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+Project Gutenberg's Tip Lewis and His Lamp, by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+#2 in our series by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
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+Title: Tip Lewis and His Lamp
+
+Author: Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
+Release Date: January, 2006 [EBook #9648]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on October 13, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Joel Erickson, Mary Meehan, David Garcia
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP
+
+BY PANSY
+
+
+AUTHOR OF "ESTER RIED," "ESTER RIED YET SPEAKING," "MRS. SOLOMON SMITH
+LOOKING ON," "AN ENDLESS CHAIN," "FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA," ETC. ETC.
+
+
+
+
+TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"Cast thy bread upon the waters."
+
+
+The room was very full. Children, large and small, boys and girls, and
+some looking almost old enough to be called men and women, filled the
+seats. The scholars had just finished singing their best-loved hymn,
+"Happy Land;" and the superintendent was walking up and down the room,
+spying out classes here and there which were without teachers, and
+supplying them from the visitors' seat, which was up by the desk.
+
+The long seat near the door was filled this morning by half a dozen
+dirty, ragged, barefooted boys; their teacher's seat was vacant, and
+those boys looked, every one, as though they had come thither just to
+have a grand frolic.
+
+Oh, such bright, cunning, wicked faces as they had!
+
+Their torn pants and jackets, their matted hair, even the very twinkle in
+their eyes, showed that they were the "Mission Class."
+
+That is, the class which somebody had gathered from the little black,
+comfortless-looking houses which thronged a narrow back street of that
+village, and coaxed to come to the Sabbath school,--to this large, light,
+pleasant room, where the sun shone in upon little girls in white dresses,
+with blue and pink ribbons fluttering from their shoulders; and upon
+little boys, whose snowy linen collars and dainty knots of black ribbon
+had evidently been arranged by careful hands that very morning.
+
+But those boys in the corner kicked their bare heels together, pulled
+each other's hair, or laughed in each other's faces in the greatest
+good humour.
+
+The superintendent stopped before them.
+
+"Well, boys, good morning; glad to see you all here. Where's your
+teacher?"
+
+"Hain't got none!" answered one,
+
+"Gone to Guinea!" said another.
+
+"She was afraid of us," explained a third. "Tip, here, put his foot
+through one of her lace flounces last Sunday. Tip's the worst boy we've
+got, anyhow."
+
+The boys all seemed to think this was very funny, for they laughed so
+loudly that the little girls at their right looked over to see what was
+the matter.
+
+Tip ran his fingers through his uncombed hair, and laughed with the rest.
+
+"Well," said the superintendent, "I'm going to get you a teacher,--one
+you will like, I guess. I shall expect you to treat her well."
+
+There was just one person left on the visitors' seat,--a young lady who
+looked shy and quiet.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Parker," she said, when the superintendent told her what he
+wanted, "I can't take that class; I've watched those boys ever since
+they came in,--they look mischievous enough for anything, and act as
+they look."
+
+"Then shall we leave them with nothing but mischief to take up their
+attention?"
+
+"No, but--they really ought to have a better teacher than I,--some one
+who knows how to interest them."
+
+"But, Miss Perry, the choice lies between you and no one."
+
+And, while she still hesitated and looked distressed, Mr. Parker bent
+forward a little, and said softly,--
+
+"'Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these My brethren, ye
+did it not to Me.'"
+
+The lady rose quickly, and gathered her mantle about her.
+
+"I will go, Mr. Parker," she said, speaking quickly, as if afraid her
+courage would fail her. "Since there is no one else, I will do the best I
+can; but oh, I am afraid!"
+
+Down the long room, past the rows of neatly-dressed, attentive children,
+Mr. Parker led her to the seat near the door.
+
+"Now, boys," said he, "this is Miss Perry. Suppose you see if you can't
+all be gentlemen, and treat her well."
+
+Miss Perry sat down in the teacher's chair, her heart all in a flutter.
+She taught a class in her own Sabbath school hundreds of miles
+away,--five rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed little girls gathered around her
+every Sabbath; but they were little girls whose mothers had taught them
+to love their lessons, to listen respectfully to what their teacher
+said, to bow their heads reverently in prayer; and more than that, they
+loved her, and she loved them. But these boys! Still she must say
+something: six pairs of bright, roguish eyes, brimful of fire and fun,
+were bent on her.
+
+"Boys," she said gently, "have you any lessons for me?"
+
+"Not much," answered Bob Turner, who always spoke first.
+
+"We don't get lessons mostly. Don't come unless it's too hot to go
+fishing or berrying."
+
+"Tip comes 'cause he's too lazy to go past the door,"
+
+"I don't!" drawled out the boy they called Tip; "I come to get out of the
+sun; it's hotter than sixty down home."
+
+"Never mind, boys," said their frightened teacher; for they were all
+laughing now, as though the funniest thing in the world had happened.
+"See here, since you have no lessons, shall I tell you a story?"
+
+Oh yes, they were willing enough to hear a story, if it wasn't stupid.
+
+"I'll tell you something that happened to a boy when he was about
+thirteen years old. His name is Robert; he told me this story himself, so
+you may be sure it's true.
+
+"He said one evening he was walking slowly down the main street of the
+village where he lived"--
+
+"Where was that?" asked Bob Turner.
+
+"Oh, it was away out west. He said he felt cross and unhappy; he had
+nowhere in particular to go, and nothing to do. As he walked, he came to
+a turn where two roads met. 'Now,' thought he, 'shall I turn to the left
+and go home, and hang around until bed-time, or shall I turn to the right
+and go down to the river awhile?'
+
+"You see, Robert hadn't a happy home,--his mother was dead, and his
+father was a drunkard.
+
+"While he stood thinking, a boy came around the other corner, and
+called out,--
+
+"Going home, Rob?'
+
+"'Don't know,' said Robert; 'I can't make up my mind.'
+
+"'Suppose you come on down to our house, and we'll have a game of ball?'
+
+"Still Robert waited. He was fond of playing ball,--that was
+certain,--and he liked company better than to walk alone; why he should
+think of wandering off down to the river by himself he was sure he didn't
+know. Still something seemed to keep saying to him, 'Go this way--turn to
+the right; come, go to the river, 'until he said at last,--
+
+"'No; I guess I'll take a walk this way first.'
+
+"And he turned the corner, then he was but a few steps from the river."
+
+"What came of the other fellow?" asked Bob.
+
+"Why, some more boys came up just then, and he walked along with them.
+
+"There was a large elm-tree on the river bank, and there was one
+particular spot under it that Robert called his seat; but he found a
+gentleman seated there this time; he had a book in his hand, partly
+closed, and he was leaning back against a tree, watching the sunset.
