heavily-frosted cake4 ,tip1 for one1 had
 never seen such a sight in his life    
before1 and he was so bewildered with   
the dazzle and glitter that he didn't   
know which way to turn4  ,howard1 said  
,mrs4 ,minturn1 turning to her son1     
after she had welcomed his friends1 do  
you want your father to take the head of
 the table1 or would you and the boys   
prefer having the room to yourselves8   
,no1 ma'am1 answered ,howard1 with      
energy2 we want you and father both4 ,i 
guess ,i want you to my party1 whoever  
else ,i have4  ,tip watched the bright  
light on ,howard's face with surprise4  
,how much he seemed to love his mother1 

and how much she loved him6 how queer it
 was6 ,the supper was a great success2  
the boys forgot their excitement and    
ill-humour1 and enjoyed everything4  ,it
 was almost nine o'clock1 the hour when 
it was generally understood that the    
party was to break up4 ,the boys had    
been very merry all the evening2 the    
discussion which had taken place just   
before tea seemed to have been          
forgotten1 save by ,ellis1 who1 genial  
and hearty enough with the others1 was  
cold and haughty to ,tip4 ,still1 they  
kept apart1 and the fun had gone on     
famously4 ,there was a sudden lull in   
the uproar when ,mr4 ,minturn opened the
 door4  ,are the walls left8 he asked1  
coming forward4  ,the walls8 said ,ellis
 inquiringly2 why1 sir1 did you expect  
to miss them8  ,well1 ,i had some such  
fears1 but ,i see they're all right4    
,what are you up to8  ,ellis was telling
 a story1 that's what we were laughing  
at when you came in1 said ,howard4 ,go  
on1 ,el--never mind father1 he likes to 

hear stories4  ,no1 said ,ellis1        
blushing crimson2 ,i think ,i'll be     
excused4  ,go ahead1 said ,mr4 ,minturn2
 ,i'm very fond of stories4  ,i was only
 telling1 sir1 how ,joe ,barnes talked  
to his father when ,i was down there    
this morning4  ,yes1 and1 father1 you'd 
be perfectly astonished to hear him1    
chimed in ,howard4 ,i never heard a     
fellow go on so in my life2 he makes fun
 of every single thing his father says4 
,do you think there is anything very    
surprising in that8 asked ,mr4 ,minturn 
coolly4  ,surprising6 ,i guess you'd    
think so4 ,why1 when his father is      
talking to him real soberly1 he mimics  
him1 and laughs right in his face4  ,but
 ,i shouldn't suppose you would think   
there was anything strange about that4  
,the boys looked puzzled4 ,why1 ,mr4    
,minturn6 said ,ellis2 wouldn't you     
think it strange if ,howard should do   
so8  ,well1 no2 ,i don't know that ,i   
should have any reason to be astonished4
  ,howard looked not only surprised1 but

 very much hurt4 ,i'm sure1 father1 he  
said1 in a voice which trembled a       
little1 ,i didn't know ,i was so rude to
 you as all that4  ,no1 said ,mr4       
,minturn1 you never have been1 but ,i   
rather expect you to commence4 ,i shall 
have no reason to be surprised if you   
and ,ellis and ,will ,bailey1 and a host
 of others1 all go to making fun of what
 your fathers say to you after this4    
,the boys seemed perfectly astonished4  
,i1 for one1 said ,ellis ,holbrook      
proudly1 think too much of my father1 to
 be in any such danger4  ,you do8 said  
,mr4 ,minturn2 well1 now1 ,i am amazed4 
,i supposed you would be the very worst 
one4  ,howard left the table and came   
over to where his father had seated     
himself4  ,father1 what do you mean8 he 
asked1 in an earnest1 anxious tone4     
,why1 ,i mean1 said his father1 that ,i 
was in that room over there just before 
tea1 and ,i heard the discussion which  
came up between you boys1 and ,i came to
 the conclusion that boys who thought it

 such a little matter to make fun of    
solemn words which ,god has said to     
them1 need not be expected to show much 
respect for what their father or anybody
 else said4  ,a perfect stillness       
settled over the boys at these words1   
and not only ,ellis ,holbrook's cheeks1 
but his whole face glowed4  ,howard came
 to the rescue at last1 very            
stammeringly3 ,but1 father--,i don't    
think--do you think--,i mean--well1 sir1
 you know ,ellis and the rest of us     
didn't mean to make fun of what ,god    
said4 ,don't you think that makes a     
difference8  ,i don't know1 ,i'm sure4  
,how do you know that ,joe ,barnes means
 to make fun of what his father says8   
,he acts like it1 ,howard said4         
,exactly2 and so do you1 every one of   
you1 except ,tip4 ,i don't say1 boys1   
that you are all going to be            
disrespectful to your elders after this2
 ,i only say ,i don't see why your      
earthly friends should expect more      
reverence from you than you give to     

,god4  ,boys and man were all silent for
 a little after that1 until ,mr4        
,minturn broke the stillness by         
repeating reverently1 ',enter ye in at  
the strait gate4' ,i guess you all know 
what that means4 ,i would like to know  
whether there is a boy here who thinks  
he has entered in at that gate4  ,how   
still the room was while he waited for  
his answer6 ,tip could feel his heart   
throb--throb--with loud1 distinct beats2
 twice he tried to break the silence1   
and couldn't4 ,at last he found voice3  
,i do1 sir4  ,mr4 ,minturn turned       
quickly4 ,what makes you think so1 ,tip8
  ,because ,i love ,jesus1 and ,i'm     
trying to do what ,he says4  ,mr4       
,minturn's voice trembled a little3 ,god
 bless you1 my boy2 try to get all the  
rest to go through the same gate4  ,the 
town clock struck the hour1 nine        
o'clock4 ,the boys made a move to       
separate4 ,tip took his cap and walked  
out alone in the cold1 clear starlight4 
,he felt quiet and strong4 ,it was done 

at last3 he had taken his stand before  
the boys--had shown his colours4  ,they 
all knew now that he was trying hard1   
and who was helping him4 ,things must   
surely be different after this1 for     
ever4     ,,chapter ,,xv4  ,and all     
things1 whatsoever ye shall ask in      
player1 believing1 ye shall receive4    
,meantime1 was ,kitty forgotten8 ,not a 
bit of it4 ,if ever boy prayed for any  
one1 ,tip prayed for her4 ,his very soul
 was in it2 yet thus far his prayers    
seemed to have been in vain4 ,the       
lesson1 one ,sabbath morning1 was on    
,god's answers to prayer4 ,tip listened 
closely1 yet with an unsatisfied longing
 in his eyes4  ,mr4 ,holbrook1 he said1 
waiting after the rest had gone1 is     
there time for just one question8  ,yes1
 for two1 if you like1 said ,mr4        
,holbrook1 sitting down again2 what is  
it1 ,edward8  ,i want to know why ,god  
don't answer folks' prayers right away8 
,mr4 ,holbrook smiled4 ,if your         
questions are all as hard as that1      

,edward1 ,i don't think there will be   
time for another to-day4 ,but there may 
be several reasons3 we will try to find 
them4 ,sometimes ,god doesn't answer our
 prayers at once1 simply to try our     
faith1 to see whether we are willing to 
take ,him at ,his word1 and keep on     
asking1 until ,he is ready to give2 or  
whether we will grow tired in a little  
while1 and give it up4 ,and sometimes we
 spend all our strength in praying1 and 
don't work2 then1 often1 we don't       
believe we shall get what we are praying
 for4 ,do you understand me8  ,no1 sir1 
answered ,tip promptly4  ,well1 let me  
see if ,i can make it plainer4 ,for whom
 are you praying1 ,edward1 that you are 
troubled this morning1 because you have 
not been heard8  ,for ,kitty2 ,i have   
been1 this long time4 ,kitty's my       
sister1 and ,i want her to love ,jesus2 
but it don't seem to do any good for me 
to pray for her4  ,it is possible that  
,god may be trying your patience1 but   
not probable2 ,i think we can find a    

better reason4 ,do you work while you   
pray8 ,i mean1 do you talk with         
,kitty1--tell her what you are praying  
for1--urge her to come to ,christ1--try 
to show her how8  ,tip looked grave4 ,i 
did talk a little to her once1 but it   
didn't seem to do her any good1 and ,i  
haven't said a word since4  ,did you    
ever read in the ,bible what is said    
about such praying1 about saying1       
',depart in peace1 be ye warmed and     
filled1' and not doing anything8  ,tip  
shook his head1 and ,mr4 ,holbrook held 
out his hand for the little ,bible4     
,let me find it for you1 and when you go
 home you may read it1 and see if you1  
in praying for ,kitty and never saying a
 word to her1 are not a little like that
 man4 ,then there's another thing4 ,do  
you really believe that ,god will do    
what you ask ,him8 ,you say every day in
 your prayer1 ',o ,god1 make ,kitty a   
,christian2' and yet1 wouldn't you be   
very much astonished if ,kitty should   
come to you to-day1 and say1 ',i want to

 be a ,christian6' ,are you looking out 
for any such thing8  ,tip generally     
spoke his honest thoughts4  ,no1 he said
 gravely1 ,i ain't4  ,the church bell   
began to ring1 and ,mr4 ,holbrook arose4
 ,i think1 if you begin to work and pray
 together1 and then ask ,god to help you
 to believe1 that ,he will surely do as 
,he has promised2 that you will soon    
find your prayers answered4  ,this he   
said while gathering up his books and   
papers ready to start1 and then1--      
,edward1 why don't you come to our      
,thursday evening prayer-meetings8      
,tip's eyes were full of astonishment4  
,i never once thought of it1 he said4   
,why1 ,mr4 ,holbrook1 boys don't go1 do 
they8  ,no1 said the minister sadly1    
they don't2 because ,i don't know of    
another boy of your age in this whole   
town who loves the ,saviour4 ,only think
 what a work there is for you to do6    
,tip went home with his brain full of   
new thoughts4 ,no1 he didn't go home2 he
 only went as far as the elm-tree1 and  

there he sat down and read what ,mr4    
,holbrook had marked in his ,bible4     
,yes1 that was just the way in which he 
had been praying for ,kitty2 and it was 
certainly true1 as ,mr4 ,holbrook had   
said1 nothing could surprise him more   
than that ,kitty should really and truly
 come to ,jesus4  ,before he went from  
under the tree that day1 he prayed this 
prayer3 ,o ,god1 teach me to believe    
that you will make ,kitty love ,jesus1  
and show me how to help her4  ,after    
this1 of course he looked out for his   
chances in which to work1 and of course 
he found them1--found one that very day4
 ,after dinner ,kitty wandered off by   
herself4 ,tip watched her1 and she took 
the road leading to the cemetery4 ,god  
put it into his heart to hurry after    
her2 so1 when he came up to her1 where  
she sat1 on a large stone which she had 
rolled very near to ,johnny's grave1 his
 heart was beating at the thought of the
 great work which he had to do4  ,what  
did you come for8 said ,kitty1 looking  

up4  ,tip hesitated a minute1 then told 
the plain truth4  ,i came after you4  ,i
 suppose ,i know that3 you didn't come  
before me4  ,i mean ,i came to see you4 
,well1 look at me1 then1 and go off2 ,i 
don't want you here4  ,clearly1 whatever
 was to be said must be said quickly1   
and ,tip's heart was very full of its   
message1 so his voice was tender3  ,oh1 
,kitty1 ,i came to ask you if you       
wouldn't be a ,christian4 ,i do want it 
so1 it seems as if ,i couldn't wait4    
,kitty looked steadily and gravely at   
her brother4 ,what do you mean by 'be a 
,christian8' she asked at last4  ,i mean
 love ,jesus1 and do as ,he says4       
,what'll ,i love ,him for8  ',cause you 
can't help it1 when you find out how    
much ,he loves you1 and all the things  
,he does for you4  ,what does ,he say   
do8  ,he says be good2 try to do right  
things all the time4  ,kitty's eyes     
flashed4 ,now1 ain't you mean1 she said 
angrily1 to come and tell me such       
things1 when you know ,i ain't good1 and

 can't be good8 ,isn't mother ugly and  
cross and scolding to me all the time8  
and don't ,i have to work and work1     
always1 and never have anything8 ,and   
,i'm cross and get mad1 and ,i will1    
too4 ,i can't help it4  ,oh1 but1       
,kitty1 ,tip interrupted eagerly1 you   
don't know about it6 ,he helps you1     
,jesus does4 ,when anything is the      
matter1 when you feel cross and bad1 you
 just go and kneel down and tell ,him   
all about it1 and ,he helps you every   
time4 ,and up in heaven1 where you can  
go when you die1 nobody ever gets cross 
and scolds4 ,and it's beautiful there3  
they sing1 and have fountains1 and wear 
gold crowns2 and--and ,johnny is there1 
you know2 and ,i'm going1 and ,i do want
 you to come along4  ,kitty's face had  
been growing graver and graver with     
every word her brother spoke1 and when  
at last he stopped1 with his eyes turned
 towards ,johnny's little grave1        
,kitty's shawl was crumpled up in her   
two hands and held tightly to her face2 

and she was crying1 not softly and      
quietly1 but rocking herself back and   
forth1 and giving way to great sobs     
which shook her little form4  ,tip      
looked distressed2 he didn't know what  
to say next2 he stooped down to her at  
last1 and spoke softly3 ,oh1 ,kitty1    
,i'm sorry for you6 if you only would   
love ,jesus1 it would make you happy4   
,i want to--,i want to6 sobbed ,kitty2  
,i would if ,i knew how4  ,tip's heart  
gave a bound of joy--a surprised bound1 
too2 he had not expected it so soon4    
,it's easy1 ,kitty1 it is1 truly1 if you
 only just ask ,god to do it4 ,you see  
,he can hear every word you say2 ,he    
hears you now1 but ,he wants you to ask 
,him about it4 ,say1 ,kitty1 ,i'll go   
off and leave you1--,i'll go where ,i   
can't see nor hear you1--then you kneel 
down and tell ,jesus about it1 and      
,he'll help you4  ,stop6 said ,kitty1 as
 ,tip was turning away2 wait6 ,i don't  
know what to say4  ,why1 just tell ,him1
 just as you did me1 and ask ,him to    

help you4 ,you see1 ,kitty1 you can't do
 a thing without that2 ,he's got to look
 after you every single minute1 or it's 
nothing at all4  ,tip went away1 and    
,kitty was left alone1--alone in the    
spot where her brother had first found  
the ,saviour4 ,she felt very strangely2 
she had been left there alone to offer  
her first prayer4  ,kitty had never been
 taught to kneel down by her bedside    
every evening1 and repeat ,our ,father2 
it was all new and strange to her4 ,she 
sat still a long time1 with the sober   
look deepening on her face4 ,at last she
 got down on her knees and rested her   
little hard hands on the hard snow which
 covered ,johnny's bed1 and she said1   
,jesus1 ,i want to be what ,tip says4 ,i
 want to love you if you'll let me4     
,nobody loves me1 ,i guess4 ,tip says   
you'll help me all the time4 ,if you    
will1 ,i'll try4  ,after she had said   
this1 slowly and thoughtfully1 stopping 
long between each sentence1 she didn't  
feel like rising up2 she wanted to say  

more1 so she repeated it1 adding1 ,tip  
says ,i must be good4 ,i can't be good1 
but ,i'll try4  ,over and over was the  
simple1 earnest prayer repeated4  ,tip  
did not go back to ,johnny's grave2 he  
took a side road down through the edge  
of the grove1 and so went home2 and when
 he reached home1 he went up to his     
attic room1 and knelt down and prayed   
for ,kitty as only those can pray who   
have been working as well as asking for 
what they want4  ,kitty was stirring the
 pudding for supper when he saw her     
again1--stirring away hard at the heavy 
mass1 which grew thicker and harder to  
stir every moment4 ,he went over to her4
  ,kitty1 let me do this2 and she gave  
up the pudding-stick4 ,tip stirred away4
  ,by and by she leaned over the kettle 
to put in some salt1 and as she         
sprinkled it around she caught his      
eager1 longing look4 ,she nodded her    
head4 ,i guess ,he heard1 she said      
softly4  ,i know ,he did1 ,tip answered1
 his eyes very blight2 in his heart he  

sang ,glory6 ,and the angels in heaven  
sang for joy2 for that night there had  
been laid aside a white robe and a crown
 of gold for ,kitty ,lewis4             
,,chapter ,,xvi4  ,whosoever therefore  
shall confess ,me before men1 him will  
,i confess also before ,my ,father which
 is in heaven4   ,tip was very undecided
 what to do4 ,he went out on the steps  
and looked about him in the moonlight2  
then he came in and took a long look out
 of the window4 ,at last the question1  
whatever it was1 seemed to be settled4  
,he turned with a resolute air to ,kitty
 who was washing the tea-dishes4        
,kitty1 don't you want to go to         
prayer-meeting up at the church8  ,kitty
 dropped her cup back into the dish-pan 
and stood looking at him1 a good deal   
surprised4 ,at last she said1--  ,i'd   
like to1 ,tip1 but ,i don't look decent 
to go anywhere4 ,i've only this dress   
and my old hood4  ,i wouldn't mind that1
 said ,tip4 ,i've only this awful old   
jacket either1 but ,i mean to go4 ,hurry

 up the dishes1 and let's go4  ,well1   
said ,kitty at last1 ,i will2 but what  
will mother say8  ,i'll fix that4 ,and  
,tip stepped softly into the bedroom4   
,are you better to-night1 father8  ,not 
much better1 ,i guess4 ,how's arithmetic
 to-day8  ,first-rate2 ,mr4 ,burrows    
said ,i was getting ahead fast4 ,mother1
 may ,kitty go out with me to-night8    
,i'm going up to the church to          
prayer-meeting4  ,mrs4 ,lewis turned    
from the basket where she had been      
hunting long1 and as yet in vain1 for a 
piece of flannel1 and bent a searching  
bewildered look on her son4  ,i don't   
care1 she said at last2 she can go if   
she likes2 but ,i doubt if she will4    
,she did1 however2 in ten minutes more  
the two were walking along the snowy    
path4 ,kitty was sober4 ,tip1 she said  
presently1 don't you never get real     
awful mad1 so mad that you feel as if   
you'd choke if you couldn't speak right 
out at somebody8  ,well1 no1 said ,tip1 
not often4 ,yes1 ,i do too2 ,i get mad  

at ,bob ,turner sometimes1 mad enough to
 pitch him into a snow-bank2 but it     
don't last long4  ,well1 mine does1 said
 ,kitty4 ,i begin in the morning2       
something makes me cross1 and ,i keep on
 getting crosser and crosser every      
minute1 till it seems as if ,i should   
fly4 ,do you suppose ,i'll always do    
just so8  ,no1 answered ,tip positively1
 ,i don't4 ,you keep on trying a little 
bit harder every day1 and by and by     
you'll find that you don't get cross    
more than half as easy as you used to4  
,i know it will be so1 because ,i've    
tried it in other things3 when ,i first 
began to behave myself in school1 it was
 the hardest work--my6 ,you can think   
how ,i wanted to whisper1 and things    
kept happening all the time to make me  
laugh1 but ,i just kept trying1 and now 
,i hardly ever think of whispering4     
,kitty1 does mother know8  ,no1 said    
,kitty1 she don't4  ,if ,i were you1    
,i'd tell her4  ,oh1 ,tip1 ,i can't6    
,she never looks at me without scolding 

me2 ,i can't talk to her about this4    
,yes1 you can2 ,i'd surely do it if ,i  
were you4 ,it will be a great deal      
easier to try hard if mother knows you  
are trying4  ,they were almost at the   
church door4  ,kitty1 said ,tip         
suddenly1 let's pray for father         
to-night4 ,i've been praying for him    
this long time2 you help me4  ,step by  
step1 ,god was leading ,tip ,lewis in   
the narrow way4 ,no sooner was he seated
 in the bright1 warm little room1 and   
had listened to ,mr4 ,holbrook's earnest
 prayer1 that every ,christian there    
might do something for ,christ that     
night1 than the struggle began3 what    
ought he to do for ,christ8 ,people all 
around him were1 one after another1     
offering prayer or saying a few words4  
,ought he to8 ,could he8 ,oh1 he        
couldn't6 ,who would want to listen to  
him8 ,it wouldn't do any good4 ,there   
was ,mr4 ,burrows right in front of him2
 he would be ashamed of him1 perhaps4   
,yes1 but then1 ought he not to own his 