+
+"He looked around as he heard Robert's step, and said, 'Good evening;
+will you have a seat?'
+
+"He moved along, and Robert sat down on the grass near him; then
+he said,--
+
+"'I heard a boy call out to another just now, "Going home, Robert?" Are
+you the boy?'
+
+"'No,' said Robert; 'Hal Carter screamed that out to me just as he came
+round the corner.'
+
+"'Oh, you are the one he was talking to. Well, I'll ask you the same
+question. _Are_ you going home?'
+
+"'No,' said Robert again; 'I have just walked straight away from home.'
+
+"'Yes; but are you going up _there_?' And the gentleman pointed up to the
+blue sky. 'That's the home I mean; I've just been reading about it; this
+river made me think of it. Where it says, you know, "And he showed me a
+pure river of water, clear as crystal." Then it goes on to describe the
+city with its "gates of pearl" and "streets of gold," the robes and
+crowns that the people wear, the harps on which they play, and, after
+this warm day, I couldn't help thinking that one of the pleasantest
+things about this home was the promise, "Neither shall the sun light on
+them, nor any heat." Aren't you going to that home, my boy?'"
+
+"'I don't know,' Robert said, feeling very much astonished."
+
+At this point the superintendent's bell rang, and Miss Perry had to
+hasten her story.
+
+"I haven't time, boys, to tell you all the gentleman said, but, after
+that talk, Robert began to think about these things a great deal, and
+pretty soon he learned to read the Bible and to pray. That was more than
+fifty years ago. He is an old minister now; I have heard him preach a
+great many times; and he told me once he should always believe God put it
+into his heart to turn to the right that evening, instead of the left."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Tip, just here; and Miss Perry stopped.
+
+"Joe pinched me," said Tip, to explain his part of the noise.
+
+But their teacher felt very badly; they had not listened to her story as
+though they cared to hear it; they had slid up and down the seat, pulled
+and pinched and pricked each other, and done a great many mischievous
+things since she commenced; and yet now and then they seemed to hear a
+few words; so she kept on, because she did not know what else to do.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Parker," she said, when the school was dismissed, and her noisy
+class had scrambled, some through the window and some through the door,
+"some man who understands boys ought to have had that class; I haven't
+done them any good, but I tried;" and there were tears in her eyes as
+she spoke.
+
+"You did what you could," said the superintendent kindly; "none of us
+can do more."
+
+Some loving voice ought to have whispered in that teacher's ear, "He that
+goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
+again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+"But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit."
+
+
+Tip Lewis yawned and stretched, and finally opened his eyes rather late
+on Monday morning.
+
+"Oh, bother!" he said, with another yawn, when he saw how the sun was
+pouring into the room; "I suppose a fellow has got to get up. I wish
+getting up wasn't such hard work,--spoils all the fun of going to bed;
+but then the old cat will be to pay, if I don't get around soon."
+
+And with this he rolled out; and when he was dressed, which was in a very
+few minutes after he tumbled out of his ragged bed, he was the self-same
+Tip who had been at the bottom of most of the mischief in Miss Perry's
+class the day before,--the very same, from the curly hair, not yet
+combed nor likely to be, down to the bare, soiled feet.
+
+The bed which he had just left, so far as neatness was concerned, looked
+very much like Tip, and the room looked like the bed; and they all looked
+about as badly as dust and rags and poverty could make them look.
+
+After running his fingers through his hair, by way of finishing his
+toilet, Tip made his way down the rickety stairs to the kitchen.
+
+It seemed as though that kitchen was just calculated to make a boy feel
+cross. The table stood against the wall on its three legs, the
+tablecloth was daubed with molasses and stained with gravy; a plate,
+with something in it which looked like melted lard, but which Tip's
+mother called butter, and a half loaf of bread, were the only eatable
+articles as yet on the table; and around these the flies had gathered in
+such numbers, that it almost seemed as though they might carry the loaf
+away entirely, if too many of them didn't drown themselves in the
+butter. Over all the July sun poured in its rays from the eastern
+window, the only one in the room.
+
+Tip stumbled over his father's boots, and made his way to the stove,
+where his mother was bending over a spider of sizzling pork.
+
+"Well," she said, as he came near, "did you get up for all day? I'd be
+ashamed--great boy like you--to lie in bed till this time of day, and let
+your mother split wood and bring water to cook your breakfast with."
+
+"You cooked, a little for you, too, didn't you?" asked Tip, in a saucy,
+good-natured tone. "Where's father?"
+
+"Just where you have been all day so far,--in bed and asleep. Such folks
+as I've got! I'm sick of living."
+
+And Mrs. Lewis stepped back from the steaming tea-kettle, and wiped great
+beads of perspiration from her forehead; then fanned herself with her big
+apron, looking meantime very tired and cross.
+
+Yet Tip's mother was not so cross after all as she seemed; had Tip only
+known it, her heart was very heavy that morning. She did not blame his
+father for his morning nap, not a bit of it; she was only glad that the
+weary frame could rest a little after a night of pain. She had been up
+since the first grey dawn of morning, bathing his head, straightening the
+tangled bedclothes, walking the floor with the restless baby, in order
+that her husband might have quiet. Oh no; there were worse women in the
+world than Mrs. Lewis; but this morning her life looked very wretched to
+her. She thought of her idle, mischievous boy; of her naughty,
+high-tempered little girl; of her fat, healthy baby, who took so much of
+her time; of her husband, who, though she never said it to him, or even
+to herself, yet she knew and felt was every day growing weaker; and with
+these came the remembrance that her own tired hands were all that lay
+between them and want; and it is hardly a wonder that her voice was sharp
+and her words ill chosen. For this mother tried to bear all her trials
+alone; she never went for help to the Redeemer, who said,--
+
+"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden."
+
+"Wah!" said Johnny, from his cradle in the bit of a bedroom near the
+kitchen,--which kitchen was all the room they had, save two tiny bedrooms
+and Tip's little den up-stairs.
+
+Mrs. Lewis glanced quickly towards the door of her husband's room; it was
+closed. Then she called,--
+
+"Kitty, make that baby go to sleep!"
+
+"Oh yes!" muttered Kitty, who sat on the floor lacing her old shoe with a
+white cord; "it's easy to say that, but I'd just like to see you do it."
+
+"Ah yah!" answered Johnny from the cradle, as though he tried to say, "So
+should I."
+
+Then, not being noticed, he gave up pretending to cry, and screamed in
+good earnest, loud, positive yells, which brought his mother in haste
+from the kitchen.
+
+"Ugly girl!" she said to Kitty, as she lifted the conquering hero from
+his cradle; "you don't care how soon your father is waked out of the only
+nap he has had all night. Why didn't you rock the cradle? I've a notion
+to whip you this minute!"
+
+"I did," answered Kitty sulkily; "and he opened his eyes at me as wide as
+he could stretch them."
+
+Crash! went something at that moment in the kitchen; and, with Johnny in
+her arms, Mrs. Lewis ran back to see what new trouble she had to meet.
+Tip, meantime, had been in business; being hungry, he had cut a slice of
+bread from the loaf, and, in the act of reaching over to help himself to
+some butter, hit his arm against a pitcher of water standing on the
+corner of the table. Over it went and broke, just as pitchers will
+whenever they get a chance. This was too much for the tired mother's
+patience; what little she had vanished. She tossed the slice of bread at
+Tip, and as she did so, said,--
+
+"There! take that and be off. Don't let me see a sight of your face
+again to-day. March this instant, or you will wish you had!"
+
+And in the midst of the din, while his mother looked after the pork,
+which had seized this occasion for burning fast to the spider, Tip
+managed to spread his slice of bread, find his hat, and make good his
+escape from the comfortless home.
+
+There was an hour yet to school-time; or, for the matter of that, he
+might have the whole day. Tip went to school, or let it alone, just as he
+pleased. He made his way straight to his favourite spot, the broad, deep
+pond, and laid himself down on its grassy bank to chat with the fishes.
+
+"My!" he said; "how nice they look whisking about. It's cool down there,
+I know; they don't mind the sun. I wish I had my fish-pole here, I'd have
+one of them shiny big fellows there for my dinner; only it's too hot to
+fish, and it would seem kind of mean, besides, to get him up here in this
+blazing sun. Hang me if I make even a fish get out of the water to-day,
+when it can stay in!"
+
+Of all the scholars in Miss Perry's class, the one who she would have
+said paid the least attention was this same boy who was lying on his face
+by the pond, envying the fishes. Yet Tip had heard nearly every word she
+said; and now, as he looked into the water, which lay cool in the shade
+of some broad, branching trees, there came into his heart the music of
+those words again,--
+
+"Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."
+
+"I declare," he said, as the meaning of those words dawned upon him, "I'd
+like that! they'll never be too warm again. It was a pretty nice story
+she told us about that boy. He couldn't have had a very good time; his
+father was a drunkard. I wish I knew just about what kind of a fellow he
+was; he turned right square round after that man talked to him. Now he is
+a minister; I suppose lots of people like him. It must be kind of nice,
+the whole of it. I would like to be somebody, as true as I live, I would.
+I'd like to have the people say, 'There goes Tip Lewis; he's the best boy
+in town.' Bless me! that would be funny; I don't believe they could ever
+say it; they are so used to calling me the worst, they couldn't help it.
+What if I should reform? I declare I don't know but I will."
+
+And Tip rolled over on his back, and looked up into the blue, cloudless
+sky; lying there, he certainly had some of the most sober thoughts,
+perhaps the only really sober ones he had ever known in his life. And
+when at last he slowly picked himself up, turned his back upon the
+darting fishes, and walked towards the school-house, he had in his mind
+some vague notion that perhaps he would be different from that time
+forth. Just what he was going to do, or how to commence doing it, he
+didn't know; but the story, to which he had seemed not to listen at all,
+had crept into his heart, had commenced its work; very dimly was it
+working, very blindly he might grope for a while, but the seed sown had
+taken root.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+"Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye did
+it unto Me."
+
+
+Around the corner, and far up the street from where Tip Lewis lived,
+there stood a large white house; not another house in the village was so
+beautiful as this. Many a time had Tip walked slowly by the place, and
+cast the most admiring glances on the broad green lawns and bubbling
+fountain, of which he caught; glimpses from the road. Often he had stood
+outside, at the great gate, and fairly _longed_ for a nearer view of that
+same fountain; for the truth was, though he was such a rough,
+mischief-making,--yes, a _wicked_ boy, down in his heart he had a great
+love for beautiful things.
+
+On this Fourth of July morning, Tip was up and abroad very early. He held
+a horse, which had been so frightened by fire-crackers that it wouldn't
+stand still a minute, and the owner of it gave him ten cents, with which
+he immediately bought fire-crackers for himself, and frightened the very
+next horse he saw. When the great cannon on the hill was fired, he got in
+the way, just as much as he knew how, which was a great deal; he
+contrived to be around when the largest bell was rung, and add his voice
+to the uproar among the boys who were gathered around the church doors;
+indeed, wherever there was commotion or confusion, Tip managed very soon
+to be, and to do his part towards making the most of it.
+
+About ten o'clock he had lived out the most of his pleasures, having been
+on hand since a little after three. He had no more money to spend, saw no
+chance of getting any more; he had had no breakfast, and was very much in
+doubt as to whether he would get any, if he took the trouble to go home;
+he had some way lost track of all his companions; and, altogether, he was
+beginning to feel as if the Fourth of July were a humbug. He felt
+ill-used, angry; it seemed to him that he was being cheated out of a good
+time that he expected to have. He sat down on the edge of an old
+sugar-barrel and thought about it a while; then finally, with his hands
+in his pockets, and whistling "Yankee Doodle" in honour of the day, he
+sauntered along the street in search of something to take up his time.
+
+Hurrying towards him, with hands not in his pockets, but full of
+packages, came Mr. Mintum, the owner of the grand white house on the
+hill.
+
+To Tip's surprise, the gentleman halted suddenly before him, and, eyeing
+him closely, asked, "Whose boy are you?"
+
+"John Lewis's."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"T'other side of the pond, by the mill."
+
+"Oh, your father is the carpenter, I suppose,--I know him. What's
+your name?"
+
+"Tip."
+
+"Tip! What kind of a name is that? is it all the one you own?"
+
+"Well," said Tip, "I suppose my name was Edward when I was a little
+shaver; but nobody knows it now; I don't myself."
+
+"Well, Tip, then, I'll call you that, for I want you to know yourself
+to-night. What are you going to do?"
+
+"When? to-night? Oh, hang around, I s'pose,--have some fun, if I can
+find any."
+
+"Fun. Is that what you're after? You come up to my house to-night at
+dark, and see if you can find it there. We are going to have fireworks,
+and songs, and all the fun we can."