,saviour8 ,mr4 ,holbrook had spoken of  
the verse1 ,whosoever will deny me      
before men1 and had made the meaning    
very plain4 ,mr4 ,minturn had just      
prayed that no one there might be       
ashamed of ,christ4 ,the end of it all  
was1 that ,tip slipped off his seat down
 on his knees1 and said1 ,our ,father   
which art in heaven1 hallowed be ,thy   
name4 ,show me how to pray4 ,i don't    
want to deny ,christ4 ,i want to love   
,him4 ,i want the boys in our school1   
and my father1 and everybody to love    
,him4 ,i'll try to work for ,jesus4     
,i'll try to work for ,him4 ,help me    
every day1 and forgive my sins for      
,jesus' sake4 ,amen4  ,tip had never    
felt so near to ,god as he did when he  
arose from his knees4 ,mr4 ,holbrook's  
voice trembled with feeling1 when1 soon 
after1 he prayed for the young disciple 
who had early taken up his cross4  ,at  
the close of the meeting1 the minister  
pressed his way through the little      
company of people who were waiting to   

speak with him4  ,good evening1 all1 he 
said hurriedly4 ,excuse me to-night1    
brother1 to ,mr4 ,minturn1 who would    
have stopped him any way2 ,i want to    
speak to some people before they get    
away from me2 and those who watched1 saw
 him hurry on until he overtook ,tip    
,lewis and his sister4  ,good evening1  
,edward4 ,this is ,kitty1 ,i think4 ,how
 do you do1 my little girl8 ,edward1 do 
you know such a ,bible verse as this3   
',i love the ,lord1 because ,he has     
heard my voice and my supplication'8    
,no1 sir1 answered ,tip eagerly2 is     
there such a verse8  ,yes1 somewhere in 
the ,psalms you will find it4 ,i don't  
remember just where4 ,can you feel the  
truth of it when you think of your      
sister8  ,yes1 sir1 ,i can4 ,god did    
hear me4  ,and you think you love ,jesus
 to-night1 ,kitty8  ,kitty felt a great 
awe for the minister1 and her ,yes1 sir1
 was low1 and spoken in a timid voice4  
,what makes you think so8  ,i--,i don't 
know2 only ,i pray1 and ,he hears me1   

and ,i like to4  ,well1 now1 ,kitty1    
almost the first thing which people     
think of after they have found ,jesus1  
is something to do for ,him2 they begin 
to look around to see what they can     
find4 ,what are you going to do8  ,i    
don't know1 sir2 ,i haven't got anything
 ,i can do4  ,ah1 that's a mistake6 you 
can find plenty of work if you look for 
it2 only don't look too far1 because it 
is the little bits of things which come 
right in your way that ,jesus wants you 
to do4 ,when you brush up the room1 and 
set the table neatly1 and brighten the  
fire1 and do little thoughtful things   
that help your mother1 then you are     
pleasing ,jesus1 doing work for ,him4   
,isn't it pleasant to think that in all 
those little things ,he is watching over
 you1 and that you make ,him glad when  
you do them well8 ,do you know that one 
of ,god's commands is1 ',honour thy     
father and thy mother'8  ,no1 said      
,kitty softly4  ,it is2 those are the   
very words2 ,edward can find them for   

you in the ,bible2 and honour means more
 than obey2 it means1 try to please them
 in the very smallest things4  ,they    
were very near the corner where ,mr4    
,holbrook must leave them4 ,he laid his 
hand gently on ,tip's shoulder1 as he   
said1 ,speaking of ,bible verses1       
,edward1 ,i have one for you this       
evening1 in the ,saviour's own words3   
',whosoever shall confess ,me before    
men1 him will ,i also confess before ,my
 ,father which is in heaven4'           
,good-night4  ,tip understood him1 and  
there was a bright look in his eyes4    
,the two walked on in silence for a     
little4 ,presently ,kitty said1 ,i guess
 ,mr4 ,holbrook don't know just how     
mother is1 or he wouldn't talk so4      
,yes1 but1 said ,tip quickly1 ,god knew 
all about it always1 you know2 and yet  
,he said that verse4  ,so ,he did1      
answered ,kitty gravely4     ,,chapter  
,,xvii4  ,behold how great a matter a   
little fire kindleth4   ,bah1 said ,will
 ,bailey1 you're fooling1 ,howard       

,minturn6  ,as true as ,i live1 ,i'm    
not1 answered ,howard earnestly2 you can
 ask ,mr4 ,burrows4  ,what's up8        
inquired ,ellis ,holbrook1 joining the  
two4  ,why1 ,howard is telling the      
biggest yarn you ever heard3 he says    
,tip ,lewis went to prayer-meeting last 
night and made a prayer4  ,tip ,lewis6  
and ,ellis ,holbrook's voice was full1  
not only of surprise1 but scorn2 ,i     
should like to hear him4  ,well1 it's   
true1 repeated ,howard4 ,my father told 
us about it this morning1 and he said it
 was a good prayer too2 he said1 ,ellis1
 that your father couldn't keep the     
tears out of his eyes when he heard him2
 and ,mr4 ,burrows walked up town with  
father1 and told him that ,tip had      
changed wonderfully1 that he was one of 
the best boys in school4  ,well1 said   
,will ,bailey1 if ,tip ,lewis has turned
 saint1 ,i'll give up4 ,why1 he's the   
meanest scamp in town2 my father says   
he's had enough for anything4  ,oh1 well
 now1 answered ,ellis1 there's no use in

 being stupid enough not to see that    
what ,mr4 ,burrows says is true4 ,i     
never saw any one change as he has in my
 life1 but ,i'll be hanged if ,i like   
him as well as ,i did before he was so  
awful good2 he's too nice for anything  
now-a-days4  ,especially when he trips  
you1 the minister's son1 up1 about      
twisting the ,bible4  ,ellis's face     
glowed1 but he was an honest boy4 ,he   
was right enough about that1 he said    
promptly2 my father says it's wrong4    
,but1 if it will do you any good to know
 it1 ,i haven't liked ,tip so well      
since4  ,say1 ,tip1 said ,will ,bailey1 
hailing him at recess1 come here and    
give an account of yourself4 ,they say  
you turned parson last night2 did you8  
,no1 said ,tip1 with the greatest good  
humour1 ,i didn't4  ,didn't you speak in
 meeting8  ,a quiet gravity spread      
itself over ,tip's face4 ,i prayed in   
meeting1 he answered soberly4  ,oh1     
well1 what did you pray for8 ,come1     
let's know4  ,i prayed for you4 ,tip    

spoke with quiet dignity4  ,humph6 ,now1
 that's clever1 certainly4 ,much        
obliged4  ,and ,will said no more4      
,certainly the boys had never talked so 
much about any prayer-meeting in their  
lives as they did about this one4 ,so   
that was the way it commenced2 such a   
little fire kindled it4 ,tip didn't know
 it2 he never found it out2 probably he 
never will1 until he takes his crown in 
heaven4 ,from the humble little prayer  
which ,tip had offered sprang the first 
buddings of the great revival which ,god
 sent down to them4  ,say1 said ,howard 
,minturn to ,ellis on the next ,thursday
 evening1 let's go over to              
prayer-meeting to-night4 ,i really am   
dreadfully anxious to hear ,tip speak4  
,no1 answered ,ellis1 speaking hastily1 
more hastily than he often did to       
,howard4 ,i'm sure ,i don't care in the 
least to hear him1 and ,i have enough to
 do without going there4  ,howard was   
determined to go1 and to find company4  
,will1 let's go to meeting to-night1 he 

said1 the next time he came across ,will
 ,bailey4  ,will looked at him in       
amazement4 ,what for8  ,to hear ,tip4   
,oh6 said ,will2 good6 ,i'll go4 ,let's 
get a lot of the boys and go over2 just 
to encourage him1 you know4  ,and they  
went4 ,tip and ,kitty were there again2 
and again1 with ,tip1 the struggle had  
to be gone through2 his coward spirit   
whispered to him that the boys would    
only make fun of him if he said a word1 
and it would do more harm than good4    
,his conscience answered1 ,whosoever    
will deny ,me on earth1 him will ,i also
 deny before ,my ,father which is in    
heaven4 ,the solemn words conquered1 and
 again ,tip knelt down and prayed4  ,my6
 said ,mr4 ,minturn1 talking with his   
wife after they reached home2 when ,i   
thought of the bringing up which that   
boy has had1--no bringing up about it1  
he has just come up1 the easiest way he 
could1--but when ,i heard him pray      
to-night1 and then thought of our boy1  
who has been prayed for and watched over

 every day since he was born1 ,i declare
 ,i felt as though ,i would give all    
,i'm worth to have ,howard stand where  
,tip ,lewis does now4  ,howard heard    
this1 as he waited in the sitting-room  
for his father and mother2 heard it in  
great amazement1 and at first it made   
him indignant4 ,the idea of comparing   
him with ,tip ,lewis6 ,then it made him 
sorrowful3 his father's tones were so   
sad2 after all that had been done for   
him1 it was hard that he should         
disappoint his parents4  ,he listened to
 his father's prayer that night very    
closely1 and its earnestness brought the
 tears to his eyes4 ,altogether1 ,howard
 went to school the next morning with a 
somewhat sober face1 and took no part   
whatever in the boys' fun over the      
meeting4  ,mr4 ,burrows' heart had been 
warmed by the voice of prayer from one  
of his scholars1 and he began to pray   
and long for others of them to work     
also2 and the great ,god1 who knows the 
beginning and the end1 led his first    

words of anxiety to ,howard ,minturn4   
,they stood at the desk1 teacher and    
scholar1 ,howard bending over his slate4
  ,can't you get it8 ,mr4 ,burrows      
asked1  ,no1 sir4  ,howard1 are you     
working with all your thoughts to-day8  
,no1 sir4 ,and a bright flush mounted to
 his forehead4  ,what is it1 ,howard8   
,i don't know1 sir2 not much of         
anything1 ,i guess4  ,are you not quite 
satisfied with yourself to-day8         
,satisfied6 ,i--why--,i don't know what 
you mean1 sir2 ,i have tried to do the  
best ,i could1 ,i believe4  ,do you     
really think so1 ,howard8  ,yes1 sir4   
,did you think so last evening1 in the  
prayer-meeting8 ,can a boy1 who is as   
well taught as you have been1 feel that 
he is doing as well as he can1 when he  
knows that he is every day cheating     
,god8  ,howard's face fairly burned4  ,i
 don't understand you1 sir4  ,don't you8
 and ,mr4 ,burrows' voice was very kind4
 ,i wish that ,god's own ,spirit might  
help you to understand it4 ,didn't your 

father and mother promise ,god1 when you
 were born1 to try to train you up for  
,him1 because you belonged to ,him1 and 
they knew it8 ,now1 haven't they done   
their duty8 is it their fault that you  
are not a ,christian8  ,no1 sir4  ,then 
it comes back to you4 ,you belong to    
,god1 body and soul3 ,he made you2 ,he  
has kept you2 ,he would save you1 only  
you will not let ,him4 ,you can't help  
the fact that you belong to ,him2 all   
you can do is to refuse to give ,him    
your love1 and let ,him lead you to     
heaven1 and this you are doing4 ,is it  
right8  ,howard was growing haughty4  ,i
 don't feel the need of any such things1
 ,mr4 ,burrows1 he answered coldly4     
,suppose you don't1 does that help the  
matter any8 ,does it change the fact    
that you belong to ,god2 that you are   
cheating ,him out of ,his own property8 
,the question ,i ask is1 ,are you doing 
right8  ,howard stood1 with eyes fixed  
on his slate1 saying nothing4  ,won't   
you answer me1 ,howard8 ,mr4 ,burrows   

asked gently2 is it right8  ,and1 after 
a long1 long silence1 the boy's honest1 
earnest eyes were raised to his         
teacher's face1 and he spoke steadily3  
,no1 sir4  ,are you willing to go on    
doing wrong8  ,no1 sir4  ,will you turn 
now1 ,howard1 and start right8  ,now    
came another long silence4 ,howard      
,minturn1 the honest1 faithful boy1     
always getting a little nearer right    
than any of the others1 had been        
condemned by his own words1 and knew not
 what to say4 ,at last he spoke3  ,i    
can't promise1 ,mr4 ,burrows4  ,howard6 
such an answer from you1 to whom ,i have
 only needed to point out what was      
right1 in order to have it done6  ,but  
,i can't trust myself1 sir2 ,i shall not
 feel to-morrow as ,i do now4  ,that is1
 you feel like doing your duty today1   
but you expect1 if you wait until       
to-morrow1 that you will feel less like 
it2 so you mean to wait4 ,is that right8
  ,the silence was much longer this     
time1--so long1 that the boys began to  

look curiously at the two figures over  
by the desk1 and wonder why the bell was
 not rung4 ,but at last he raised those 
clear1 truthful eyes once more3  ,mr4   
,burrows1 ,i'll try4  ,and the next     
,thursday evening1 when in the house of 
prayer it was very still1 because ,mr4  
,holbrook had just said1 ,is there not  
one here to-night who wants us to pray  
for him1 and if there is1 will he not   
let us know it now8 suddenly there was a
 row of astonished faces in the seat    
where the schoolboys were sitting1      
because from among them arose ,howard   
,minturn1 and his face was pale and     
grave1 and his voice was steady2 they   
all heard his words3  ,i want to be a   
,christian3 will you pray for me8  ,oh1 
wouldn't they6 ,was there ever such     
another prayer as that which ,mr4       
,minturn offered for his son8 ,did any  
one who heard it wonder that such prayer
 was answered1 and that in the next     
meeting1 ,howard1 speaking with a little
 ring of joy in his voice1 said1 ,i love

 ,jesus to-night4 ,i want every one to  
love ,him4 ,i am very happy8  ,from this
 the work went on4 ,the little          
lecture-room grew full and overflowed1  
and the crowd now filled the church2 and
 every night ,some new voice was heard1 
asking for prayer4  ,will ,bailey seemed
 filled with the spirit of torment2     
teased the boys unmercifully2 went to   
the meeting every evening1 and made fun 
of it all day3 but the boys were praying
 for him1 and ,god's pitying eye was on 
him4  ,one evening there were two who   
arose to ask the prayers of ,christians3
 one was ,will ,bailey1 the most        
hopeless1 so the boys thought1 of all   
the boys in town2 the other was ,will   
,bailey's grey-haired father1 the most  
hopeless1 so the good men feared1 of all
 the strong1 self-satisfied men in town4
  ,yet there were two for whom daily    
earnest prayer was offered1 who1 in this
 blessed time1 held themselves          
aloof1--two boys so far separated1 that 
it seems strange and sad that their     

names should be coupled just here4 ,bob 
,turner and ,ellis ,holbrook1 the lowest
 and the highest2 the worst boy in      
school and the best6 ,yet they were     
united in this one thing1 that they     
would have nothing to do with ,christ4  
,tip had prayed for both1 worked for    
both2 but this was his success one      
afternoon4  ,say1 ,bob1 won't you go to 
meeting to-night1 just to please me8    
,couldn't1 ,tip1 no way in the world4   
,i'd do most anything to please you1    
too1 for the sake of old times when we  
used to steal apples together2 but ,i've
 promised to go with ,nick ,hunt        
tonight1 and tie old ,barlow's cat fast 
to his frontdoor knob1 and that's got to
 be done while the old man is at        
meeting1 you know4 ',tain't no matter1  
either1 about my going2 you just do the 
praying for you and me too2 then it will
 be all right4  ,tip turned away with a 
sigh and a shudder4 ,could it be        
possible that that boy had ever been his
 only companion8 ,ellis was round by the

 ball-ground1 and he went thither4      
,ellis1 won't you go down to-night with 
the boys8 it's almost the last meeting1 
you know4  ,ellis wheeled around1 and   
spoke in his coldest tone3  ,tip ,lewis1
 you seem to take a wonderful interest  
in me1 and ,i'm sure ,i'm much obliged  
to you2 but ,i'll be a great deal more  
so if you'll attend to your own affairs 
after this1 and let mine alone4  ,poor  
,tip6 how discouraged he felt6 ,yet that
 very evening1 going home from school1  
he met ,mr4 ,holbrook2 the minister     
turned and walked up town with him4     
,edward1 he said1 are you praying for my
 boy8  ,yes1 sir4  ,will you never stop 
praying for him while you live1 until he
 comes to ,christ8  ,i never will1 sir1 
answered ,tip1 with energy4             
,,chapter ,,xviii4  ,thy father and thy 
mother shall be glad1 and she that bore 
thee shall rejoice4   ,how did ,mr4     
,holbrook know so well what ,kitty      
needed to help her8 ,his words had given
 her such new thoughts2 some way it was 