+
+Tip was not by any means a bashful boy, and it took a great deal to
+astonish him; but this sudden invitation almost took his breath away. The
+idea that Mr. Minturn had actually invited _him_, Tip Lewis, to come to
+the white house!--to come near to that wonderful fountain, near enough
+perhaps to feel the dash of its spray! He could have danced for joy; yet,
+when Mr. Minturn said, "Well, will you come?" for the first time in his
+life he was known to stammer and hesitate.
+
+"I--I don't--know. I haven't got any clothes."
+
+"Clothes!" repeated Mr. Minturn; "what do you call those things which
+you have on?"
+
+"I call 'em _rags_, sir," answered Tip, his embarrassment gone, and the
+mischief twinkling back into his face again.
+
+Mr. Minturn laughed, and looked down on the torn jacket and pants.
+
+"Not a bad name," he said at last. "But you've got water at your house,
+haven't you?"
+
+"Lots of it."
+
+"Then put your head into a tub of it, and a clean face up to my house
+to-night, and we'll try and find that fun you're looking for."
+
+And Mr. Minturn, who had spent a great deal of time for him, was passing
+on. "See here!" he called, after he had moved forward a few steps; "if
+you see any boy raggeder than you are yourself, bring him along,--bring
+every boy and girl you meet who haven't anywhere else to go."
+
+"Ho!" said Tip, as soon as the gentleman was at safe distance; "if this
+isn't rich, then I don't know,--fireworks in that great yard, pretty near
+the fountain maybe, and lots of fun. We can take anybody we like. I know
+what I'll do. I'll hunt up Bob Turner; his jacket has got enough sight
+more holes in it than mine has. Oh, ho! ain't it grand, though?" And Tip
+clapped his hands and whistled, and at last, finding that didn't express
+his feeling, said, "Hurrah!" in a good strong tone.
+
+Yes, hurrah! Tip is right; it is glorious to think that one man out of
+his abundance is going to open his heart, and gather in God's poor, and,
+for one evening at least, make them happy.
+
+God bless Mr. Minturn!
+
+Never had the good man's grounds entertained such a group as, from all
+quarters of the large town, gathered before it was quite dark.
+
+Ragged boys and girls! If those were what be wanted, he had them, sure
+enough, of almost every age and size. There were some not so
+ragged,--some in dainty white dresses and shining jackets; but they went
+down and mingled with the others,--brothers and sisters for that night at
+least,--and were all, oh, _so_ happy!
+
+How they _did_ dance and laugh and scream around that fountain, and snap
+torpedoes and fire-crackers, and shout with wild delight when the rockets
+shot up into the sky, or the burning wheels span round and round,
+scattering showers of real fire right in among the crowds of children!
+
+Well, the evening hasted away; the very last rocket took its bright,
+rushing way up into the blue sky; and Mr. Minturn gathered his company
+around the piazza with the words,--
+
+"Now, children, Mr. Holbrook has a few words to say to you, and after
+that, as soon as we have sung a hymn, it will be time to go home."
+
+Mr. Holbrook was the minister; many of the children knew him well, and
+most of them were ready to hear what he had to say, because they knew, by
+experience, that he was old enough and wise enough not to make a long,
+dry speech after nine o'clock on the Fourth of July.
+
+Only Tip, as he turned longingly away from the last dying spark of the
+rocket, muttered, "Bother the preaching!"
+
+Mr. Holbrook came forward to the steps, as the boys and girls gathered
+around him.
+
+"Children," said he, "we have had a good time, haven't we?"
+
+"Yes, sir!" came in a loud chorus from many voices.
+
+"Yes; I thought you acted as though you felt pretty happy. Now this has
+been a busy day, and we are all tired, so I'm not going to keep you here
+to make a speech to you; I just want to tell you, in as few words as I
+can, what I have been thinking about since I stood here to-night. I have
+watched you as you frolicked around that fountain,--so many young, bright
+faces, all looking so happy,--and I said to myself, When the time comes
+for us to gather around that fountain of living water which is before the
+throne of God, I wonder if _one_ of these boys and girls will be
+missing--_one_ of them? Oh, children, I pray God that you may _all_ be
+there, _every_ one."
+
+Just a little speech it was,--so little that the youngest there might
+almost remember the whole of it,--yet it meant _so_ much.
+
+Tip Lewis had wedged his way in among the boys until he stood very near
+the minister, and his face wore a sober, thoughtful look. It was only
+two days since his long talk with himself at the pond. Fourth of July,
+with all the merrymaking and mischief that it brought to him, had nearly
+driven sober thoughts from his mind, but the minister's solemn words
+brought back the memory of his half-formed resolves, and again he said to
+himself he believed he would reform; this time he added that if he knew
+about _how_ to do it, he would begin right away. He felt it more than
+ever when the sweet voices of many children floated out on the evening
+air, as they sang,--
+
+  "I have read of a world of beauty,
+    Where there is no gloomy night,
+  Where love is the mainspring of duty,
+    And God is the fountain of light.
+  I have read of the flowing river
+    That bursts from beneath the throne,
+  And beautiful flowers that ever
+    Are found on its banks alone.
+  I long--I long--I long to be there!"
+
+If somebody had only known Tip's thoughts as he stood there listening to
+the beautiful Sabbath school hymn! If somebody had only bent down to him,
+and whispered a few words, just to set his poor wandering feet into the
+narrow way, how blessed it would have been: but nobody did.
+
+Ah, never mind! God knew, and took care of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+"They that seek Me shall find Me."
+
+
+Mrs. Lewis's room was in order for once; swept, and even dusted; the
+cook-stove cooled off, and the green paper curtain at the window let
+down, to shut out the noise and dust; it was quiet there too.
+
+Kitty stood in the open door, her face and hands clean, hair combed, and
+dress mended; stood quite still, and with a sober face, unmindful, for
+once, that there were butterflies to chase and flies to kill all around
+her. In the only comfortable seat in the room, a large old-fashioned
+arm-chair, sat the worn, wasted frame of Kitty's father. There was a look
+of hopeless sadness settled on his face. Neither Tip nor his mother were
+to be seen. One or two women were moving through the house, with quiet
+steps, bringing in chairs and doing little thoughtful things in and
+about that wonderfully orderly room.
+
+On the table was that which told the whole story of this unusual
+stillness and preparation. It was a pine coffin, very small and plain;
+and in it, with folded hands and brown hair rolled smoothly back from his
+baby forehead, little Johnny lay, asleep. Somebody, with a touch of
+tenderness, had placed a just budding rose in the tiny white hand, and
+baby looked very sweet and beautiful in his narrow bed. Poor little
+Johnny! his had been a sad, neglected babyhood; many weary hours had he
+spent in his cradle, receiving only cross looks from Kitty, and neglected
+by the mother, who, though she loved Johnny, and even because she loved
+him, must leave him to work for her daily bread. But it was all over now:
+Johnny's cries would never disturb them again; Johnny's weary little body
+rested quietly in its coffin; Johnny's precious self was gathered in the
+Saviour's arms.
+
+Tip came out of the bedroom, and softly approached the coffin; his hair,
+too, was partly combed, and some attempt had been made to put his ragged
+clothes in order. His heart swelled, and the tears gathered in his eyes,
+as they rested on the baby.
+
+Tip loved his little brother, and though he had not had much to do with
+him, yet he had this much to comfort him,--Johnny had received only
+kindness and good-natured words from him, which was more than Kitty could
+say. As she stood there in the door, it seemed to her that every time she
+had ever said cross, naughty words to the poor baby, or turned away from
+his pitiful cry for comfort, or shook his little helpless self, came back
+to her now,--stood all around his coffin, and looked straight at her.
+Poor Kitty thought if he could _only_ come back to them for a little
+while, she would hold him in her arms all night, without a murmur.
+
+People began to come in now from the lowly houses about them, and fill
+the empty chairs. Mrs. Lewis came out from the bedroom, and sat down
+beside the arm-chair, thankful that her tear-stained face and swollen
+eyes were hidden, by the thick black veil which some thoughtful neighbour
+had sent for her use.
+
+In a few minutes a dozen or more people had filled up the vacant spaces
+in the little room, and Mr. Holbrook arose from his seat at the
+coffin's head.
+
+Tip turned quickly at the first sound of his voice, and listened eagerly
+while he read from the book in his hand, "And I saw the dead, small and
+great, stand before God," listening until the closing sentence was read,
+"And there shall be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
+shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away."
+
+Tip had never paid such close attention to anything in his life as he did
+to Mr. Holbrook's words; after that they were very simple and plain
+spoken, so that a child might understand them, and were about heaven,
+that beautiful city of which Tip had heard and thought more during the
+last three weeks than he ever had in his life before. His heart had been
+in a constant Struggle with Satan, ever since that morning in the Sabbath
+school. He didn't know enough to understand that it was Satan's evil
+voice which was constantly persuading him that he could not be anybody,
+that-he was only a poor, miserable, ragged boy, with nobody to help him,
+nobody to show him what to do; that he might as well not try to be
+anything but what he was; and he didn't know either that the other voice
+in his heart which struggled with the evil counsel, which said to him,
+"Other boys as poor and ignorant as you are have reformed; that Robert
+did about whom the teacher told you; and then, if you don't, you will
+never see that river nor the fountain, nor the streets of gold," was the
+dear, loving voice of his Redeemer.
+
+Now, as he listened to Mr. Holbrook, and heard how Johnny, little Johnny
+whom he loved, had surely gone up there to be with Christ for ever, and
+how Jesus, looking down on the father and mother, and the children who
+were left, said to them, "I want you, too, to give Me your hearts, so
+that when I gather My jewels I may come for you." The weak, struggling
+resolves in his heart grew strong, and he said within himself, while the
+tears fell slowly down his cheeks, "I will; I'll begin to-day."
+
+The coffin-lid was screwed down, and Johnny's baby-face shut out from
+them for ever. A man came forward and took the light burden in his arms,
+and bore it out to the waggon; down the narrow street they drove, to the
+burial-ground, which was not far away. They laid Johnny down to sleep
+under the shade of a large old tree; and the grass waved softly, and the
+birds sang low, and the angels surely sang in heaven, because another
+little form was numbered among the thousands of children who stand
+"around the Throne."
+
+The people moved slowly from the grave,--all but Tip; he didn't want to
+leave Johnny; he wanted to follow him, and he didn't know how. Mr.
+Holbrook glanced back at the boy standing there alone, paused a moment,
+then, turning back, laid his hand gently on Tip's shoulder.
+
+"You can go up there too, my boy, if you will," he said, in a low,
+kind tone.
+
+Tip looked up quickly, then down again; he wanted to ask how--what he
+should do; but his voice choked, he could not speak a word; and with the
+earnest sentence, "God bless you, my little friend, and lead you to
+Himself," Mr. Holbrook turned and left him.
+
+Tip wandered away into the woods for a little. When he returned the earth
+was heaped up fresh and black over the new mound, and Johnny was left
+underneath it all alone. Tip walked around it slowly, trying to take in
+the thought that the baby was lying there; that they should never see him
+again; trying, a moment after, to take in the thought that he was not
+there at all, but had gone up to the beautiful world which the hymn told
+about; then he thought of the chorus, and almost felt it.--"I long, I
+long, I long to be there."
+
+Tip had heard people pray; he had been to Sabbath school often enough to
+catch and remember most of the words of the Lord's Prayer; he knew enough
+of God to understand that He could hear prayer, and that His help must be
+asked if one wanted to get to heaven. He hesitated a moment, glanced half
+fearfully around him,--no one was there, no one but himself, and Johnny,
+lying low at his feet, and God looking down upon him. Presently he knelt
+down before the little grave, and began,--
+
+"Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom
+come"--Then he stopped. Tip was in earnest now; he did not understand
+that prayer: he felt as though he was not saying what he meant. He
+commenced again,--
+
+"Oh, Jesus, I want"--Then he waited a minute. What did he want? "I want
+to be different; I'm a wicked boy. I want to go where Johnny is when I
+die. Do show me how!"
+
+Did Jesus ever fail to hear such a prayer as that,--simple, earnest,
+every word of it _felt? Never_--and He never will.
+
+Tip rose up from that spot feeling that something was different. Ay, and
+always would be different; the Saviour had reached down and taken hold of
+the young seeker's hand, and would for ever after lead him up toward God.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+"Thy word is a lamp to my feet."
+
+
+The Sabbath morning sun awoke Tip from a heavy sleep. He lay still a
+few moments, thinking who he was. Things were different: he was not
+simply Tip Lewis, a ragged little street boy, any longer; this was the
+morning when he was going to start out under a new motto, with Jesus
+for his guide.
+
+He was going to Sabbath school. He had not been since the morning that
+Miss Perry had taught the class, and told the story which was to be a
+blessing to him through all his future life. His evil spirit had been
+strong upon him during the three Sabbath mornings that had passed since
+then, and persuaded him to stay away from the school, but this morning
+he was resolved to go. He had a secret hope that he should see Miss
+Perry again, for he did not know that she was hundreds of miles away
+from that village, and would probably never be there again; all he knew
+was, that a gentleman had brought her to the door, and introduced her
+to the superintendent as Miss Perry; that much he heard as he sat
+gazing at them.