all new to her1 the idea that she had   
any duty to perform towards her mother4 
,she stood thinking of it that bright   
winter day1--stood before the little    
fire1 and wondered how it was that she  
ought to commence4 ,she was to be alone 
all day4 ,mrs4 ,stebbens1 their next    
neighbour1 had fallen down and sprained 
her ankle1 and sent to know if ,mrs4    
,lewis could do her promised day's work 
in the village4 ,kitty was left in      
charge of the house and her sick father4
 ,she looked around the room3 what an   
ugly1 dreary little room it was6--dust1 
dirt1 and cobwebs everywhere2 her hood  
and shawl lying in one corner2 her      
mother's apron on the floor in the      
middle of the room2 the breakfast dishes
 not yet washed2 the stove all spattered
 with grease from the pork gravy2 the   
hearth thickly covered with ashes2 the  
paper window-curtain hanging by one     
tack2 and on the mantelpiece1 behind the
 stove1 such an array of half-eaten     
apples1 matches1 forks1 sticky spoons1  

broken teacups1 and dirty candlesticks1 
as would have frightened any one less   
used to it than was ,kitty4 ,as she     
looked around her1 a forlorn smile came 
over her face1 for she thought of ,mr4  
,holbrook's words3 ,when you brush up   
the floor1 or brighten the fire to      
please your mother--  ,he don't know1   
she said to herself1 that mother don't  
care for sweeping and such things2 he   
don't know how we live4 ,i wonder if    
mother would notice now if things were  
different4 ,what if we did live like    
other folks1--had nice tilings1 and kept
 them put up1 and the room swept4       
,suppose ,i try it4 ,what could ,i do8  
,i might sweep and wash off the stove1  
and--and clean off the mantelpiece4     
,i'll just do it1 and see if anybody in 
this house will care4  ,no sooner       
thought than commenced4 ,kitty went to  
work4 ,the dishes were washed until they
 shone2 those clean dishes shouldn't go 
in such a disorderly cupboard4 ,there   
was no help for it1 the shelves must be 

washed2 down came the bottles and       
bundles1 papers of this and boxes of    
that1 which had been gathering1 ,kitty  
didn't know how long1 and the astonished
 shelves felt soap and water once more4 
,how they were scrubbed6  ,kitty1 called
 her father from his bedroom1 hearing   
the racket1 what are you doing8  ,i'm   
cleaning house1 answered ,kitty         
promptly4  ,and her father1 because he  
did not know what else to do1 let her   
work4 ,from the cupboard she went to the
 mantelpiece1 bundled the things all off
 in a heap1 washed it thoroughly1 and   
put everything in order4 ,what a day it 
was to ,kitty6 ,one improvement led to  
another1 and as things began to grow    
clean in her hands1 she grew wonderfully
 interested1 and only stopped at noon to
 warm her father's gruel4  ,it was      
,saturday1 and ,tip had gone to pile    
wood for ,mr4 ,bailey4 ,he was to get   
his dinner and a grammar for his pay4   
,he had wanted a grammar all winter1 so 
he worked with a will2 and ,kitty saw   

neither him nor her mother through all  
the busy day4 ,the early sun had set    
long before4 ,kitty thought he certainly
 would not know that room the next      
morning1 it was all so changed4 ,the    
paper curtain was mended and tacked up  
in its place2 the old lounge cover was  
mended and fastened on smoothly2 the    
mantelpiece shone and glowed in the     
firelight2 the two shiny candlesticks1  
and beside them the little box of       
matches1 were all that remained there of
 the rubbish of the morning2 the floor  
was just as smooth and clean as soap and
 ashes1 with plenty of hot water and an 
old broom1 could make it2 hoods and     
shawls and aprons and old shoes had all 
disappeared1--nothing was lying around3 
the table was drawn out1 the clean1     
smooth plates arranged so as to hide the
 soiled spots on the tablecloth1 the    
pudding was bubbling away in the        
astonished kettle1 and ,kitty's joy had 
been complete1 when1 only a few minutes 
before1 after a great deal of stamping  

and pounding1 she had opened the door to
 ,howard ,minturn1 who said1--  ,mother 
sent you some milk for your             
supper4--,where's ,tip8--,isn't it cold1
 though8--,there'll be prime skating    
to-night4--,give me the pitcher right   
away1 please4 ,all this in one breath4  
,now they would have beautiful fresh    
milk for supper2 and if there was       
anything which ,tip liked1 it was       
pudding and milk4  ,so ,kitty set the   
old arm-chair in the warmest corner for 
her mother1 fastened her father's door  
wide open1 so that he could see the new 
room1 then stirred her pudding1 and     
watched and waited4 ,her mother came    
first4 ,kitty's heart had never beat    
more anxiously than when she heard the  
slow1 tired step on the hard snow4      
,would she notice anything different8   
,in she came1 tired1 cross1 and cold1   
expecting to find disorder1 discomfort1 
and cold inside4 ,could anybody1 having 
eyes1 fail to notice the changes which  
had been wrought in that little room    

since she went out from it in the early 
morning8 ,she shut the door with a      
little slam1 and then the flush of the  
firelight seemed to blind her a little2 
she brushed her hand over her face1 and 
looked around her with a bewildered air4
 ,kitty went over to her2 some way she  
felt a great kindness in her heart for  
her mother1 a great longing to do       
something for her4  ,is it cold1 mother8
 she asked brightly4 ,take that chair1  
pointing to the seat in the warm corner4
 ,supper's all ready1 and ,i've made a  
cup of tea for you4  ,mrs4 ,lewis took  
off her hood and shawl in silence1      
untied her wet shoes1 and placed her    
cold feet on the clean1 warm            
stove-hearth2 took in the brightness of 
the room1 the shiny candlesticks1 the   
neatly-spread tea-table2 took whiffs of 
the steaming tea1--all in utter silence2
 only1 when ,kitty's father1 looking    
out1 said1 ,there's been business done  
here since you went away1 something in  
her mother's voice1 as she answered1 ,i 

should think there had1 made the blood  
rush warmly into ,kitty's cheeks1 and   
made her whisper to herself1 as she     
stooped to place the wet shoes under the
 stove to dry1 ,mr4 ,holbrook told me   
true1 ,i do believe4 ,i guess ,i have   
pleased ,jesus to-day2 ,i feel so4      
,while she was taking up the pudding1   
there was a merry whistle outside1 a    
brisk1 crushing step on the snow1 and   
,tip whizzed into the room4  ,oh1 there 
was no mistaking the look of delight on 
his face1 nor the glad ring in his      
voice1 as he said1 ,oh1 ,kitty6 why1    
,kitty ,lewis6 what have you been doing8
 ,why1 it looks almost as nice here as  
it does at ,howard ,minturn's4  ,all    
that evening there seemed a spell upon  
the ,lewis family4 ,mrs4 ,lewis didn't  
say one cross or fretful word2 indeed1  
she had no cause1 for in ,kitty's heart 
there was a strange1 new feeling of love
 for her mother1 of longing to please   
and give her comfort2 and never was     
mother waited on with a more quiet care 

than ,mrs4 ,lewis received that night4  
,this was the first coming of           
home-comfort to the family4 ,tip had    
apples in his pocket1 which ,howard     
,minturn had given him2 he roasted them 
before the fire1 and his father ate very
 little pieces of them2 and his mother  
darned stockings by the light of the    
candle in the clean little candlestick  
set on the clean little stand2 and they 
were happy4  ,by and by ,tip brought out
 his grammar1 and1 finding ,kitty very  
much interested in examining it1 said1--
  ,what if you should begin and study   
grammar with me8  ,what if ,i should8   
answered ,kitty4 ,so that evening she   
commenced her education1 and1 though    
grammar was a queer study to begin with1
 still it was a beginning4  ,the        
pleasant evening wore away2 the town    
clock had struck nine2 ,kitty's father  
had gone quietly to sleep1 and the      
bedroom door was shut to keep all sounds
 from disturbing him4 ,tip had taken his
 candle and gone4 ,mrs4 ,lewis sat      

toasting her feet before the dying fire4
 ,yet still ,kitty lingered4 ,she wanted
 to take ,tip's advice1 and tell her    
mother about her dear1 new ,friend1 and 
this evening1 of such wonderful peace1  
seemed the good time for doing so2 but  
she didn't know how4 ,if her mother     
would only say something to help her6   
and presently she did4  ,kitty1 what fit
 came over you1 to go to work and clear 
up at such rate8  ,i wanted to please   
you1 ,i guess4  ,kitty knew that this   
answer would surprise her mother1 and it
 did1 into utter silence2 but1 after    
what seemed to ,kitty a long1 long time1
 she spoke again3  ,what did you want to
 do that for8  ,now for it6 ,this was   
the best chance she could ever hope to  
have1 and her voice trembled a little3  
,i wanted to please ,jesus too1 mother1 
and ,mr4 ,holbrook said if ,i did things
 to help you1 and that you would like1  
,he would be glad---,jesus would1 you   
know4 ,a little silence1 and then3 ,i   
want to please ,jesus all the time now1 

because ,i love ,him1 and ,i'm going to 
try to do right4  ,it was all out now1  
and her heart was beating so that it    
almost stopped her voice4 ,her mother   
shaded her face with her hand1 and      
neither spoke nor moved4 ,kitty waited a
 little1 then moved slowly towards the  
door of her bit of a bedroom2 it was    
moonlight1 so she needed no candle4     
,good-night1 mother1 she found courage  
to say at last4  ,good-night2 and her   
mother's voice sounded strangely1 coming
 from behind the closely-held hand4     
,there was something like a great sob in
 ,kitty's throat as she went to her room
 that night2 in her heart was a great   
longing for mother-love4 ,she would have
 liked to kiss her mother good-night1   
but she felt how queerly that would     
look2 even to say good-night was        
something very unusual4 ,so she knelt   
down beside her bed1 and prayed for her 
mother4  ,i don't think ,mr4 ,holbrook  
knew that the few kind words which he   
spoke to ,kitty ,lewis1 on her way home 

from prayer-meeting1 were seeds which   
were going to spring up and bear fruit  
unto everlasting life4     ,,chapter    
,,xix4  ,and all thy children shall be  
taught of the ,lord4   ,father1 said    
,tip1 as1 after having carefully        
measured out and given him some         
cough-drops1 he sat down for a chat with
 him before school1--father1 didn't you 
and ,mr4 ,bailey go to school together  
when you were boys8  ,yes1 said ,mr4    
,lewis4 ,our fathers lived side by side1
 and we used to walk more than a mile to
 school together every morning2 we were 
in the same class1 too1 and the best    
scholars in school4 ,my6 times are      
changed since that day4 ,my father was  
considerably better off than his was1   
and now he's a rich man1 and ,i'm       
nobody4  ,was he such a boy as ,will    
,bailey is--or1 ,i mean1 as ,will used  
to be8  ,i don't know much about ,will2 
but ,i know his father was a sorry      
scamp1 and many's the scrape he got me  
into4 ,he took a notion to me4 ,we lived

 near by1 and were always together1 and 
then ,i was as full of pranks as he was1
 ,i suppose4 ,but he was a regular      
tyrant over the rest of the boys2 they  
were more than half afraid of him2 ,i   
don't know but what ,i was myself4      
,anyhow1 ,i know ,i've thought ,i'd have
 been different1 maybe1 if ,i hadn't    
followed him so close in all his        
scrapes4  ,father1 did you know ,mr4    
,bailey was different now8              
,different--how8 ,what do you mean8     
,why1 he comes to prayer-meeting1 and   
speaks and prays1 and seems to love to4 
,the mischief he does6 said ,mr4 ,lewis1
 surprised out of his usual quiet tone4 
,i should think he was different4 ,why1 
he used to make great fun of all such   
things4  ,yes1 that's what he says2 but 
,i tell you he don't make fun now4      
,when did all that happen8  ,a few weeks
 ago1 when the revival was1 you know4   
,he got up one night and asked them to  
pray for him1 and now he almost always  
speaks or prays in the meetings4  ,well1

 said ,mr4 ,lewis1 after a pause1 and   
with a little sigh1 ,i'm sure ,i ain't  
sorry4 ,i only hope it will last2 he    
needed it as bad as any one ,i know of4 
,it will last1 ,tip said1 speaking      
positively4 ,god will look out for that4
  ,then he waited a little before he    
spoke again--but he had been praying for
 his father long enough and earnestly   
enough to feel bold3  ,i thought1 last  
night1 that you must have been pretty   
good friends once1 he said presently1   
for he most broke down when he was      
praying for you1 and the tears just     
blinded him4  ,mr4 ,lewis turned himself
 on his pillow1 and looked steadily at  
his son4 ,did ,mr4 ,bailey pray for me8 
he asked at last4  ,yes1 he did2 and he 
prayed as if he meant it4  ,how came he 
to8  ,why1 ,i asked 'em to--all the     
folks in meeting1 you know4 ,i wanted   
you to be a ,christian1 and prayed for  
you1 and then ,i asked them if they'd   
pray1 and ,mr4 ,bailey got right up4    
,you don't mind that1 do you1 father8   

,all the folks down there ask us to pray
 for their friends4  ,no1 answered ,mr4 
,lewis at last1 speaking slowly1 ,i     
don't know that ,i do4 ,i need praying  
for1 ,i suppose1 if anybody does4 ,i'm  
going where ,i can't be prayed for1     
pretty fast1 ,i guess4  ,tip had no     
answer to make to that4  ,so you prayed 
for me too1 did you8 his father asked   
presently4  ,yes1 and ,i do every day1  
father2 ,i do want you to know ,jesus4  
,a long silence followed1 and then the  
sick man spoke again3  ,well1 ,tip1 ,i'm
 glad that you've got right1 gladder    
than ,i can tell you4 ,my father was a  
good man1 and tried to make me do what  
was right2 but ,i went all wrong1 wasted
 my whole life1 and brought up my       
children to do so too2 but you're       
getting on without my help1 and ,i'm    
glad you'll grow up to be a good man1   
and be a comfort to your mother when    
,i'm gone4 ,but ,i don't know that you  
need ask folks to pray for me2 it's too 
late1--,i've gone too far to get back4  

,tip's bold1 prompt manner did not      
forsake him now2 he answered quickly1-- 
,father1 ,i don't believe any such      
thing4 ,god doesn't say anything about  
it's being too late2 and ,he says if we 
want anything very much1 and pray for   
it1 and it's good to have1 ,he'll give  
it to us2 and ,i'm bound to believe     
,him4 ,once ,i prayed for ,kitty1 and   
prayed and prayed1 and it didn't do a   
bit of good1 until at last ,mr4         
,holbrook told me that maybe it was     
because ,i didn't really believe any of 
the time that ,god was going to do what 
,i wanted ,him to2 and ,i found out that
 was it4 ,just as soon as ,i began to   
think ,he would hear me1 it all came out
 straight2 and now ,i'm bound to believe
 ,him every time4 ,i've asked ,him to   
make you a ,christian1 and ,i'm going to
 keep on asking1 and ,he'll do it4      
,father1--,tip's voice took a softer    
tone1 for he knew there was one very    
tender spot in his father's             
heart1--don't you want to see little    

,johnny up in heaven8  ,the muscles     
around ,mr4 ,lewis's mouth began to     
twitch nervously1 and a tear rolled down
 his cheek4  ,i'm pretty near it1 he    
said at last2 and ,i think sometimes    
,i'd give the world1 if ,i had it1 to be
 ready to go2 but it's all too late4    
,i've known the right way all my life1  
and ,i've gone the other way2 now ,i    
must just take my pay4  ,the very       
,spirit of ,christ must have shown ,tip 
what to say next4 ,he spoke the words   
earnestly and solemnly2 he meant no     
disrespect3  ,father1 do you know more  
about it than ,god8 ,because1 you see1  
it don't say any such thing anywhere in 
the ,bible2 ,i know it don't1 for we    
talked about it in ,sunday school once1 
and ,mr4 ,holbrook said1 ',no matter how
 old a man was1 nor what he had done1 he
 could be a ,christian4'  ,i always     
thought it looked mean and sneaking in a
 man to have nothing to do with such    
things all his life1 and then turn      
around just because he was going to die1

 and pretend to be very good4 ,god can't
 be pleased with any such thing as that4
 ,i've always said that ,i'd never do   
it4  ,tip couldn't answer this3 it      
didn't sound true2 he felt sure it was  
not true2 but he had no wisdom with     
which to meet it4 ,he went to school    
with those last words of his father's   
ringing in his heart1 and his thoughts  
took shape1 and spoke in the very first 
sentence that he addressed to ,mr4      
,holbrook1 whom he overtook as he came  
out of the post office3  ,mr4 ,holbrook1
 can ,i ask you a question8  ,and the   
minister1 always ready to help any one  
out of trouble1 smiled and bowed1 and   
walked on by the side of the troubled   
boy4  ,if a man should tell you he      
thought it would be mean in him to turn 
around and go to serving ,god1 after he 
had found out he had but a little while 
to live1 when he had cheated ,him out of
 all the rest of his life1 what would   
you say8  ,i think1 said ,mr4 ,holbrook1
 ,i would be very likely to ask him     

whether he supposed he would feel any   
less mean for cheating ,god out of the  
last year of his life1 simply because he
 had been doing so all the other years4 
,because a man has been doing wrong for 
forty years1 ,i don't know why he should
 add another year of wrong2 ,i should   
think he might much better turn around1 
and make all the amends he could4  ,oh6 
said ,tip1 drawing a long breath2 why   
couldn't ,i have thought of that8 ,i    
knew it was wrong1--,i saw it plain     
enough2 but ,i couldn't think of a word 
to say4  ,mr4 ,holbrook looked earnestly
 at the eager boy4 ,edward1 he said at  
last1 do you think your father would see
 me this morning8  ,yes1 said ,tip      
decidedly1 ,i know he would4 ,if you    
would only go and see him1 ,mr4         
,holbrook1 and explain that to him1 ,i  
would be so glad4  ,and1 looking back   
soon after1 he had the satisfaction of  
seeing ,mr4 ,holbrook walk quickly down 
town in the direction of his home4 ,and 
now ,tip felt hopeful for his father3 he