+
+This morning he judged by the sun that it was pretty late, yet he didn't
+get on very fast with the business of dressing: he sat down on the foot
+of the bed, and looked sorrowfully at his jacket; he even turned it
+inside out to see if it wouldn't improve its appearance, but he shook his
+head, and speedily turned it back again.
+
+If he "only had a collar," he said to himself,--"a smooth white collar,
+to turn down over the worn-out edges,--it would make things look _so_
+much better." But that was something he had never had in his life, and he
+put on the old ragged brown jacket with a sigh. Then he put on his shoes,
+and took them off again: the question was, which looked the best,--shoes
+which showed every one of his toes peeping out on the top, or no shoes at
+all? Suddenly a bright idea struck him: if his feet were only white and
+clean, he thought they would certainly look much better. Down he went to
+the rickety pump in the back yard, and face, hands, and feet took such a
+washing as they had never received before; then the old comb had to do
+duty. Tip had never had such a time getting dressed; but, some way, he
+felt a great longing this morning to make himself look neatly; 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 done. Still, to carry a
+freshly-washed face and hands and smooth hair was the very best he could
+do; and, if he had but known it, these things made a great improvement.
+
+He made his way half shyly into the mission seat, for the truth was he
+did not know just how the boys would receive his attempt at
+respectability; but he had no trouble, for several of his companions had
+seen his face when he took his last look into that little coffin the day
+before, and they felt sorry for him.
+
+No Miss Perry appeared; and it seemed, at first, that the mission boys
+were to have no teacher. It was a warm morning, and the visitors' seat
+was vacant.
+
+But there was at last a great nudging of elbows, and whispers of "Look
+out now!" "We're in a scrape!" "No chance for fun today!" And only Tip's
+eyes looked glad when Holbrook halted before their class, with "Good
+morning, boys." Then, "Good morning Edward; I am glad to see you here
+to-day;" and the minister actually held out his hand to Tip. Mr. Holbrook
+never called him Tip; he had asked him one morning what his real name
+was, and since then had spoken it, "Edward," in clear, plain tones.
+
+It was a restless, wearying class. It required all Mr. Holbrook's wits
+and wisdom to keep them in any sort of order, to gain any part of their
+attention. Yet it was not as bad as usual; partly because the minister
+knew how, if anybody did, to teach just such boys, and partly because
+Tip, hitherto the spirit of all the mischief there, never took his eyes
+from the teacher's face. Mr. Holbrook watched his close attention, and
+took courage. When the other scholars passed out, he laid his hand on
+Tip's arm, with the words, "You have been a good listener to-day, Edward,
+Did you understand the story I told, of the boy who started on a journey
+to the Holy Land?"
+
+"Some of it I did: you meant that he started for heaven."
+
+"You understand it, I see. Don't you want to take that journey?"
+
+"I mean to, sir."
+
+"'Help Thou mine unbelief,'" was Mr. Holbrook's prayer just then. He had
+hoped for, longed for, prayed for these boys, especially for this one
+since the day before; yet he was astonished when he received the firm,
+prompt answer, "I mean to, sir,"--astonished, as too many are, that his
+prayer was heard.
+
+"Have you started, my boy?" he asked, speaking with a little tremble in
+his voice.
+
+"Yes, sir, I've tried; I told God last night that I would, but I don't
+much know how."
+
+"You want a lamp, don't you?"
+
+"A what, sir?"
+
+"A lamp. You remember in the story the boy found dark places every
+little way; then he took out his lamp, so he couldn't lose the road.
+Don't you need it?"
+
+"I want some help, but I don't know as a lamp would do me any good."
+
+"Ah yes; the one I mean will surely help you, if you give it a chance."
+Mr. Holbrook took from his pocket a small, red-covered book, and held it
+up. "Do you know what book this is?" he asked.
+
+"It's a Bible, ain't it?"
+
+"Yes. Have you ever read in the Bible?"
+
+"Some, at school."
+
+"You know, then, that God told men just what to say, and they wrote it
+here, so you see that makes it God's words; that is what we call it
+sometimes,--the Word of God. Now, let me show you something." He turned
+the leaves rapidly, then pointed with his finger to a verse; and Tip
+read, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet."
+
+"Oh," he said, with a bright look, "that is the kind of lamp you mean!"
+
+"That is it; and, my boy, I want you to take this for your lamp. There is
+no place on the whole road so dark but that it can light you through, if
+you try it. When you don't understand it, there is always Jesus to go to,
+you know." And, taking out his pencil, Mr. Holbrook wrote on the
+fly-leaf, in plain, round letters, "Edward Lewis." Then, handing the book
+to him, with a bow and smile, the minister turned away.
+
+Tip walked out of the school and down the road, holding his treasure
+closely. Such a queer, new feeling possessed him. Things were really to
+be different, then. The minister had talked with him, had shaken hands
+with him, and given him a Bible. And here he was walking quietly away
+from the school, all alone, instead of leading a troop of noisy boys,
+intent on mischief.
+
+"Oh, Tip Lewis," he said to himself, as he hugged his book, "I don't know
+but you will be somebody, after all; you mean to try with all your might,
+don't you? and you've got a lamp now!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I
+will guide thee with Mine eye."
+
+
+"Why," said Tip, as he sat on the foot of the bed, turning over the
+leaves of his Bible,--"why, that is the very thing I want. 'I will
+instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.' Yes,
+that's exactly it. I want to begin to-day, and do every single thing so
+different from what I ever did before, that nobody will know me. Now, if
+He'll help me, I can do it. I'll learn that verse."
+
+The verse was repeated many times over, for Tip was not used to
+study. While he was busy thus, the Spirit of God put another thought
+into his heart.
+
+"I must ask Christ to help me now," he said, with reverent face; and,
+kneeling down, he made known his wants in very simple words, and in that
+plain, direct way which God loves. Then he went down--stairs, prepared
+for whatever should befall him that day.
+
+Kitty was up, and rattling the kitchen stove.
+
+"Kitty, what's to pay?" Tip asked, as he appeared in the door.
+
+"What's to pay with you? How did you happen to get up?" Receiving no
+answer to this, she continued, "The old cat is to pay,--everywhere,--and
+always is! These nasty shavings are soaked through and through, and the
+wood is rotten,--and there isn't any wood anyway,--and I can't make this
+fire burn to save my life. Mother is sick in bed,--can't sit up at all.
+She told me to make a cup of tea for father, and things look as if it
+would get made some time next month."
+
+Kitty was only twelve years old, but, like most of those children who
+have been left to bring themselves up, and pick up wisdom and wickedness
+wherever they are to be found, she was wonderfully old in mind; and was
+so used to grumbling and snarling, that she could do it very rapidly.
+
+"Oh," said Tip to himself, drawing a long breath, "what a place for me to
+commence in!" Then he came bravely to Kitty's aid.
+
+"See here, Kitty, don't make such a rattling; you'll wake father. I can
+make this fire in a hurry. I have made one out of next to nothing, lots
+of times; you just put some water in the tea-kettle, and we'll have a cup
+of tea in a jiff."
+
+Kitty stood still in her astonishment, and watched him while he took out
+the round green sticks that she had put in, laid in bits of dry paper and
+bits of sticks,--laid them in such a careless, uneven way, that it seemed
+to her they would never burn in the world; only he speedily proved that
+they would, by setting fire to the whole, and they crackled and snapped
+in a most determined manner, and finally roared outright.
+
+Certainly Kitty had never been so much astonished in her life. First,
+because that rubbish in the stove had been made to become such a positive
+fire; secondly, that Tip had actually set to work without being coaxed or
+scolded, and made a fire!
+
+There was a queer, new feeling about it all to Tip himself; for, strange
+as it may seem, so entirely selfish had been this boy's life, that this
+was actually the first time he had ever, of his own free will, done
+anything to help the family at home. His spirits rose with the effort.
+
+"Come, Kitty," he said briskly, "here's your fire. Now, let's fly
+round and get father and mother some breakfast. Say, do you know how
+to make toast?"
+
+"It's likely I do," Kitty answered shortly. "If you had roasted your face
+and burnt your fingers as often as I have, making it for father, I guess
+you would know how."
+
+"Well, now, just suppose we make two slices,--one for mother, and one
+for father,--and two cups of tea. My! you and I will be jolly
+housekeepers, Kitty."
+
+"Humph!" said Kitty contemptuously.
+
+You see she wasn't in the least used to being good-natured, and it took a
+great deal of coaxing to make her give other than short, sharp answers to
+all that was said. But, for all that, she went to work, after Tip had
+poured some water in the dingy little tea-kettle and set it over the
+fire, cutting the two slices of bread, and getting them ready to toast
+when there should be any coals.
+
+Tip, meantime, hunted among the confusion, of all sorts of things in the
+cupboard, for two clean plates and cups.
+
+"You're taken with an awful clean fit, seems to me," Kitty said, as she
+stood watching him while he hunted for a cloth, then carefully wiped off
+the plates.
+
+"Yes," answered Tip good-naturedly; "I'm going to try it for a spell,
+and find out how things look after they are washed."
+
+Altogether it was a queer morning to both of them; and each felt a touch
+of triumph when at last the toast lay brown and nice, a slice on each
+plate, and the hot tea, poured into the cups, smelled fresh and fragrant.
+The two children went softly to the bedroom door in time to hear their
+father say,--
+
+"What makes you try to get up, if your head is so bad?"
+
+"Oh, what makes me! What else is there for _me_ to do? The young ones are
+both up, and if I find the roof left on the house I'll be thankful. I
+never knew them to stay together five minutes without having a battle."
+
+At almost any other time in her life these words would have made Kitty
+very angry; but this morning she was intent on not letting her tea spill
+over on the toast, and so paid very little attention to them.
+
+Tip marched boldly in with his dish, Kitty following.
+
+"Lie still, mother, till you get some of our tea and toast, and I reckon
+it will cure you."
+
+Mrs. Lewis raised herself on one elbow, saw the beautiful brown slices,
+caught a whiff of the fragrant tea, then asked wonderingly,--
+
+"Who's here?"
+
+"Kitty and me," Tip made answer, proudly and promptly.
+
+Something very like a smile gathered on Mrs. Lewis's worn, fretful face.
+
+"Well, now," she said, "if I ain't beat! It's the last thing on earth I
+ever expected you to do."
+
+What spell had come over Tip? Breakfast was a great success. After it was
+over he found a great many things to do; the rusty old axe was hunted up,
+and some hard knots made to become very respectable-looking sticks of
+wood, which he piled in the wood-box. Kitty, under the influence of his
+strange behaviour, washed the dishes, and even got out the broom and
+swept a little.
+
+Altogether, that was a day long to be remembered by Tip, a day in which
+he began his life afresh. He made some mistakes; for he fancied, in his
+ignorance, that the struggle was over,--that he had only to go forward
+joyfully over a pleasant road.
+
+He found out his mistake: he discovered that Satan had not by any means
+given him up; that he must yet fight many hard, hard battles.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+"Fear not, for I have redeemed thee."
+
+
+"They must have had an earthquake down at Lewis's this morning," Howard
+Minturn said to the boys who were gathered around the schoolroom door.
+"The first bell has not rung yet, and there comes Tip up the hill."
+
+Up the hill came Tip, sure enough, with a firm, resolute step. The summer
+vacation was over. The fall term was to commence this morning, and among
+the things which Tip had resolved to do was this one, to come steadily
+and promptly to school during the term, which was something that he had
+never done in his life. The public school was the best one in the
+village, so he had the best boys in town for school companions, as well
+as some of the worst.
+
+"Hallo, Tip!" said Bob Turner, coming partly down the hill to meet him.
+"How are you, old fellow?"
+
+Bob had been away during most of the vacation, and knew nothing of the
+changes which there had been in his absence. Tip winced a little at his
+greeting; shivered a little at the thought of the temptation which Bob
+would be to him.
+
+The two had been linked together all their lives in every form of
+mischief and wrong; they seemed almost a part of each other,--at least,
+they _had_ seemed so until within these few weeks. Now, Tip _felt_ rather
+than knew how far separated they must be.
+
+The bell rang, and the boys jostled and tumbled against each other to
+their seats.
+
+Bob Turner, as usual, seated himself beside Tip; but then Bob only came
+to school about two forenoons in a week, so perhaps they might get along.
+
+When the Bible reading commenced, Tip hesitated, and his face flushed; he
+had never owned a Bible to read from before, but this morning his new one
+lay in his pocket. The question was, Had he courage to take it out? What
+would the boys think? What would they say? How should he answer them?
+
+He began to think he would wait until tomorrow morning; then he grew
+hot and ashamed as he saw that he was already trying to hide his
+colours. Suddenly he drew out his Bible, and began very hurriedly to
+turn the leaves.
+
+Bob heard the rustling, and, glancing around, puckered his lips as if he
+were going to whistle, and, snatching the book, read the name which Mr.