 had prayed for him1 he had worked for  
him1 and now ,mr4 ,holbrook had gone to 
him2 surely he could leave the rest in  
,god's hands4     ,,chapter ,,xx4  ,let 
him that thinketh he standeth1 take heed
 lest he fall4   ,here ,tip6 said       
,howard ,minturn2 hold this frame steady
 while ,i try that nail4 ,will1 don't   
put that one up so high1 it ain't even  
with the others4 ,hold on1              
,ellis1--catch hold of this stool1 it's 
tipping4 ,there1 now1 it's all nice and 
in order1--isn't it1 ,mr4 ,burrows8 ,and
 he sprang from his stool1 as their     
teacher entered the schoolroom door4    
,very likely1 answered ,mr4 ,burrows1   
smiling2 only ,i didn't hear what you   
said4  ,i say we're ready for           
examination1 room and all4  ,the room   
is1 certainly2 and ,i hope your brains  
are4 ,ellis1 ,i'd move that chair a     
little to the left2 it will be in the   
way of the classes as it stands now4 ,do
 you feel brave to-day1 ,edward8  ,yes1 
sir1 answered ,tip promptly2 pretty     

brave4  ,and he did1 besides feeling    
eager and excited4 ,the long winter term
 was over2 to-day and tomorrow were to  
be days of examination4 ,the boys had   
been working hard for it1--none harder  
than had ,tip4 ,it was the first        
examination which had ever come to him  
in this exciting way4 ,always before he 
had been among the few inevitable       
dunces1 running away from examination   
altogether1 or else laughing            
good-naturedly over his own blundering  
ignorance4 ,but to-day it was different3
 he stood there on the stage among the  
workers1 proudly answering his teacher's
 questions1 and looking proudly over at 
the group of idlers1--,bob ,turner at   
their head1--who loitered near the      
windows1 wondering that he could ever   
have been of their number4 ,this was    
going to be a great day for ,tip2 it is 
true he was far behind some others of   
his age1 so far that not a single class 
of ,howard ,minturn's and ,ellis        
,holbrook's were to be examined that    

day1--the advance classes being put for 
the next day1--while all of his came    
that morning2 but then ,tip knew there  
was change enough in him to call the    
attention of every one present4 ,he felt
 the change in himself2 his mother felt 
it1 when she that morning brushed his   
hair for him1 and fastened a clean      
collar on his jacket2 the boys in school
 felt it4 ,he had taken his place among 
the workers4  ,the bell rang at last1   
and the scholars filed in and took their
 places4 ,there were visitors1 even in  
the early morning2 the people liked to  
attend ,mr4 ,burrows' examinations4     
,tip's class in reading came first on   
the list1 and never had his eyes been so
 bright or his face so eager4 ,tip had  
learned to read4 ,patiently1 earnestly1 
he had plodded on through the long      
winter2 now his sad blunderings in that 
line were over for ever2 not a boy in   
school read more slowly1 distinctly1 and
 correctly than ,tip ,lewis4 ,the       
selections were to be made by the       

committee1 immediately after class1 of  
those who were considered ready to enter
 the history class on the following     
term4 ,this was the highest reading     
class in the school3 and ,tip's eyes    
fairly danced when ,mr4 ,holbrook1 who  
was chairman of the committee1 out of a 
class of thirteen read but two          
names1--,thomas ,jones and ,edward      
,lewis4  ,hallo1 ,tip6 ,howard ,minturn 
had said to him at recess2 let's shake  
hands4 ,welcome to history2 it's awfully
 hard and interesting4  ,and ,tip did   
shake hands1 and laughed2 and looked    
over at the other clique--the           
dunces--with a half-patronizing nod to  
,bob ,turner2 and wondered how he could1
 have borne it to have been numbered    
with them that day2 then he felt that he
 was climbing into the first set1 and   
climbing fast4  ,in spelling1 too1 he   
came off conqueror2 spelled down the    
class1 spelled until ,mr4 ,burrows      
closed his book with the words1 ,i      
presume you are tired of this1          

gentlemen1 and1 as our examinations are 
confined to the lessons1 ,i think it    
will hardly pay to go further1 for      
,edward has not missed since the second 
week in the term4  ,so again1 flushed   
and excited1 ,tip went to his seat      
victorious4 ,only arithmetic now1 and he
 would be through with the working part 
of the day4 ,it was the last recitation 
in the morning1 and he was so eager and 
anxious to do well1 that he began to    
grow nervous4  ,the class was called at 
last4 ,they had gone slowly and         
carefully through long division1 and    
would be ready for fractions next term4 
,the recitation passed off finely4 ,tip 
had not studied day and night during the
 winter for nothing4 ,he was at the     
board1 working an example in long       
division2 it was almost finished4 ,the  
hand of the clock pointed to ten minutes
 of twelve4 ,in ten minutes he would be 
through1 and his name would stand on    
that honoured list1 among those who had 
not missed one word or made one mistake 

during the examination4 ,his hand began 
to tremble4 ,what was the matter with   
that example8 ,oh1 what was the matter8 
,the remainder was too large2 no--it was
 too small2 no--it was--he didn't know  
what6 ,everybody was watching him2 he   
heard a boy laugh softly4 ,he had made a
 mistake1 then2 what was it8 where was  
it8 ,mr4 ,burrows' voice came to him1   
calm and kind3  ,edward1 don't get      
excited4 ,look at your remainder        
closely2 take the first figures of      
divisor and remainder--nine in          
thirty-one1 how many times8 ,that will  
help you4  ,ellis ,holbrook stood but a 
step from the blackboard1 just behind   
him4 ,tip heard his low whisper1 ,seven1
 and1 without waiting to think1--indeed1
 he was too nervous to think1--he caught
 at the number4  ,seven times6 he said  
hurriedly4  ,then he heard bursts of    
laughter from the boys1 and dashed down 
his chalk in an agony of shame and pain4
 ,and the clock struck twelve6  ,the    
honour was lost4  ,the boys gathered    

around him after school was closed4  ,it
 was too bad1 ,tip1 ,howard ,minturn    
said1 in a tone of honest sympathy4     
,you'd have had it in a minute more4    
,i'd have had it if it had not been for 
,ellis ,holbrook1 and he's a mean scamp6
 ,tip answered1 in a rage4  ,whew6 said 
,will ,bailey2 what did ,ellis do8 and  
,ellis turned1 and proudly confronted   
the angry boy4  ,he told me wrong just  
on purpose2 that's what he did1 and he  
knows it4  ,and ,tip broke away from    
them1 and dashed out of the room4       
,howard ,minturn stood aghast6 ,that    
,ellis ,holbrook1 his best friend1 and  
the very pink of honour among the boys1 
should do so mean a thing1 he could not 
think1 and yet it was hard to think that
 ,tip had not told the truth4  ,what    
does he mean1 ,ellis8 he asked at last4 
,you'll have to ask him if you want to  
find out1 said ,ellis haughtily4 ,he    
knows better than anybody else what he  
means1 ,i guess4  ,the boys started     
homeward presently in a body4 ,bob      

,turner and his friends surrounded ,tip1
 and ,bob1 who never lost a good        
opportunity for teasing1 commenced at   
once3  ,poor little fellow1 missed his  
lesson1 so he did4 ,don't him cry2 him  
shall have a penny to buy a             
multiplication-table with4  ,hold your  
tongue6 answered ,tip1 too angry to see 
how foolish it was to let such words1   
coming from a boy who didn't know a     
single line of the multiplication-table1
 provoke him4  ,such a pity6 began ,bob 
again2 when it had spelled its lesson   
all so nice1 and had its face washed and
 its hair combed so pretty4 ,mustn't cry
 now1 to spoil its face4 ,poor little   
fellow6  ,tip turned to his tormentor a 
face perfectly white with rage1 and the 
boys hardly knew his voice3  ,bob       
,turner1 if you say another word1 ,i'll 
knock you down and thrash you within an 
inch of your life4 ,i will--  ,oh1 ,tip 
,lewis6 ,god forgive you for the way in 
which you in your blind rage have       
finished that sentence1--for the use    

which you have made of that great ,name1
 which above all others you profess to  
reverence and fear6 ,the awful word1    
once spoken1 recalled him to himself3 he
 clapped both hands over his face and   
ran wildly up the hill1 then down out of
 sight4  ,the boys had all heard it4    
,howard1 ,ellis1 ,will ,bailey1 and a   
half-dozen others1 were just behind him4
  ,ellis ,holbrook's pride rose high4   
,there's your wonderful boy1 he said1   
who was so changed1 and has taken it    
upon himself to preach so many sermons  
to me4 ,i'm sure ,i never finished any  
of my angry speeches with an oath1 if ,i
 am so far below him4  ,what an         
afternoon that was to ,tip6 he will     
never forget it4 ,he went no farther    
than the great tree1 which was budding  
out in spring green4 ,down he sat on a  
stone1 and once more covered his face   
with his hands1 and such a storm of rage
 and pain swept over him as he had never
 known before4  ,how could he1 how could
 he have said that word8  ,ever since he

 had learned to pray1 he had been afraid
 of that sin1--afraid he might forget1  
and go back to his old habits1 and he   
had watched and guarded his lips with   
such care and prayer4 ,but lately he had
 given up all fear2 it had been such a  
long time1 and he had never once fallen1
 he felt sure that he never would again4
  ,he had felt so sure and proud and    
strong1 that he had asked no help from  
,god that day2 he had been so eager to  
spend every moment on his arithmetic1   
that he had found no time to go to his  
,bible for strength4 ,no wonder--oh1 no 
wonder that he fell6 ,he had been       
standing too firmly1 feeling no need of 
help4 ,now1 what should he do8 ,how low 
he felt1 how mean6 ,could ,god forgive  
him8 ,yes1 ,he could4  ,tip felt in his 
soul that there was nothing which ,god  
could not do1 and yet he felt too mean  
and fallen to dare to ask ,him for      
anything more2 he forgot for the moment 
that ,jesus ,christ died to save        
sinners4  ,the sun went on over his     

head1 and commenced his afternoon work2 
then there came up the hill the sound of
 the school-bell1 but ,tip took no      
notice of that2 he didn't want to think 
of school1 much less even go4 ,he began 
to fumble presently for his ,bible1--he 
must have some help4 ,it opened of      
itself at the ,psalms1 and he read the  
first line which he saw3 ,unto ,thee1 ,o
 ,god1 do we give thanks --,no1 not     
that1 and he turned back a couple of    
leaves4 ,make a joyful noise --,no1 no6 
he didn't want to hear anything about   
joy2 his heart was as heavy as lead4 ,so
 he turned over several leaves at once3 
he must find something that would read  
as if it meant him4 ,o ,lord1 rebuke me 
not in ,thy wrath1 neither chasten me in
 ,thy sore displeasure4 ,oh1 that was   
it6 ,god was very angry with him1---had 
a right to be1--this was just what he   
ought to say4 ,he read on through the   
psalm2 almost every verse seemed for    
him1 and when he read the one next to   
the last1--,forsake me not1 ,o ,lord2 ,o

 my ,god1 be not far from me1--he said  
it over and over1 and finally1 in a     
great burst of tears1 got down and said 
it on his knees4  ,the short spring day 
was over1 and the chilly night was      
setting in4 ,tip had reached home       
finally1 had split the wood for the next
 day1 done whatever he could find to do 
about the house1 and then carried the   
vests which his mother had just finished
 to the clothing-store1--going away     
around behind the mill so as to avoid   
passing the schoolhouse1 lest he might  
chance to see some of the boys4 ,then he
 came home1 ate his supper in silence1  
and went up to his attic4 ,he felt      
better than he had at noon1 but his     
heart was still heavy1 and he dreaded   
the next day1 not knowing what he ought 
to do1 or how to do it4 ,this was       
,thursday evening1 but he didn't mean to
 go to prayer-meeting4 ,kitty had asked 
him1 had even coaxed a little1 but he   
said1 ,no1 not to-night4 ,he felt stiff 
and sore from his long sitting under the

 great tree in the early spring         
dampness4 ,he told himself that this was
 the reason why he was not going to     
prayer-meeting2 but the real one was1 he
 felt as if he could not possibly face  
,mr4 ,burrows that evening1 and         
certainly not ,mr4 ,holbrook1--of       
course1 ,ellis had told him all about   
it4 ,he felt very tired1 and his head   
and limbs ached2 he was going to read a 
chapter in his ,bible and go to bed4 ,he
 chose the same psalm which had come to 
him with so much power that afternoon1  
read it slowly and carefully1 then knelt
 down to pray1 and as he did so a new   
trouble loomed up before him4 ,what     
should he do8 ,he had prayed for ,ellis 
,holbrook and ,bob ,turner ever since he
 began to pray for himself1 but he felt 
as though he could not possibly pray for
 either of them to-night4 ,both had     
tried to injure him2 both had succeeded4
 ,he wished them no harm3 he didn't want
 to choke or drown them1 as he had felt 
like doing at noon1 but clearly he      

didn't want to pray for them4 ,he had   
arisen from his knees1 and was sitting  
on the edge of the box which was his    
table and chair1 with a very troubled   
face4 ,the more he thought about it1 the
 more he felt that he could not pray for
 those boys just then4 ,at last he      
thought he had found a way out of the   
difficulty4 ,he said to himself that he 
was very tired1 almost sick2 he would   
just repeat the ,lord's ,prayer and go  
to bed4 ,in the morning1 very likely1 he
 should feel differently2 he almost knew
 he should4 ,so he knelt down once more4
  ,our ,father which art in heaven1     
slowly reverently1 through the sweet    
petition1 until he came to forgive us   
our debts as we--,there he stopped4 ,he 
understood that prayer2 they had been   
taking it up in ,sunday school1 a       
sentence at a time1 and talking about   
it1 and only the ,sunday before last    
that sentence had been explained4       
,to-night ,tip could not finish it2     
there was no getting around the fact    

that he had not forgiven either ,ellis  
or ,bob4 ,once more he got up1 and took 
a seat on the edge of his bed to think4 
,he was never so perplexed in his life4 
,what ought he to do8 ,couldn't he pray 
at all8 ,mr4 ,holbrook had said he must 
never mock ,god by asking for what he   
did not mean1 and to say those words1 as
 we forgive our debtors1 feeling as he  
did to-night1 would be mocking ,god4 ,he
 ought not to feel so1 but how could he 
help it8 ,suddenly1 with a little sigh  
of relief1 he went down on his knees    
again3 he had thought of something which
 he could say4 ,oh1 ,jesus1 make me feel
 like praying for ,bob and ,ellis2 make 
me want them to be ,christians as hard  
as ,i did last night2 make me feel like 
forgiving them4 ,then there was silence 
in the lonely attic1 while ,tip1 still  
on his knees1 struggled with the evil   
spirit within him1 and came off         
conqueror1 for presently he added1 ,oh1 
dear ,jesus1 ,i'll forgive them both6   
and then he finished the prayer--forgive

 us our debts1 as we forgive our        
debtors4 ,while he went around after    
that1 making ready for rest and sleep1  
the peace of ,god which passeth         
understanding came down and settled in  
his heart4 ,presently he seemed to come 
to another difficulty1 for he sat down  
with one boot in his hand and one still 
on his foot4 ,this question1 however1   
was settled promptly3 he pulled the boot
 on again in a hurry1 then picked up his
 jacket and put that on1 seized his hat1
 and ran down-stairs4  ,kitty1 he said1 
putting his head in at the kitchen door1
 ,i'm going1 after all2 come on4  ,and  
,kitty joyfully ran for her hood and    
shawl4  ,but ,tip did not open his lips 
in prayer-meeting that evening2 he felt 
bowed down to the very ground with      
shame2 he did not once raise his eyes to
 the seat where ,howard ,minturn1 ,will 
,bailey1 and others of the schoolboys   
were sitting2 and1 when the short hour  
was gone1 he made haste to get out from 
,mr4 ,holbrook's sight and the sound of 

his voice4 ,but he had much reason1     
after that1 to thank ,god that he did   
not succeed4 ,he had just got from under
 the gaze of the hall-lamp1 and stood a 
minute in the darkness waiting for      
,kitty1 when he felt ,mr4 ,holbrook's   
hand on his arm1 and heard his kind1    
quiet voice3  ,edward1 ,mrs4 ,holbrook  
has some little business to transact'   
with ,kitty to-night2 shall ,i walk with
 you8 ,and1 as ,tip saw there was no    
help for it1 and walked by his side1 he 
said1 ,i didn't see you at school this  
afternoon3 how was that8  ,mr4          
,holbrook1 didn't ,ellis tell you about 
it this noon8  ,ellis has told me       
nothing4 ,i heard1 from one of the      
smaller boys1 a very sad story4 ,have   
you anything to tell me8  ,no1 sir1 ,i  
have not2 it's all true4 ,i got awful   
mad1 and ,i said mad things4 ,i--,i did 
worse than that4  ,tip's voice sank to a
 solemn whisper4 ,mr4 ,holbrook1 too1   
was silent and sad2 at last he said1--  
,what1 ,edward6 do you mean to give up1 

and go back to the old life8  ,and he   
remembered1 years after1 just how       
painfully his heart throbbed while he   
waited for ,tip's answer2 it was prompt 
and plain3 ,no1 sir2 ,god wouldn't even 
let me do that4  ,and then for a minute 
,mr4 ,holbrook did not speak for very   
thankfulness1 that1 through all this    
maze of sin1 ,god was leading ,tip into 
the light again4  ,do you feel that you 
have ,god's forgiveness8 he asked1      
speaking gently4  ,yes1 sir4 ,tip could 
not give very long answers that evening4
  ,why were you so quiet to-night in    
prayer-meeting8  ,because1 said ,tip1   
speaking low1 ,i was ashamed to say     
anything before you or ,mr4 ,burrows or 
the boys1 after what happened today4    
,more ashamed with us than you were with
 ,god8  ,yes1 sir1 ,i was2 because ,god 
knows all about it1--just how sorry ,i  
am1 and how ,he has forgiven me1 and is 
going to help me2 and you didn't know   
that4  ,again ,mr4 ,holbrook was        
thankful4  ,how about to-morrow1        

,edward8 he asked at last4  ,and this   
time ,tip's answer was very low3 ,i     
don't know2 ,i don't know what to do4   
,if you knew what was right to do1 would
 you do it8  ,i'm pretty sure ,i'd try  
to1 sir4  ,well1 did you honour or      
dishonour ,christ to-day8  ,tip's answer
 was in a more timid tone than he often 
spoke3  ,i dishonoured ,him4  ,do the   
boys know that you are very sorry1 and  
have asked ,god to forgive you8  ,no1   
sir2 they don't know anything about it4 
,don't you think1 for the honour of     
,christ1 they ought to8  ,i suppose so4 
,who ought to tell them8  ,no immediate 
answer came to this2 then1 after a      
little1--  ,mr4 ,holbrook1 how could ,i 
tell them--to each one--about it8  ,see 
if you cannot answer your own question4 
,will not all the boys be likely to hear
 about it8  ,yes1 sir2 they'll be sure  
to4  ,and would they all be likely to   
hear what you have to say1 unless you   
spoke to all at once8  ,but1 ,mr4       
,holbrook1 if ,i did that1 it would have

 to be in school4  ,well8  ,but         
to-morrow is the last day1 and it's     
examination4  ,well8  ,that short word  
seemed to have a good deal of power over
 ,tip1 for he only answered it by       
saying1 after a long silence1--  ,mr4   
,holbrook1 ,i wonder if you can think   
how very hard that would be8  ,edward1  
,i wonder if you can think how very hard
 it was for your ,saviour to listen to  
your words this noon8  ,and ,mr4        
,holbrook heard no more from ,tip1 save1
 when they reached the corner1 a very   
low1 very grave ,good-night4            
,,chapter ,,xxi4  ,he shall call upon   
,me1 and ,i will answer him2 ,i will be 
with him in trouble3 ,i will deliver    
him1 and honour him4   ,there were not  
many visitors in the next morning2 it   
was too early1 as yet1 for any but the  
examining committee1 and a few very     
fond1 very anxious mothers4 ,mr4        
,burrows' hand was on the bell2 in a few
 moments the algebra class would be in  
full tide of recitation4 ,ellis and     

,howard had their slates in their hands1
 ready to start at the first sound1 when
 ,tip ,lewis left his seat and made his 
way towards the stage4 ,mr4 ,burrows    
looked surprised2 this was entirely out 
of order2 but a look at ,tip's face made
 him change his mind about sending him  
back to his seat1 and bend his head to  
listen to the few words that were       
hurriedly whispered in his ear4 ,then he
 looked more surprised1 hesitated a     
minute1 then asked1--  ,hadn't you      
better wait until noon1 and ,i can      
detain the scholars a few moments8  ,no1
 said ,tip1 shaking his head1 and       
speaking earnestly2 ,i'm afraid1 if ,i  
wait till noon1 ,i shan't do it at all4 
,very well1 ,mr4 ,burrows answered      
finally4 ,scholars1 one of your number  
tells me that he has something of       
importance to say to you2 we will wait  
and hear him4  ,it was well for ,tip    
that he was a bold boy1 that every day  
of his life had been such as to teach   
him a lesson of boldness1 else his      

courage would surely have failed him1   
when he felt the many curious eyes      
resting on him4 ,as it was1 his face was
 scarlet1 when he turned it away from   
the desk and towards the boys4 ,yet he  
spoke promptly1 as he always did when he
 spoke at all3  ,i want to tell the boys
 that ,i am sorry for yesterday4 ,i     
suppose they all know what ,i did4 ,i   
got awful mad1 and ,i--,i said a        
dreadful word4 ,i didn't think ,i would 
ever be so wicked again2 ,i feel awful  
about it4 ,but ,i don't want the boys to
 think that ,i don't love ,jesus any    
more1 because ,i do2 and ,he is going to
 help me try ,such a silence as was in  
that schoolroom then1 the boys had never
 felt before6 ,mr4 ,burrows' face was   
shaded with his hand2 he let the silence
 rest upon them for a moment1 after ,tip
 had taken his seat2 then he spoke1 low 
and solemnly1--  ,boys1 what ,god has   
forgiven1 ,i feel sure that no scholar  
of mine will be mean enough ever to     
mention again4  ,then the bell sounded1 

and the business of the day went on4    
,tip had laid his head down on the desk 
the minute he took his seat1 and he kept
 it there throughout the recitation4 ,he
 had been through a fearful struggle2 it
 was hard work for a boy like him to    
stand up before the school and tell them
 how he had fallen4 ,but it was over    
now1 and from his very soul he felt that
 he had done right4  ,bob ,turner1      
sitting beside him1 was quiet and sober2
 and when ,tip raised his arm with such 
a sudden jerk that he knocked his       
arithmetic to the floor1 ,bob leaned    
over and quietly picked it up and laid  
it back in its place2 which was a       
wonderful thing for ,bob ,turner to do4 
,at noon the boys gathered around ,tip1 
quiet and kind2 no one spoke of what had
 been the important event of the        
morning2 all were on good behaviour4    
,ellis ,holbrook came into their midst4 
,tip1 he said1 speaking gravely1 yet    
very coldly1 perhaps it would be as well
 for you to know that you made quite a  

blunder yesterday1 when you said ,i told
 you wrong2 ,i hadn't the slightest     
notion of telling you1 right or wrong4  
,but ,i know how you came to think so4  
,i was looking out a word in ,mr4       
,burrows' dictionary1 and stood just    
behind you1 when ,mr4 ,bailey leaned    
over and asked me how many there were in
 your class when all were present1 and  
,i answered him1 seven4  ,tip looked    
perfectly astonished4  ,why didn't you  
say so yesterday8 he asked at last4     
,because you didn't give me a chance1   
,ellis answered coolly4 ,i'm not in the 
habit of cheating1 nor of being told    
that ,i do1 so ,i was not prepared with 
an answer4  ,that's true1 said ,tip1    
after a minute1 answering the first part
 of ,ellis's sentence2 that's true1 ,i  
didn't4 ,i was mad1 and ,i just banged  
off before anybody could say anything4  
,i might have known you didn't do any   
such thing2 it ain't like you4  ,and    
,tip walked away1 leaving ,ellis to     
think that the boy who was so far below 

him had shown much the better spirit of 
the two4  ,the busy day was drawing to a
 close2 the last recitation was over1   
and the boys were in a state of grand   
excitement1 waiting to hear the report  
of the committee2 waiting to know whose 
names were to stand on the ,roll of     
,honour1 having passed through the      
entire examination without a mistake4   
,poor ,tip was sad2 yesterday morning he
 had felt so sure that his name would   
have an honourable place1 and to him it 
was so much more exciting1 because it   
would be for the first time4 ,how hard  
he had worked2 and now it was all lost6 
,stupidly lost1 too1 he said to himself1
 over an example that he had done a     
dozen times2 and he drew a heavy sigh1  
and roused himself to listen to the     
report4 ,mr4 ,burrows had already called
 for it1 and ,mr4 ,holbrook1 as chairman
 of the committee1 had arisen2 but1     
instead of reading the report1 said1--  
,mr4 ,burrows1 if there is time1 ,i     
should like to say a few words to the   

scholars4 ,boys1 you were all listeners 
to ,edward ,lewis's examination         
yesterday1 and ,i presume you know      
better than ,i do how hard he has       
worked4 ,now1 ,i think any one who      
watched him yesterday could not have    
failed to see that1 had he not grown    
excited and nervous1 he could have      
worked that example4 ,mr4 ,burrows1 may 
,i put a question to vote8  ,and ,mr4   
,burrows giving a hearty consent1 he    
continued1 ,very well4 ,now ,i want     
every boy here1 who is willing to allow 
,edward ,lewis to go to the board now   
and try that example1 and1 if he        
succeeds1 give him the place which would
 have been his yesterday1 to stand up4  
,ellis ,holbrook was the first to spring
 to his feet1 and every single boy in   
the room followed his example2 ,tip     
alone sitting still1 with burning       
cheeks4  ,well done1 said ,mr4 ,holbrook
 ,now it only remains to get your       
teacher's consent to our plan4  ,which  
,mr4 ,burrows gave by wheeling his table

 from before the blackboard and picking 
up an arithmetic4 ,you may come forward1
 ,edward4 ,i will dictate the example2  
which one is it8  ,the thirty-ninth1    
sir2 fifty-first page4  ,by this time   
,tip was at the board4 ,how they watched
 him6 how fearful his teacher was for   
him6 how he longed to have him succeed6 
,tip worked fast and boldly2 his hand   
did not tremble2 chalk and fingers and  
brain did their duty2 the terrible nine 
in thirty-one1 how many times1 as a test
 for the larger number1 was reached1 and
 an unusually large and bold figure     
three was placed in the quotient2 a few 
more rapid dashes1 and1 with a grand    
flourish after the seventeen remainder1 
,tip threw down the chalk1 pushed back  
the hair from his hot temples1 and      
walked to his seat4 ,the boys could not 
keep quiet any longer3 a very soft      
tapping was heard at first1 then1       
finding they were not silenced1 it rose 
to a loud1 decided stamping of many     
feet4 ,but ,mr4 ,holbrook was on his    

feet again1 and they were quiet         
directly1 for the report was finally to 
be read4  ,my son1 said ,mr4 ,holbrook1 
not long after1 laying his hand kindly  
on ,ellis's shoulder1 as he was hurrying
 from the room1 what do you think of    
,edward's religion to-night8  ,i think  
it is honest1 sir1 ,ellis answered      
quickly4 ,excuse me1 father1 if you     
please2 ,i must see ,howard a minute    
before he goes2 and so he ran away from 
his father's longing look4  ,as for     
,tip1 he borrowed from ,howard ,minturn 
a copy of the village paper1 which came 
out a few days after1 and read the      
report of the examination2 read this    
sentence3 ,and1 among all the pupils1   
perhaps no one of them has made more    
rapid or astonishing progress than has  
,edward ,lewis4  ,then1 while the       
twilight deepened1 he turned eagerly to 
the next column1 which read in this     
way3--    ,,roll ,,of ,,honour2         
,being an alphabetically arranged ,list 
of those   who passed the entire        

,examination without   making an error3 
,,willard ,,bailey4   ,,ellis           
,,holbrook4   ,,harvey ,,jennings4      
,,edward ,,lewis4     ,,chapter ,,xxii4 
,i will lead them in paths that they    
have not known4   ,see here1 ,tip1      
called ,mr4 ,minturn1 appearing in his  
store door one morning not long after   
the examination2 ,i want to talk to you4
  ,tip swung his basket off his         
shoulder1 and went into the store4 ,he  
was at work for ,mr4 ,dewey1 and every  
piece of meat which he carried home took
 the form1 in his eyes1 of a ,latin     
grammar and a dictionary2 for these two 
books were what he was at present aiming
 after4  ,i'm in a great hurry1 ,mr4    
,minturn1 he said2 ,i've got a piece of 
meat for your folks in my basket1 and ,i
 expect they want it4  ,they'll have to 
wait till they get it1 answered ,mr4    
,minturn2 but ,i never hinder folks     
long4 ,what are you going to do with    
yourself1 now school's out8  ,oh1 work2 
anything ,i can find to do while        

vacation lasts4  ,so you're going to    
keep on at school1 are you8 ,i thought  
likely1 since your father was laid up1  
you'd he hunting for steady work1 so you
 could help the family along4 ,there's a
 hard winter coming1 you know4  ,there  
was no mistaking ,mr4 ,minturn's tone4  
,it said1 as plainly as words could have
 done1 ,that's what ,i think you ought  
to do1 anyhow4  ,tip looked troubled4   
,there's nothing for me to do1 he said  
at last2 ,i don't know of a place in    
this town where ,i could get steady work
 that ,i could do2 and besides1 if there
 was1 ,i'm after an education now4  ,my 
brother is here from ,albany1 ,mr4      
,minturn made answer to this4 ,he is a  
merchant1 has a large store there1 and  
keeps a great many clerks4 ,he's been   
plagued to death lately with one of his 
boys1--when he sent him home with       
bundles1 he'd open them and help        
himself2 and my brother told me last    
night1 if ,i could warrant him a boy who
 was perfectly honest1 he'd take him    

home with him1 pay his fare down1 and do
 well by him4 ,i thought of you right   
away1 and ,i told my brother that you   
were just the boy for him1--you'd be as 
true as steel2 but then1 if you're going
 to keep on at school1 it's all up4     
,mr4 ,minium did not add1 that he had   
kept his brother until eleven o'clock   
the night before1 telling him ,tip's    
history1--what a boy he had been1 how he
 had changed1 how he was struggling     
upward2 and1 finally1 the whole story of
 the examination1--the failure1 the     
downfall1 the public confession2 nor how
 his brother had listened eagerly1 and  
had said1 with energy1 after the story  
was finished1--  ,such a boy as that    
ought to be helped2 and ,i'm ready to   
help him4  ,none of this did ,tip hear1 
but he stooped down for his basket when 
,mr4 ,minturn had finished speaking1    
with a bright blush on his cheek4 ,it   
was something for a boy like him to be  
called as true as steel4  ,yes1 he said 
decidedly2 ,i'm going to keep on at     

school1 that's certain4 ,thank you all  
the same4  ,and out he went2 yet all the
 way up and down the streets his        
thoughts were busy over what he had just
 heard4 ,it was time1 certainly1 as poor
 as they were1 that he began to work2   
his mother's sewing supported the family
 now1 and hard and late into the nights 
she had to work to keep them from       
hunger4 ,tip had thought of this        
question before1 but had always         
comforted himself with the thought that 
work was not by any means an easy thing 
to get in the village2 the odd jobs     
which he could find1 out of school      
hours1 being really the only things he  
could get to do4 ,but no such comfort   
came to him to-day3 here was a chance1  
and a splendid one1 for getting steady  
work1 and by and by good wages probably2
 why wasn't he glad8  ,oh1 ever since he
 gave himself to ,christ1 there had been
 in his heart a longing to get an       
education1 and not only that1 but to    
become a minister4 ,very small1 faint   

hopes he had1 and even those were       
frightened sometimes at their own       
boldness2 but every day the desire grew 
stronger1 and it did not seem as though 
he could possibly give up school now4   
,it was out of the question1 he told    
himself1 just as he was beginning to    
enjoy his books so much1 and was doing  
well4 ,mr4 ,burrows would be            
disappointed in him2 he had encouraged  
him to study4 ,no1 it couldn't be done4 
,he would consider the matter settled4  
,and yet there was his mother1 working  
day and night1 and he1 her only son1 not
 helping4 ,there was his father1 growing
 weaker every day1 coughing harder every
 night2 long ago they had given up the  
hope that the cough would ever leave    
him4 ,there was ,kitty1 who ought to be 
in school1 but could not because her    
mother must have the little help which  
she could give4 ,tip was half distracted
 with thinking about it2 he felt        
provoked at ,mr4 ,minturn1 and ,mr4     
,minturn's brother1 and the store in    

,albany1 and the boy who helped himself 
out of other people's bundles2 they were
 all trying to cheat him out of his     
education4 ,a dozen times he said it was
 settled1 and as many times began at the
 beginning to think it all over again4  
,he went home finally1 after the meat   
was carried around2 but this didn't help
 him any4 ,home hadn't gone back to its 
old state of dirt and disorder3 ,kitty's
 first attempt had been too successful1 
and she had liked the looks of things   
too well to give up2 so there was a     
great change for the better in the      
housekeeping1 which both ,kitty and her 
mother enjoyed4 ,still1 there was no    
denying that1 though a clean1 it was a  
very forlorn little room1 with very few 
things for comfort or convenience4 ,tip 
had never seen this with such wide-open 
eyes as he did today2 so coming home did
 not quiet the vexing thoughts4  ,he    
split wood and pumped water without     
whistling a note1 growing more sober    
every minute4 ,at last1 after supper1   

when the work was all done that he could
 do1 he drew a sigh of relief2 it was so
 nice to have time for thought4 ,he     
could go up to his attic1 and he would  
not come down1 no1 not if it wasn't in  
three days1 until this thing was decided
 finally and for ever4  ,kitty sewed    
steadily on the seam which her mother   
had fixed for her1 and wondered why ,tip
 didn't come down and hear her lesson1  
which had been ready for him this hour4 
,it was another hour before he came2    
then his mother said1--  ,tip1 if you've
 a cent in the world1 do take it1 and go
 and get your father some of that       
cough-candy4 ,i do believe he hasn't    
stopped coughing since supper4  ,tip    
took his hat and started for the store2 
as he went he whistled a little4 ,the   
cough-candy was found at a store away up
 town1 and1 getting a paper of it1 ,tip 
dashed on around the corner and opened  
,mr4 ,minturn's store door4  ,when is   
your brother going home8 he asked1      
without ceremony1 seeing ,mr4 ,minturn  

behind the counter4  ,next ,monday4     
,well1 ,i'm going to talk to father1 and
 ,i think likely ,i'll want to go along 
with him4  ,all right4  ,so ,tip slammed
 to the door and ran away and ,mr4      
,minturn never knew what a downfall that
 decision had been to the boy's dear    
hopes and plans4  ,it was all settled in
 the course of a day or two4 ,mr4       
,minturn from ,albany was very kind4    
,tip was to have wages that seemed a    
small fortune to him1 and enough had    
been advanced to get him a new suit of  
clothes1 which his mother made4  ,one   
would have supposed that the future     
would look bright to him2 yet it was    
with a very sad heart that he took his  
seat in prayer-meeting that ,thursday   
evening1 the last time he expected to be
 in that room for--he didn't know how   
long4 ,he had a feeling that he ought to
 be very glad and thankful1 and wasn't  
at all4  ,through the opening hymns and 
prayers his heart kept growing heavier  
every moment1 and it was not until ,mr4 

,holbrook arose1 and repeated the text  
which he had chosen for the evening1    
that ,tip could arouse himself to       
listen4 ,it was a queer text1 so he     
thought1--,who shall roll away the      
stone8 ,what could ,mr4 ,holbrook be    
going to say on that8 ,he found out1 and
 had reason to remember it for ever     
after4 ,as he went out from that        
meeting1 his thoughts1 had he spoken    
them1 would have been like these3       
,that's true1--,i don't believe any man 
but ,mr4 ,holbrook would ever have      
thought of it3 they worried at a great  
rate about that stone1 how they would   
get it rolled away1 and when they got   
there it was gone4 ,i'll remember that4 
,i'll do just as he said3 when ,i see a 
stone ahead of me1 ,i won't stop and    
fret about it2 ,i'll walk straight up to
 it1 and when ,i get there maybe it will
 roll out of my way4     ,,chapter      
,,xxiii4  ,a word fitly spoken is like  
apples of gold in pictures of silver4   
,behold ,tip1 now in ,albany1 far away  

from home and friends1 from every one   
that he had ever seen before1 save ,mr4 
,howard ,minturn1 young ,howard's uncle4
 ,but he had been there some time1 and  
was growing into a settled-at-home      
feeling4 ,it had been a wonderful change
 to him4 ,mr4 ,minturn did not board his
 clerks2 but for some reason1 best known
 to himself1 he had taken ,tip home with
 him4 ,for a few days the boy felt as   
though the roses on the carpets were    
made of glass1 and would smash if he    
stepped on them4 ,but he was getting    
used to it all2 he could sit squarely on
 his chair at the table instead of on   
the edge1 spread his napkin over his lap
 as the others did1 and eat his pie with
 a silver fork under the light of the   
sparkling gas4  ,mother1 said little    
,alice ,minturn1 why does father have   
,edward board here1 and sit at the table
 with us8  ,because1 ,alice1 your father
 wants to help him in every way2 your   
uncle ,minturn thinks he is an unusually
 good1 smart boy4  ,i think so too1 said

 ,alice1 and was satisfied4  ,and ,tip  
,lewis was ,tip no longer2 no one knew  
him by that name2 every one there said  
,edward1 save the store clerks1 and they
 called him ,ed4  ,he had a queer       
feeling sometimes that he was somebody  
else1 and that ,tip ,lewis1 whom he used
 to know so well1 would be very much    
astonished if he could see him now4  ,he
 went into ,sabbath school1 and became a
 member of ,mr4 ,minturn's ,bible class2
 but teachers were scarce1 and before he
 had been there three weeks ,mr4        
,minturn sent him to take charge of a   
class of very little boys1 who called   
him ,mr4 ,lewis1 and made him feel      
strange and tall4 ,he began to realize  
that he was almost sixteen years old1   
and growing very fast4  ,he was leading 
a very busy life now-a-days2 at work all
 day1 in and for the store1 and in the  
evening doing all he could with his     
books4 ,those books and his love for    
them were a great safeguard to him1 kept
 him away from many a temptation to go  

astray2 and yet it was hard work to     
accomplish much in the little time he   
had1 and with no helper4 ,sometimes he  
sighed wearily1 and felt as though the  
road was full of stones4  ,i pity you1  
old fellow1 one of the younger clerks   
said to him one evening1 as they were   
leaving the store4  ,i don't know for   
what1 was the good-natured answer4      
,why1 ,mr4 ,minturn's pink of a perfect 
and wonderful and altogether amazing son
 ,ray has just got home from the        
,university2 saw him pass the store not 
an hour ago1 leaning back in the        
carriage like a prince4  ,what's he8    
asked ,edward4  ,he's a prig2 that's    
what he is4  ,what's a prig8  ,ho6      
you're a greeney1 if you don't know what
 a prig is4 ,wait till he snubs you and 
lords it over you awhile2 then ,i guess 
you'll know4 ,he'll have a good chance1 
seeing you're right there at the house  
all the while4 ,i wouldn't be in your   
shoes for a penny4  ,spite of its making
 him a great greeney1 ,edward did not   

know what a prig was2 but1 judging from 
his companion's tone1 he decided that it
 must be something very disagreeable4   
,he went home feeling cross and         
uncomfortable1 wishing that ,ray were   
anybody in the world rather than ,mr4   
,minturn's son1 or anywhere else rather 
than at home4 ,he was beginning to have 
such a nice time there2 they were all so
 kind to him1 and really seemed to like 
him4 ,it was too bad to have it all     
spoiled4  ,i know what kind of a fellow 
he is1 he muttered to himself2 he's like
 that ,mr4 ,symonds who comes to the    
store twice a week or so after kid      
gloves1 and acts as if he thought he was
 a great deal too good to ask me a      
decent question4 ,my6 ,i wish he was in 
,texas4  ,the dining-room was a blaze of
 light when he peeped in1 soon after the
 family were gathered waiting for ,mr4  
,minturn4 ,the newcomer sat on the sofa1
 one arm a-round little ,alice1 and the 
other resting gently on his mother's    
lap4 ,edward guessed1 by his mother's   

face1 that she did not wish he was in   
,texas4 ,mr4 ,minturn came in presently1
 and ,edward stole into the room just   
behind him2 but ,alice called him       
eagerly3  ,edward1 ,ray has come6 ,come 
over here and see him4  ,go ahead1 said 
,mr4 ,minturn1 as ,edward stood still1  
with very red cheeks2 and ,ray sat up   
and held out his hand4  ,how do you do1 
,edward8 ,alice has been making me      
acquainted with you this afternoon1 so  
you're not a stranger4  ,how very clear 
and kind his tones were6 ,edward was    
astonished4 ,that same evening he was   
more astonished4 ,he was in the library1
 at work over his books2 ,mr4 ,minturn  
had to go to a committee meeting1       
expecting to be detained late2 as he    
arose from the dinner-table1 he said1-- 
,how am ,i to get in to-night8 ,here's  
my night-key in two pieces4  ,i'll be   
night-key1 sir1 said ,edward promptly4  
,well1 you may2 you can take your books 
to the library1 and have a long evening 
to pore over them4  ,so he was there1   

poring over them with all his might1    
when the door opened gently1 and ,ray   
,minturn came in4  ,are you hard at     
work8 he asked kindly4  ,yes1 sir1 said 
,edward1 wishing he would go out again4 
,but he didn't seem in a hurry to do so2
 he took a book from the case1 and      
glanced over it a moment1 then came     
towards ,edward4  ,what are you         
studying8  ,fractions1 answered ,edward 
briefly4  ,do you have any trouble8     
,yes1 lots1 speaking a little crossly1  
for he wanted to go on with his work2 ,i
 can't get this one ,i'm at1 to save my 
head4  ,suppose ,i see what is the      
matter4 ,and ,bay drew a chair to the   
table and sat down1 glancing his eye    
over the slate4  ,rather1 suppose you   
see for yourself1 he said in a few      
moments4 ,just run over that            
multiplication at the top of the slate4 
,oh1 bother6 ,edward said1 after he had 
obeyed orders2 that figure three has    
made me all this trouble4  ,smaller     
things than figure threes make trouble4 

,have you been to school lately8        
,always1 till ,i came here2 but ,i might
 just as well have been out until last  
winter4  ,what happened last winter8    
,lots of things1 answered ,edward1 with 
brightening eyes4 ,but he didn't seem   
disposed to state any of them2 so1 after
 waiting a little1 ,ray asked1--        
,wouldn't you get on faster with your   
books if you had a teacher8  ,think     
likely ,i should2 but ,i haven't got    
any1 so ,i'll have to get on as fast as 
,i can4  ,how would it do if ,i should  
play teacher while ,i am at home1 and   
give you the hour from nine till ten8   
,edward laid down his pencil1 turned his
 eyes for the first time full upon ,kay1
 and looked at him in silent            
astonishment4  ,do you mean it8 he asked
 at last4  ,certainly ,i do2 ,i         
shouldn't say so if ,i didn't4 ,don't   
you think you would like it8  ,like it6 
,i guess ,i would4 ,but ,i don't        
know--,what do you do it for8  ,because 
,i am glad to help a boy who seems to be

 trying to help himself4 ,we will       
consider it settled1 then4 ,it is ten   
o'clock2 will you come out to prayers   
now8  ,and at this the astonished look  
on ,edward's face deepened4  ,is ,mr4   
,minturn here8 he asked4  ,no2 but his  
son is4 ,are you so surprised that ,i   
should have prayers in my father's      
absence8  ,yes1 said ,edward2 ,i didn't 
know--,i mean ,i didn't think--  ,you   
didn't think ,i had learned to pray1    
perhaps4 ,thank ,god1 ,i have4 ,then he 
laid his hand kindly on ,edward's       
shoulder4 ,have you learned that        
precious lesson yet1 my friend8  ,yes1  
said ,edward softly2 a good while ago4  
,i am very glad2 you will never learn   
anything else that is quite so          
important4 ,what is all the study for1  
by the way8 ,have you any plans4'  ,yes1
 said ,edward1 astonished at what he was
 about to tell to a stranger2 ,i want to
 get an education1 and then1 if ,i      
possibly can do that1 ,i want to be a   
minister4  ,ray's hand fell from his    

shoulder1 and when he answered this1 his
 voice was low and a little sad3  ,god  
bless you1 and help you4 ,i hope you    
will never have to give it up4  ,edward 
made up his mind that night that a prig 
meant the best and kindest1--yes1 and   
the wisest young man in the world4      
,,chapter ,,xxiv4  ,whatsoever ye would 
that men should do to you1 do ye even so
 to them4   ,the long1 bright summer    
days and the glowing autumn days were   
gone2 mid-winter was upon them4 ,during 
all this time ,edward was hard at work2 
there was plenty of business to be done 
at the store4 ,he had been promoted2    
very rarely1 now-a-days1 was he called  
on to carry home purchases1 or to do    
errands4 ,he had his counter and his    
favourite customers4 ,there had been    
another change1 too1 which ,edward felt 
sure ,ray had had a hand in2 ,ray had a 
hand in everything that was good and    
thoughtful4 ,he had long evenings for   
study now2 he came up to dinner with    
,mr4 ,minturn at six o'clock1 and had no

 further work to do until the next day4 
,oh1 those long evenings6 ,what rapid   
progress he made6 what a teacher ,ray   
was6 ,could a boy help getting on who   
was so carefully and kindly led8  ,what 
was not ,ray to him8--teacher1 friend1  
brother2 constant1 unfailing1 loving    
guide4 ,edward was learning to love him 
with an almost worship4  ,meantime1     
every one saw better than did ,edward   
himself how he had changed4 ,he had not 
been in constant intercourse with a     
,christian family1 who lived their      
religion every day and every hour1 for  
nothing2 his improvement had been       
constant and rapid4  ,he came home from 
the post office one evening with his    
hands full of letters1 among them a very
 queer-looking one for himself4 ,he     
carried the others to the library1 and  
his own to his room4 ,such an odd letter
 as it was6 ,he was glad it was his     
business to get the mail1 and that none 
of the other clerks had seen this1 with 
his name written at the very top of the 

envelope1 and written ,tip at that4 ,how
 oddly it looked1 and how queerly it    
sounded when he said it over6 ,it was so
 long since he heard that name1 he never
 wanted to again4 ,he was glad that ,ray
 ,minturn had never called him ,tip1 nor
 heard him called so4  ,who could it be 
from8 ,nobody wrote to him except       
,kitty1 and once in a long while his    
mother2 but this was no home-letter4 ,at
 last he broke the seal1 and read3--    
,,deer ,,tip1--,mother's dead1 ,i feel  
bad1 you kno that1 so what's the use8   
,i've got to go to work4 ,i like you    
better than any of the other felows1    
always did4 ,can't ,i com out there to  
your store and work1 ,i'll behave myself
 reel wel2 ,i will1 honour bright1 if   
you'll git me a place4 ,i've got money  
enuff to get there4 ,i dug potatoes for 
old ,williams and earned it4 ,rite to me
 rite off that's a good fellow4 ,i want 
to com awful4 ,,bob ,,turner4   ,edward 
was thunderstruck6 he dropped the letter
 on the floor in disgust4 ,what was to  

be done now8 ,the idea of having ,bob   
,turner there was perfectly dreadful2   
besides1 thank fortune6 it was          
impossible4 ,they wanted more help1 to  
be sure1 had been looking out for a boy 
that very day1 but not such a one as    
,bob1--that was out of the question2 and
 yet--,bob's mother was dead6 ,in his   
rude1 careless way1 ,bob had loved his  
mother rather better than he had any one
 else1 and ,edward did not doubt that he
 felt badly4 ,he was without friends    
now2 surely he needed one if he ever    
did4 ,but it was so disagreeable to     
think of having him there1--he was so   
different from any of the others1 and he
 would call him ,tip1 and be always     
around in his way2 would seem to lead   
him back to the old life from which he  
thought he had escaped altogether4 ,it  
was not to be thought of for a moment4  
,but then--and now came a startling     
thought4 ,how long he had been praying  
for ,bob6 ,perhaps this was the way in  
which ,god meant to answer1 by giving   

him a chance to work as well as pray4   
,perhaps he ought to be willing to have 
him come4 ,no matter how much the clerks
 might make fun of him for having such a
 friend2 no matter how much pain and    
annoyance it might cause him2 if this   
was ,god speaking to him to help his    
brother1 how dreadful it would be to    
make no answer6  ,he sat down to think  
about it2 his algebra lay open before   
him2 he was not quite ready for ,kay1   
but he could not attend to algebra now4 
,let me see1 he said2 if there should be
 such a thing as that ,bob could come1  
what would ,i do for him8 ,one of two   
things is certain1 either he'll lead me 
or ,i shall him2 we always did when we  
were together much4 ,which will it be8  
,if he leads me1 he'll lead me into     
mischief1 just as sure as the world2 if 
,i lead him1 ,i'll try to keep him out  
of mischief4 ,it's clear that ,i ought  
to be the leader4 ,now1 how would ,i do 
it1 ,i wonder8 ,bob ought to be a       
,christian2 he won't be safe two minutes

 at a time until he is4 ,if ,god says   
anything1 ,he says ,he'll hear prayer4  
,if ,i believe that1 why don't ,i pray  
for ,bob1 so that he'll be converted8 ,i
 do pray for him always1 but it's kind  
of half-way praying--kind of as if ,i   
thought it was a pretty hard thing for  
,god to do after all4 ,that's wrong4    
,god wants him safe1 and ,he knows he   
isn't safe now1 and ,he's willing to    
help him2 it must be my fault that ,he  
don't4 ,my business and lessons1 and all
 that sort of thing1 are putting ,bob   
and ,ellis1 and even father1 pretty much
 out of my thoughts4 ,that's wrong too1 
and must be stopped4 ,mr4 ,minturn says 
a thing is never half done that hasn't a
 corner in the day belonging to itself4 
,i'll try that rule4 ,after this1 every 
evening at half-past eight1 ,i'll come  
up here to my room and lock the door1   
and ,i'll pray for ,bob2 ,i'll pray as  
though ,i expected an answer1 and was   
going to be on the look-out for it4 ,i  
won't let anything hinder me from coming

 at just that time1 unless it's         
something that ,i can't help4 ,meantime1
 ,i'll get him a place if ,i can4       
,edward was as straightforward as ,tip  
had been2 this point decided1 he went   
down-stairs to the library door1 and    
knocked4  ,mr4 ,minturn was alone1 and  
busy2 but he looked up as ,edward       
entered in answer to his ,come in4      
,well1 sir1 what is it8  ,have you time 
for a little piece of business8  ,always
 time for business2 sit down4 ,what is  
it about8  ,have you found a boy yet8   
,no4 ,have you8  ,yes1 sir2 there's a   
boy out home who wants to come2 ,i've   
just had a letter from him4 ,his name is
 ,turner--,bob ,turner4  ,is he a good  
boy8  ,no1 sir4  ,well1 that's plain6   
,what are you talking about1 then8  ,i  
want you to make him a good boy1 sir4   
,humph6 that's an idea4 ,i can't make   
boys over new4 ,is he honest8  ,no1 sir1
 ,i don't think he is very1--not what   
you mean by honest2 but his mother is   
dead1 and he hasn't any friends2 he goes

 with a miserable set of fellows1 and   
he'll get worse than he is in no time if
 he stays there4  ,and the whole of it  
is1 you think it's my duty to let him   
come1 and try to save1 him6 ,suppose ,i 
should1 what would you do for your      
share8  ,i'd try1 too4  ,how8  ,why1    
,i'd try to get him to do right4        
,suppose he should try to get you to do 
wrong8  ,he couldn't6 said ,edward      
positively4  ,how did you find that out8
  ,because ,i should pray for myself    
every day1 and for ,bob too2 and ,god   
hears prayer4  ,yes1 but ,god's people  
sometimes get very far away from ,him2  
if this ,bob should lead you astray1    
,i'd be sorry ,i ever heard of him4  ,i 
don't feel much afraid1 ,edward said1   
speaking this time in a more quiet1 less
 positive tone1 for ,i never go wrong   
when ,i pray often2 pray about          
everything that comes up1 you know1 and 
mean what ,i pray for4  ,humph6 said    
,mr4 ,minturn2 that's a good idea2 ,i   
guess you're pretty safe under that     

rule4  ,besides1 said ,edward1 reserving
 one of his best arguments till the     
last1 ,i know somebody who would help   
,bob ever so much1--,mr4 ,ray would find
 him out4  ,mr4 ,minturn's eyes grew    
bright1 and he smiled a half sad smile4 
,yes1 he said1 that's true enough2 ,ray 
can't come near anybody without helping 
him4 ,well1 write to the boy to come on2
 we'll try him4 ,has he anything to come
 with8  ,yes1 sir1 he says he has money 
enough to get here4 ,and ,edward went   
away glad1 for he had begun to be very  
willing to have ,bob there4             
,,chapter ,,xxv4  ,if ye abide in ,me1  
and ,my word abide in you1 ye shall ask 
what ye will1 and it shall be done unto 
you4   ,edward got up one morning       
feeling years older than he had only the
 morning before1--older and graver1     
feeling a great responsibility resting  
on his shoulders2 for he was ,the weary 
frame1 racked with so many pains1 was at
 last at rest4 ,kitty had written just a
 line1 telling the sad story1 but it did

 not reach him until nearly a week      
after2 and with it came ,mr4            
,holbrook's1--a long letter1 full of    
tender sympathy1 telling all about how1 
in the afternoon of an early spring day1
 they had laid his father by ,johnny's  
side4  ,edward read on eagerly1 until he
 came to this sentence3 ,my dear boy1 ,i
 have a most precious message for you4  
,i was with him only an hour before he  
died1 and at that time he said to me1   
',i want you to tell ,tip that ,god has 
heard his prayer1 and saved his father2 
and that ,i shall watch for him to come 
to heaven1 and bring all the rest4'     
,and1 ,edward1 ,i haven't a shade of    
doubt but that your father is with his  
,redeemer2 you must let me quote again a
 verse which ,i once gave you3 ',i love 
the ,lord1 because ,he has heard my     
voice and my supplications4'  ,and at   
this point the letter dropped from his  
hand1 and ,edward shed his first tears  
for his father4  ,it was curious1 the   
different ways that ,mr4 ,minturn and   

his son had of expressing sympathy4     
,oh1 ,mr4 ,minturn said1 when he was    
told1 why in the world didn't they send 
for you8  ,because1 sir1 my father died 
very suddenly1 and my mother thought ,i 
could not afford to come so far for the 
funeral4  ,afford6 as if that would have
 made any difference4 ,did they think ,i
 would let it cost you anything8        
,edward showed ,mr4 ,holbrook's letter  
to ,ray after that2 and when it had been
 read1 expressed the feeling which had  
been much in his heart ever since the   
news came1 and which had been           
strengthened by ,mr4 ,monturn's words3  
,i shall always be sorry that ,i could  
not have gone to the funeral4  ,and ,bay
 answered1 resting his arm1 as he spoke1
 lightly on ,edward's shoulder1 to      
express the tenderness which he felt1   
,no you won't1 my dear fellow2 when you 
get up there1 in the glory of the       
,redeemer's presence1 and meet your     
father face to face1 you will not       
remember to be sorry that you did not   

see him buried4  ,meantime ,bob had     
come1 and been set at work4 ,he did not 
board at ,mr4 ,minturn's4 ,edward had   
heard that matter arranged with a little
 sigh of relief2 his precious hour with 
,ray1 then1 would be undisturbed4  ,bob 
was doing very much better than anybody 
who knew him would have imagined he     
could do2 he seemed to have made up his 
mind to behave himself1 sure enough4    
,yet his being there was a trial to     
,edward in several ways3 he had a great 
horror of being called ,tip2 that name  
belonged to the miserable1 ragged1      
friendless1 hopeless boy who used to    
wander around the streets in search of  
mischief1 not to the young man who was a
 faithful clerk in one of the finest    
stores in ,albany1 besides being a      
teacher in ,sabbath school1 and a very  
fair scholar in ,latin and algebra4 ,but
 ,bob ,turner could not be made to      
understand all this2 and though he      
stared at the neat black suit which     
,edward wore1 and opened his eyes wide  

when ,mr4 ,minturn went and came in     
company with his old companion1 and     
honoured him in many ways1 he still     
called him ,tip1 in clear1 round tones1 
that rang through the store a dozen     
times a day4 ,but there was nothing     
which ,ray could not smooth over1 so    
,edward thought1 when one evening he    
flounced into the library with a very   
much disturbed face4  ,i wish that      
fellow knew anything1 he said angrily4  
,what is the matter now8 ,bay asked1    
meeting the bright1 angry eyes with a   
quiet smile4  ,edward laughed a little4 
,well1 ,i can't help feeling vexed2 ,bob
 screeches that hateful little name     
after me wherever ,i go4 ,i despise that
 name1 and ,i wish he could be made to  
understand it4  ,how did you happen to  
be called ,tip at first8  ,why1 said    
,edward1 turning over the leaves of his 
dictionary1 my little sister ,kitty made
 it up before she could talk plain4 ,how
 she ever got that name out of ,edward1 
,i don't know2 ,i'm sure ,i wish she had

 been asleep when she did it2 but that's
 what she called me1 and that's what    
,i've been ever since4  ,and did        
,johnny1 the little boy that died1 ever 
call you so8  ,edward's eyes began to   
grow soft4  ,often1 he said gently2 and 
it was about the only name he could     
speak2 he was a little fellow4  ,well1  
,edward1 ,i should not think it would be
 such a very disagreeable name to you1  
when your father1 who is gone1 always   
used it1 and always in kindness1 you    
told me2 and it is the only name by     
which little ,johnny can remember you4  
,there are two things to be thought of  
in this matter1 ,ray continued1 after a 
moment1 finding ,edward not disposed to 
speak3 one is1 if you hope to do        
anything with this old companion of     
yours1 you must be ready to take worse  
things from him than a quiet1           
inoffensive little name like that2 he   
will learn your right name1 perhaps1 in 
time4 ,and the other is--,what is ,bob  
,turner's right name1 my friend8        

,edward's face flushed1 his lips        
quivered into a little smile1 then he   
laughed outright4  ,it would be         
ridiculous to call him ,robert6 he said1
 still laughing4 ,ray1 here's my        
exercise1 if you want it now4  ,and ,ray
 heard no more complaints about the     
offending little name4  ,say1 ,tip1 just
 go home with me to-night1 ,bob coaxed  
one evening1 as ,edward1 having been    
detained late at the store1 was leaving 
just as ,bob was closing the shutters4  
,mr4 ,ray's head is so bad you won't    
have any plaguy lessons to-night to     
hinder you4 ,every single fellow in the 
store but me is going to the theatre1   
and ,i am awful lonesome up there alone4
  ,it is a wonder you are not going too1
 said ,edward4  ,no1 it ain't4 ,i can   
keep a promise once in a while1 ,i      
reckon4 ,that ,ray ,minturn can do      
anything with a fellow1 and ,i was fool 
enough to promise him that ,i wouldn't  
go4 ,come1 go up home with me2 do1      
that's a good fellow6  ,no1 said ,edward

 decidedly1 ,i can't4  ,now1 ,tip       
,lewis1 ,i think you're real mean2 you  
don't never come to see me no more than 
if ,i was in ,guinea4 ,you act as if you
 were ashamed of me1 and ,i keep my word
 and behave myself1 too2 and you're a   
mean1 chicken-hearted fellow1 if you're 
ashamed to notice me now-a-days1 just   
because you board in a big house and    
dress like a dandy4  ,poh6 said ,edward2
 what nonsense that is6 ,i'd look well  
being ashamed of any one that ,minturn  
talked with4 ,but1 ,bob1 ,i can't go    
to-night1 nor any other night just about
 this time2 because ,i made a promise   
that ,i'd do something else1 at exactly 
half-past eight1 and that nothing in the
 world should hinder me if ,i could help
 it2 and it can't be far from half-past 
eight now4  ,bob eyed him curiously4    
,tip1 you're the oddest fellow born1 ,i 
do believe1 he said at last ,is it      
lessons8  ,no1 it's nothing about       
lessons4  ,couldn't ,i help you to do   
it8  ,yes1 said ,edward1 after a        

thoughtful silence2 you could help me   
better than any one else1 only you      
won't4  ,well1 now1 ,bob answered       
earnestly1 as sure as ,i'm alive1 ,i    
will1 if you'll tell me what it is2     
,i'll help you this very night4  ,do you
 promise8 asked ,edward4  ,yes1 ,i do1  
out and out2 and when ,i promise a thing
 through and through1 why1 you know1    
,tip ,lewis1 that ,i do it4  ,well1 said
 ,edward1 as he tried the door to see   
that all was safe before leaving1 then  
,i'll tell you4 ,every night1 at exactly
 half-past eight1 ,i go to my room and  
ask ,god over and over again to make you
 want to be a ,christian4  ,not a single
 word did ,bob answer to this2 he took  
long strides up the street by the side  
of ,edward in the direction of ,mr4     
,mintern's1 never once speaking until   
they had reached the door1 and stood    
waiting to be let in2 then he said1     
,tip1 that's mean4  ,what is8  ,to get a
 fellow to promise what he can't do4  ,i
 have not4 ,don't you want to be a      

,christian8  ,no2 ,i can't say that ,i'm
 particular about it4  ,but that's too  
silly to believe4 ,you need a friend to 
help you about as badly as any one ,i   
know of1 and when you can have one for  
the asking1 why shouldn't you want ,him8
 ,besides1 ,i didn't say make you a     
,christian1 anyhow2 ,i said make you    
want to be one4 ,you can pray1 that ,i'm
 sure2 any way1 you promised1 and ,i    
trusted you4  ,bob followed him through 
the hall1 up the stairs1 to his neat    
little room1 and whistled ,hail1        
,columbia1 while he lighted a match and 
turned on the gas4  ,my6 you have things
 in style here1 don't you8 he said1     
looking around1 while the bright light  
gleamed over the pretty carpet and      
shining furniture4  ,yes1 said ,edward2 
everything in this house is in style4   
,bob1 it's half-past eight4  ,well1 ,bob
 said good-naturedly1 ,i'd like to know 
what ,i'm to do2 this is new business to
 me1 you see4  ,i'm going to kneel down 
here and pray for you1 and you promised 

to do the same4  ,edward knelt at his   
bedside1 and ,bob1 half laughing1       
followed his example4 ,but ,christ must 
have been praying too1 and putting words
 into ,edward's heart to say4 ,by and   
by1 in spite of himself1 ,bob had to put
 up his hand and dash away a tear or    
two4 ,he had never heard himself prayed 
for before4  ,that evening was one to be
 remembered by ,bob ,turner1 for more   
than one reason4 ,bay sent for both of  
the boys to come to his room2 he was    
sick1 but not too sick to see and talk  
with ,bob whenever he could get a       
chance4 ,he made the half-hour spent    
with him so pleasant1 that ,bob gave an 
eager assent to the request that he     
would come often4 ,more than that1 he   
kept his word2 and as often as he passed
 ,edward's door1 towards nine o'clock1  
he stepped lightly1 for he knew that he 
was being prayed for1 and there began to
 come into his heart a strange longing  
to pray for himself4 ,one evening he    
discovered that ,ray1 too1 prayed every 

night for him1 and the vague notion grew
 into a certainty1 that what they two   
were so anxious about for him1 he ought 
to desire for himself4  ,ye shall ask   
what ye will1 and it shall be done unto 
you4  ,edward had taken this promise    
into his heart2 he was trying to live up
 to the condition to abide in ,christ1  
and in due season ,god made ,his promise
 sure4  ,i wish1 ,bob said to ,ray one  
evening when the weary head was full of 
pain1--,i do wish ,i could do something 
for you4  ,you can1 ,ray answered       
quickly1--something that ,i would like  
better than almost anything else in the 
world4  ,what is it8 ,bob's question was
 sincere and eager4  ,give yourself to  
,christ4  ,bob heard this in grave1     
earnest silence4  ,i would1 he said     
after a minute1 if ,i knew how4  ,do you
 mean that8  ,yes1 ,i do2 ,i'm sick of  
waiting1 and ,i'm sick of myself4  ,if  
,i should tell you how1 would you do it8
  ,yes1 ,i would1 spoken evidently with 
honest meaning4  ,kneel down1 then1 here

 beside me1 and say to ,god that you    
want to be a ,christian2 that you are   
willing to give yourself up to ,him now 
and for ever1 to do just as ,he tells   
you4  ,bob hesitated1 struggling a      
little1 and at last knelt down4 ,there  
was silence in the room1 while three    
sincere hearts were lifted up in prayer2
 and surely ,christ bent low to listen4 
,when ,bob would have risen1 ,bay laid  
one hand on his arm1 and1 steadying his 
throbbing head with the other1 said     
solemnly1--  ,blessed ,redeemer1 here is
 a soul given up to ,thee4 ,do ,thou    
take it1 and wash it in ,thy precious   
blood1 and make it fit for heaven4 ,we  
ask boldly1 because ,thou hast promised1
 and we know that ,thy promises are     
sure4  ,edward1 ,ray said the next      
evening1 as they sat alone1 and were    
silent for a little1 after ,bob had left
 them1 and gone home rejoicing in the   
hope of sins washed away1 what was that 
verse that your minister at home quoted 
for you in his letter8  ,i love the     

,lord1 because ,he has heard my voice   
and my supplication1 ,edward repeated it
 with brightening eyes4     ,,chapter   
,,xxvi4  ,and when they looked1 they saw
 that the stone was rolled away4        
,onward sped the busy days1 until at    
last there came an evening which made it
 exactly three years since ,edward had  
first set foot in ,albany4 ,they had    
been years of wonderful progress to him4
 ,he had gone on steadily with his      
evening studies2 he had been an eager   
pupil1 and ,ray had been a faithful     
teacher4 ,this evening he sat in the    
library waiting for ,ray1 but he had a  
very troubled face4 ,once more he took  
,kitty's long letter out of his pocket4 
,kitty wrote long letters once in two   
weeks1 but it was a rare thing to have a
 postscript added by his mother4 ,he    
turned to this and read it again2 it was
 a very kind one4 ,they were doing well 
now1 so she wrote4 ,her health was very 
good1 now that she slept quietly at     
night2 and just here ,edward knew there 

had come in a heavy sigh1 because there 
was no constant coughing to disturb her 
rest4 ,she had steady work1 and could   
support ,kitty and herself nicely       
without his help2 he must keep what he  
earned for himself after this4 ,kitty   
says you want to go to school1 so the   
letter ran2 if you do1 save up your     
money for that4 ,your poor father had a 
notion that you would make a scholar2 ,i
 think it would please him if you did4  
,surely he could not wish for a kinder1 
more thoughtful letter than this2 coming
 from his mother1 too6 she must have    
changed much1 as well as himself4 ,but  
this very letter had greatly unsettled  
his quiet life2 the old longing to give 
himself up to study1 to prepare for the 
ministry1 had broken loose1 and         
well-nigh overwhelmed him with its      
power4 ,he wanted it1 oh1 so much6 it   
had grown strong1 instead of weak1      
during these three years4 ,but what to  
do1 and how to do it8 ,that was the     
question4 ,certainly he was not prepared

 to answer it4 ,if he stayed where he   
was1 led his busy life all day in the   
store1 how was he ever to go through    
with the necessary course of study1     
which it was high time he commenced in  
earnest8 ,if he left them1 these dear   
friends1 who had taken him into their   
home and hearts1 and made him feel like 
one of thorn1 how was he to live while  
he studied8 ,how1 indeed1 could he study
 at all8 ,the truth was1 ,edward1       
calling to mind ,mr4 ,holbrook's lecture
 that last evening in the home          
prayer-meeting1 and his resolution taken
 then1 thought that the stone was ahead 
of him no longer1 but that he had walked
 close up to it1 and could not take     
another step because of it1 and very    
large and impossible to move did it look
 to his shortsighted eyes4  ,just as he 
was growing hopelessly moody1 ,lay came 
in1 and settled himself among the       
cushions1 rather wearily4  ,ray1 said   
,edward anxiously1 you are not well     
enough for lessons to-night4  ,no1      

answered ,ray1 smiling1 however1 as he  
spoke2 ,i think ,i am not1 because ,i   
want to talk instead4 ,i am full of a   
scheme which needs your help2 for once  
we'll let the lessons go4 ,it is an age 
since ,i have heard anything concerning 
your plans2 you have not given up your  
desire for the ministry1 ,i hope8  ,no1 
,ray2 ,i shall never give that up4  ,i  
thought not2 it would not be like you4  
,that being the case1 isn't it time to  
do something definite8  ,time1          
certainly1 ,edward answered gloomily2   
but what's to do8  ,that brings me to   
the unfolding of my scheme4 ,edward1 do 
you know that it was my lifelong desire 
to reach the point towards which you are
 looking8  ,no1 said ,edward1 with      
pitying interest2 ,i never thought of   
it4  ,well1 and ,ray smiled sadly1 it is
 so2 and ,i hope you may never know how 
hard it is to have to give up such a    
wish4 ,i cannot say that ,i did actually
 give it up entirely until very lately4 
,i gave up all study three years ago1   

and came home to regain strength6 you   
know how well ,i have succeeded in that4
 ,and ,ray pressed his thin1 wasting    
hand across his damp forehead4 ,it is   
all over now1 utterly4 ,the hand did    
duty now for a moment1 shading his eyes 
from the light4 ,presently he spoke more
 cheerily4 ,all over for myself1 but not
 for you2 so1 ,edward1 what ,i want to  
say to-night1 in brief1 is this3 ,you   
have talents1 perseverance1 and health2 
,i have money1--the four combined cannot
 fail to speed you in your work4 ,what  
say you8  ,i--,i don't understand you1  
,edward spoke1 in complete bewilderment4
  ,let me speak more plainly4 ,i want   
you to go now1 immediately1 to some good
 preparatory school1 thence to college1 
thence to the seminary1 and the means   
wherewith to do these three important   
things shall be at your disposal4 ,isn't
 that plain8  ,why1 said ,edward1 ,i    
don't know what to say2 ,i am too much  
astonished1 and--and thankful4  ,then   
you will do it8  ,only1--,ray8  ,well8  

,isn't there a right kind of pride1     
about being helped in these things8     
,there is a great deal of wrong kind of 
pride4 ,let me show you2 and he sat up  
and spoke eagerly4 ,it is right and     
honourable for people to help themselves
 in this world1 but very vain and       
foolish to refuse help which would      
greatly aid the cause that they profess 
to have at heart4 ,you see how it is3   
,god has given me money2 ,i am ready and
 waiting to give it back to ,him4 ,i    
would gladly give myself to ,him in the 
ministry2 ,i have longed and prayed for 
this2 but ,he has seen fit not to answer
 as ,i wished4 ,i have no strength to   
give2 you have1 and are ready to give   
it4 ,do you think ,god would be less    
pleased with the offering if we united  
it1 thus giving me a chance to do       
something8  ,no1 said ,edward1 speaking 
very slowly2 only1 ,i had hoped to      
accomplish my plans without help from   
any one but ,god4  ,ray leaned back     
again among the cushions1 and spoke     

wearily1--  ,that is1 you prefer to be a
 great many years longer in preparation 
than you need be1 and have about half as
 much strength finally as you would     
have1 had you not overworked1 rather    
than give me a chance to do what ,i     
could1 since ,i cannot do what ,i would4
  ,but1 ,ray1 there are plenty of people
 to help1 even if you do no more for me4
 ,the world is full of poor young men1  
struggling to get an education4  ,yes1  
that is so2 and ,i suppose you would    
enjoy helping some young man out in     
,oregon1 of whom you had never heard1   
quite as well as you would me4  ,edward 
came quickly to the sofa where ,ray was 
lying1 and laid his hand tenderly over  
the closed eyes4  ,ray1 there is nothing
 in the world ,i would not do for you4  
,will you let me help you into the      
ministry1 as rapidly as money can help8 
,i will be glad to2 it is a great1 noble
 offer1 and ,i thank you from my heart4 
,you mustn't think that ,i don't2 only  
,i thought--perhaps  ,i know1 said ,ray1

 for ,edward had stopped doubtfully2 ,i 
understand just how you feel2 but ,i do 
think the feeling1 in this case at      
least1 is wrong2 and1 my dear brother1  
you will be glad when you know how      
thankful you have made me4  ,yes2 and   
after all you will not be doing any more
 for me--you can't--than you have done4 
,i think money is very little1 compared 
with that4 ,ray1 and ,edward sank down  
among the cushions in front of him1 ,i  
do believe you are more to me than any  
other human being ever will be4  ,ray   
smiled1 quite as if he did not think so1
 but would not unsay it for anything4   
,it is all right1 he said gently1 after 
a little silence4 ,i think you will do  
so much more than ,i ever could have    
done4 ,god bless you1 my dear brother6  
,after that ,edward went up to his room1
 got out his little red ,bible1 his     
precious lamp1 and1 opening at the      
history of the rock-bound grave1 read on
 until he came to the verse1 ,and when  
they looked1 they saw that the stone was

 rolled away4 ,around this he made heavy
 marks with his pencil1 thinking1       
meantime1 that the angel of the ,lord   
was still at work on earth4  ,bob1 said 
,edward1 stopping before ,bob's counter1
 two days after this matter was settled1
 ,i am going to start for home in the   
morning4  ,are you1 though8 ,bob        
answered eagerly1 stopping his work to  
take the sentence in fully4 ,my6 ,i wish
 ,i was going along1 just to see what   
folks would say4  ,about you1 do you    
mean8 said ,edward1 laughing1 and       
thinking wonderingly1 as well as        
joyfully1 of the change which there had 
been in ,bob ,turner4  ,bob had a       
counter too1 and was no longer an       
errand-boy2 there had very rarely been  
known such a rapid promotion in that    
store2 but the truth was1 ,mr4 ,minturn 
had early learned that ,bob ,turner was 
destined to be1 not a minister1 nor a   
lawyer1 not even a scholar1 but a       
thorough1 energetic1 successful         
merchant4 ,he had no sooner made this   

discovery than he determined to give the
 boy a chance4  ,so ,bob had earned a   
name and a place in the store1 and was a
 general favourite with the other       
clerks1 and was beginning to have       
customers who sought him out1 and liked 
to make purchases of him4 ,more than    
all1 ,bob was an earnest ,christian2 his
 loving tenderness for1 and almost      
worship of1 ,ray ,minturn1 kept him from
 being much led into temptation1 and his
 influence over the younger clerks was  
growing to be for good4 ,he was destined
 to be more popular than ,edward had    
been2 for ,edward had risen too rapidly1
 and was too much at home with the      
entire ,minturn family1 not to be looked
 upon with some degree of envy4  ,well1 
,tip1--,bob had never learned not to say
 ,tip1 and probably never would1 but    
,edward had long since forgotten to     
care1--tell every one at home that ,i'm 
well and happy1 and never want to see   
one of them again4 ,i don't believe ,i  
have a friend there3 anyhow1 ,i know ,i 

don't deserve to have4     ,,chapter    
,,xxvii4  ,wherewithal shall a young man
 cleanse his way8 ,by taking heed       
thereto1 according to ,thy word4        
,kitty ,lewis shook out the folds of her
 new bright pink calico dress1 walked to
 the little looking-glass1 for about the
 tenth time1 to see if the dainty white 
ruffle around her neck was in order2    
then took a survey of the room1 lest    
there might possibly be something else  
to do which would improve its           
appearance4  ,it was the same little    
room in which ,kitty had spent her      
childhood1 from which ,johnny first1 and
 then long afterwards the husband and   
father1 had been carried out to return  
no more4 ,and yet it was not the        
same1--there was a neat rag carpet on   
the floor1 a ,christmas gift from ,mrs4 
,minturn2 the round table in the corner 
was covered with a bright red cloth1 and
 strewn with a few books and papers2 the
 full white curtain was looped away from
 the window1 and the light of a clear   

sunset glimmered in the room2 everything
 was neat and bright and cheery4 ,the   
table was set for tea1 the white cloth  
showing just the folds in which it was  
ironed2 there were three plates and     
three cups and saucers1 instead of two1 
while ,kitty1 in her restless wanderings
 around the room1 and ,mrs4 ,lewis1 in  
her frequent glances out of the window1 
both showed that somebody was being     
watched and waited for4  ,the eastern   
train is in1 ,kitty said finally ,now1  
if he comes to-night1 he'll be here in  
three minutes4 ,and it could not have   
been much more than that when a quick1  
crushing step was heard on the gravel   
outside1 then on the plank before the   
door1 then the door swung open1 and     
,edward ,lewis walked into the little   
room out of which he had gone three     
years before4  ,kitty was all ready to  
spring forward1 say1 ,oh1 ,tip6 and     
throw her arms right around his neck4   
,instead1 she stood still4 ,some way1 in
 spite of the long letters which had    

passed between them during these years1 
,kitty had fully expected to see a      
stout1 tanned boy1 in a strong1 coarse  
suit of grey1 with thick boots and a new
 straw hat4 ,of1 at least1--why1 of     
course1 she knew he must have changed   
some2 hadn't she8 ,but then she did not 
think he would be so tall1 and have a   
face and hands without tan or freckle1  
or that his clothes would be so very    
black and fine1 and fit as though they  
had grown on him1 or that his collar    
would be so white and glossy1 or his    
boots so small and shiny4 ,so ,kitty    
stood still in embarrassed silence4 ,but
 the mother1--oh1 she saw in him the    
picture of the dear1 dead father1 as he 
used to come to her long1 long ago2 the 
husband who1 through all change and     
poverty and pain1 she had always loved6 
,and all the tenderness that had ever   
been in her heart took form1 and spoke  
in those words with which she came      
forward to greet her son1--,oh1 my dear 
boy6  ,there was happiness in the little

 home that night2 only the bedroom door 
was closed1 and ,edward knew that his   
father's bed was vacant4  ,such a queer 
feeling as possessed him all the next   
day1 while he went around the village6  
,he went everywhere4 ,he felt like      
walking through every street1 and       
stepping on every stone on which his    
feet had trod in the old life1 now      
utterly gone from him4 ,he wandered down
 to the river-bank1 where he had lain   
that summer morning and envied the      
fishes2 and1 standing there1 thanked    
,god for the mission class in ,mr4      
,holbrook's ,sabbath school4 ,thence to 
the cemetery1 where by the side of      
little ,johnny's grave the new life had 
been commenced4 ,there was a long grave 
beside the short one now2 and1 standing 
there1 he thanked ,god for the hope     
which he had of meeting the father and  
the baby in heaven4 ,thence to the great
 elm-tree at the foot of the hill2 and1 
standing there1 he took out once more   
the little red ,bible1 and turned the   

leaves lovingly2 lingered over the name 
written by ,mr4 ,holbrook's hand1 turned
 again to the first verse which he had  
ever read from its pages3 ,thy word is a
 lamp unto my feet1 and a light unto my 
path4 ,time and again had he proved the 
truth of that verse4 ,there1 under that 
very tree1 it had helped him to fight   
battles with ,satan and come off        
conqueror4 ,and he thanked ,god for the 
,bible4 ,after that he went directly to 
the village2 just looked in at the meat 
market for the sake of the old days4    
,somebody told ,mr4 ,dewey who was      
coming1 and he was just ready to say1   
,hallo1 ,tip6 but instead1 he came      
around from behind the counter1 and1    
holding out his hand1 said1 ,how do you 
do1 ,lewis8 ,glad to see you4           
,something1 either in the city-made     
clothes or the quiet air of dignity with
 which they were worn1 made him dislike 
to say ,hallo1 ,tip6 to the tall young  
man before him4  ,mr4 ,minturn shook him
 heartily by the hand4 ,never rejoiced  

over any one's luck more in my life6 he 
said2 then1 in the same breath1 ,how's  
,ray8 ,oh yes1 ,i see how it is1 poor   
fellow6 ,and you love him too2 of       
course1 every one does4  ,there was     
still the schoolroom to visit1 and as   
,edward went up the familiar walk he    
wished ,bob ,turner could have been with
 him to make this call4 ,but ,bob was   
probably rushing like a top through the 
city store1 without a thought of the old
 schoolhouse or the miserable days which
 he had spent there4  ,mr4 ,burrows     
himself answered the knock1 and gave him
 a hearty greeting4 ,three years had    
made changes there4 ,edward found       
himself looking eagerly towards the back
 row of seats fur the old faces1--,will1
 ,howard1 ,ellis1 and half a dozen      
others1--before he remembered that they 
had long since entered higher schools4  
,the boys whom he hid left plodding     
through long division were filling those
 back seats now1 and leading their      
classes in algebra and ,latin4 ,he sat  

down near the blackboard to watch the   
progress of ,joe ,bartlett through an   
example in division4 ,and behold1 he was
 doing that old never-to-be-forgotten   
example about the cows and sheep6 ,he   
picked up an arithmetic eagerly4  ,mr4  
,burrows1 do you remember that example8'
  ,i remember that it has puzzled some  
forty or more of my boys in the course  
of time1 said ,mr4 ,burrows1 laughing2  
but nothing very special about it4  ,i  
do2 it was the cause of my first        
promotion4  ,was it1 indeed6 ,i'm afraid
 it will never be the cause of poor     
,joseph's2 it seems to be mastering him4
  ,mr4 ,burrows was engaged with a      
grammar class1 and ,edward offered to   
assist the bewildered ,joseph4  ,i      
remember those sheep of old1 he said    
kindly1 as he turned to the board4      
,isn't it the 'stood him in' that       
troubles you8  ,yes1 it is1 ,joe        
answered grumbly4 ,i don't see no sense 
to it4  ,let me show you4 ,suppose--,and
 he went through with the               

well--remembered explanation4 ,it was   
successful1 ,joe understood it1 and went
 on briskly with the figures4  ,edward  
turned towards ,mr4 ,burrows4 ,it was   
the way my father explained it to me1 he
 said1 with eyes that glistened a       
little4  ,some one brought ,mr4 ,burrows
 a note1 and1 as he read and laid it    
down1 he said1 ,now1 ,edward1 if you had
 continued at school instead of running 
away from us1 ,i should get you to hear 
this recitation in algebra1 and take    
leave of absence for a few minutes4     
,there is a friend in town whom ,i would
 give much to see before the next train 
leaves4  ,suppose you set me at it as it
 is4  ,mr4 ,burrows looked surprised4   
,have you been studying algebra1        
,edward8  ,somewhat4  ,how far have you 
been8  ,through4  ,do you feel positive 
that you could do examples over here8   
turning to ,evolution4  ,entirely1      
,edward answered1 smiling at ,mr4       
,burrows' doubts4 ,ray had been a       
thorough teacher4  ,so ,mr4 ,burrows    

went away1 and ,edward took his seat on 
the stage and commenced the recitation4 
,at first the boys were disposed to be  
wise1 and display their knowledge2 when 
they had known him last1 he was in      
division4 ,but he was in algebra now1 or
 rather through it1 and they speedily   
discovered that he seemed to have every 
example in the lesson committed to      
memory4  ,meantime1 ,mr4 ,burrows       
returned1 and listened with astonishment
 and delight4  ,thank you heartily1 he  
said afterwards4 ,you ought to fit      
yourself for teaching4 ,but1 ,edward1   
you did not get through algebra alone8  
,no1 said ,edward1 flushing at the      
thought of ,ray2 ,i had the best and    
wisest teacher on earth4  ,well1 he sat 
down in what had been his seat1 and     
tried to imagine that it was his seat   
still2 that ,bob would be in pretty     
soon1 and plague him while he studied   
his spelling-lesson4 ,but he could not  
do it4 ,things were different1--very    
different4 ,first and foremost1 there   

was ,ray3 he had not known him in those 
days2 if he had1 he said to himself1    
things would have been different long   
before they were4  ,going back up town  
he met ,mr4 ,holbrook1 who turned and   
walked with him4  ,and so1 he said1     
after the long talk was concluded1 you  
go next week1 do you8  ,next ,tuesday1  
sir4  ,well1 ,god bless you1 my friend1 
as ,he has1 and will4 ,then1 after a    
minute1 ,edward1 my son is a wanderer   
yet3 do you still remember him8         
,always1 sir1 ,edward answered1 in firm1
 steady tones2 and1 ,mr4 ,holbrook1 ,god
 never forgets6  ,as he went on past    
,mr4 ,minturn's store1 could he have    
heard the remarks that were made there1 
very likely he might have remembered a  
certain statement which he made to the  
little fishes that summer morning4  ,mr4
 ,minturn1 looking out after him1 said  
to ,mr4 ,dewey1--  ,there goes one of   
the finest and most promising young men 
in this town4  ,yes1 answered ,mr4      
,dewey1 laughing a little2 ,i used to   

notice that he improved every day after 
he brought back those circus tickets4   
,,chapter ,,xxviii4  ,for them shalt    
find it after many days4   ,come in2 and
 the ,rev4 ,edward ,lewis laid down his 
book1 pushed back his study chair1 and  
was ready to receive whoever was        
knocking at his study door4  ,mr4       
,lewis1 said the little girl who came in
 in answer to his invitation1 father has
 just come from the post office1 and he 
brought you some letters1 and here they 
are4  ,mr4 ,lewis thanked his little    
next-door neighbour1 took his letters1  
and1 when the room was quiet again1     
settled back in his chair to enjoy them4
  ,the first one was from a brother     
minister1 begging an exchange4 ,the next
 brought a look of surprise and delight 
to his face1 for he recognised ,ellis   
,holbrook's handwriting4 ,and the       
delight spread and deepened as he read2 
especially when he came to one sentence3
 ,i asked father what message he had for
 you1 and he replied1 ,send him this    

verse1 and tell him that again it is    
peculiarly his1 ',i love the ,lord1     
because ,he has heard my voice and my   
supplication4' ,that1 you see1 would    
have told me the whole story1 without   
this long letter4 ,i thank ,god that ,he
 put it into your heart to pray for me1 
as also that ,he has heard your prayers4
 ,god bless you4 ,by the way1 father    
wants you to assist him on the first    
,sabbath in ,july4 ,i earnestly hope you
 can do so2 he thinks you will be coming
 east about that time4  ,was there ever 
a more thankful heart than was that     
minister's as he laid down his old      
schoolfellow's letter8 ,how constantly1 
how sometimes almost hopelessly1 had he 
prayed for ,ellis ,holbrook6 ,how many  
times had he been obliged to reassure   
himself with the promise1 ,in due season
 we shall reap1 if we faint not4 ,and   
now again had ,god's word been verified 
to him4 ,he took the letter up once     
more1 to look lovingly at that closing1 
never before written by ,ellis1--,your  

brother in ,christ4  ,there was still   
another letter to read4 ,that writing1  
too1 was familiar2 he had received many 
reminders of it during the past years4  
,he laughed as he read1 it sounded so   
like the writer3--   ,,albany1 ,june--1 
#ah--4  ,,dear ,,tip1--,do you have     
,fourth of ,july out your way this year8
 ,we do here in ,albany2 rather1 ,i'm   
going to have one in my yard4 ,perhaps  
you remember a ,fourth of ,july which   
you took me to once1 when we were ragged
 little wretches at home8 ,i do1 anyhow1
 and this is to be twin-brother to that 
time4 ,all the ugly1 dingy little       
urchins that ,i know have been invited4 
,we're to have fine fireworks and fine  
singing and fine eating4 ,my wife added 
that last item1--thought it a great     
improvement4 ,i'm not sure but it is2   
most things are that she has a hand in4 
,now1 to come to the point of this      
letter1--you're to make the speech on   
that occasion4 ,no getting out of it    
now6 ,i planned this thing one day in   

the old schoolhouse4 ,oh1 did you know  
,mr4 ,burrows had given up teaching8    
,grown too old4 ,queer1 isn't it8 ,don't
 seem as if anybody was growing old     
except me4 ,at first ,i wasn't going to 
have my feast on the ,fourth1 because1  
you remember1 it was on that day that   
our blessed ,ray left us2 but1 talking  
with ,mr4 ,minturn about it1 he said    
,ray would have been delighted with it  
all1--and so he would1 you know4 ,don't 
think we are going to gather in all     
,albany2 it's only the younger scholars 
of the mission school1 in which my wife 
and ,i are interested4  ,tell ,howard   
and ,kitty to be sure and come2 they can
 put their visit a few weeks earlier as 
well as not4  ,oh1 by the way1 if you   
have heard from ,ellis ,holbrook lately1
 you are singing ',glory ,hallelujah' by
 this time6  ,i am writing this in the  
counting-room1 and am in a great hurry1 
though you wouldn't think it4 ,shall    
expect you by the third1 certainly4--   
,yours1 etc41  ,,bob ,,turner4   ,these 

letters came on ,saturday evening4 ,the 
next morning1 in ,sabbath school1 when  
the superintendent's bell rang1 the     
minister left his class of mission      
scholars1 and went up the aisle towards 
the altar1 pausing first to speak with a
 bright-eyed little lady1 who sat before
 her class of bright-eyed little girls4 
,kitty1 where is ,howard8  ,at home1    
coaxing a fit of sick headache4  ,well1 
here are letters that will interest you 
both1--came last evening2 one contains  
an invitation4 ,tell ,howard ,i think we
 must try to go4 ,mother bade me tell   
you she wanted to see you at the        
parsonage in the morning2 she is not out
 to-day4  ,then he went on4 ,the        
scholars began to sit up straight1 and  
fold their arms2 they knew they must    
listen if they wanted ,mr4 ,lewis to    
talk to them4 ,when every eye was fixed 
on him1 he began1--  ,children1 ,i have 
a very short story to tell you to-day   
about myself4 ,years ago1 when ,i was a 
little boy1 my ,sabbath school teacher  

told us a story1 one morning1 which was 
the means of bringing me to ,jesus4 ,i  
have to thank that lady1 next to ,god1  
that ,i am standing here to-day a       
minister of ,christ4 ,she was not our   
regular teacher1 but was a stranger2 ,i 
never saw her after that ,sabbath4      
,perhaps you can imagine how ,i have    
longed1 since ,i became a man and a     
minister1 to find that lady1 and tell   
her what one hour of faithful teaching  
did for me4 ,i thought it would help    
her1 encourage her4 ,i thought she would
 be likely to tell it to other teachers1
 and it would help them4 ,but though ,i 
had it always in mind1 and made very    
earnest efforts to find her1 ,i never   
succeeded until last week4 ,you know1   
children1 it is ten years since ,i came 
here to be your pastor1 and last week ,i
 learned that during all this time ,i   
have been living within twenty miles of 
the lady whom ,i have so long been      
seeking4 ,and what else do you think ,i 
heard of her8 ,why1 that two weeks ago  

she died4 ,scholars1 my first thought   
was a sad one1 that ,i never could thank
 her now4 ,but you know ,i can2 ,i      
expect to one of these days4 ,why1 when 
,i get to heaven1 one of the first      
things ,i shall do will be to seek her  
out and tell her about it4 ,so1 you see1
 she will know it1 even if some of the  
watching angels up there have not told  
her already4  ,just here1 ,i want to say
 one word to the teachers4 ,this        
incident should come with wonderful     
encouragement to your hearts1 reminding 
you that you may often speak words which
 spring up and bear fruit that reaches  
up to ,god1 though you do not know it1  
and will not1 until in heaven you take  
your crowns1 and question why there are 
so many stars4  ,children1 next ,sabbath
 ,i will tell you the story which led me
 to ,christ2 and all this week ,i am    
going to pray that it may have the same 
effect on some of my scholars4  ,it is  
time now for your verse4 ,if any of you 
can find out why what ,i have been      

telling you to-day made me think of this
 verse1 you may tell me next ,sabbath4  
,now repeat1--',cast thy bread upon the 
waters1 for thou shalt find it after    
many days4'