+Holbrook had written therein; then he whispered, "You don't say so! When
+did we steal a Bible, and turn saint?"
+
+The blood growing hotter and redder in Tip's cheeks was his only answer;
+but he felt that his temptation had begun. The next thing was to read;
+when he had finally found the place, even though there were more than
+fifty voices reading those same words, yet poor Tip imagined that his
+would be louder than all the rest, and he choked and coughed, and made
+more than one trial before he forced his voice to join, even in a
+whisper, at the words, "And they clothed Him with purple, and plaited a
+crown of thorns and put it about His head."
+
+It did not help him in his reading that Bob made his lips move with the
+rest, but said, loud enough for him to hear,--
+
+  "The man in the moon
+  Came down too soon,"
+
+and continued to repeat some senseless or wicked rhymes, through the
+reading of the beautiful chapter.
+
+How thankfully Tip bowed his head that morning; his heart had taken in
+some of the sweet words. That sacred head had been crowned with thorns,
+indeed, but he knew it was crowned with glory now,--and he knew that
+Christ had suffered and died for him! He joined with his whole heart in
+Mr. Burrows's prayer; and, though Bob pulled his hair and tickled his
+foot and stepped on his toes, the bowed head was not lifted, and his
+spirit gathered strength.
+
+But Tip never forgot the trials of that day, nor the hard work which he
+had to endure them. Bob was, as usual, overflowing with mischief, and,
+failing in finding the willing helper which he had expected in his old
+companion, took revenge in aiming a great many of his pranks at him. Such
+senseless, silly things as he did to annoy! Tip spread his slate over
+with a long row of figures which he earnestly tried to add, and, having
+toiled slowly up the first two columns, Bob's wet finger was slyly drawn
+across it, and no trace of the answer so hardly earned appeared.
+
+Then, too, he had his own heart to struggle against: he was so used to
+whispering to this and that boy seated near him, to eating apples when
+the teacher's back was turned, to making an ugly-looking picture on a
+piece of paper and pinning it on the back of a small boy before him. He
+was so unused to sitting still, and trying to study.
+
+What hard work it was to study, any way! It seemed to him that he could
+never get that spelling-lesson in the world; the harder he tried, the
+more bewildered he grew. A dozen times he spelled the two words, receive
+and believe, standing so closely together, each time sure he was right,
+and each time discovering that the i's and e's must change places; he
+grew utterly provoked and disheartened, and would have fairly cried, had
+not Bob been beside him to see the tears, and grow merry over them.
+
+Finally, he lost all patience with Bob, and, turning fiercely to him,
+after he had for the third time pitched the greasy old spelling-book
+upside down on the floor, said,--
+
+"Look here, now, if you come that thing again, I'll pitch you out of the
+window quicker than wink!"
+
+"Edward Lewis marked for whispering," said Mr. Burrows. "Edward, you
+have commenced the term as usual, I see,--the first one marked for
+bad conduct."
+
+How Tip's ears burned! How untrue it was! He had not commenced this term
+as usual; how differently he had tried to commence it, only he and God
+knew. And now to fail thus early in the day! His head seemed to spin and
+his brain reel; he bowed himself on the seat again, but Bob's head went
+down promptly, and he whispered,--
+
+  "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep!"
+
+How often Tip had thought such things as these so very funny that he
+could not possibly help laughing; how silly and meaningless--yes, and
+cruel--did they seem to him now! Oh, Satan was struggling for Tip to-day:
+he was reaping the fruits of long weeks spent in evil company and folly.
+
+He looked over to the back seats, where sat Howard Minturn and Ellis
+Holbrook, hard at work on their algebra lesson, nobody thinking of such a
+thing as disturbing them; and, as he looked, sighed heavily. If he had
+only gained such a place as they had in the school, how easily he could
+work to-day. They were very little older than he, yet here he was trying
+to do an example in addition, doing it over four times before it was
+right,--and they were at the head of the class in algebra. If he could
+only jump to where they were, and go on with them! And the hopelessness
+of this thought made his spelling-lesson seem harder; so it was no
+wonder, when the class formed, and he took his old place at the foot, and
+he stayed there, and spelled believe _ei_ after all; nobody was
+surprised, but nobody knew how very, _very_ hard he had tried.
+
+The long day, crowded full of trouble and temptation to poor Tip, wore
+away. At recess he wandered off by himself, trying hard to get back some
+of the strong, firm hopes of the morning.
+
+One more sharp trial was in store for him. Towards the close of the
+afternoon Bob's fun took the form of paper balls, which, at every turn of
+Mr. Burrows's back, spun through the room in all directions; two or three
+of the smaller scholars joined him, and a regular fire of balls was kept
+up. The boys complained--Mr. Burrows scolded.
+
+At last he spoke this short, prompt sentence: "The next boy I catch
+throwing paper, or anything else, in this room to-day, I shall punish
+severely; and I shall expect any scholar who sees anything of this kind
+going on to inform me."
+
+Not five minutes after that Mr. Burrows bent over his desk in search of
+something within, when--whisk! went the largest paper ball that had been
+thrown that day, and landed on the teacher's forehead. Some of the
+scholars laughed, some looked grave and startled, for Mr. Burrows was a
+man who always meant what he said.
+
+"Does any one know who threw that ball?" he asked, closing his desk and
+speaking in a calm, steady tone.
+
+No reply,--silence for a minute. Then, "Ellis Holbrook, do you know who
+threw that ball of paper?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Very well; I am waiting to be told."
+
+"Tip Lewis threw it, sir."
+
+This was a little too much for Tip. The first time in his life that he
+had ever been in school all day without throwing one, to be so accused!
+He sprang up in his seat with fire in his eyes.
+
+"I didn't!" he almost screamed. "He knows I didn't! It is a mean,
+wicked lie!"
+
+"Sit down," said Mr. Burrows. "Ellis, did you _see_ him throw it?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I did."
+
+Mr. Burrows turned to Tip. "Edward, come here."
+
+Tip was still standing.
+
+"Say you won't," whispered Bob. "Say you won't stir a step for the old
+fellow. If he goes to make you, we'll see who'll beat."
+
+But the command was repeated, and Tip went forward, fixing his steady
+eyes on Mr. Burrows as he spoke.
+
+"Mr. Burrows, as sure as I live, I _did_ not throw that paper ball."
+
+And yet--poor Tip!--he knew he would not be believed; he knew his word
+could not be trusted; he knew he had often stood there and as boldly
+declared what was _not_ true, and what had been proved in a few minutes
+to be false.
+
+No, nobody believed Tip. He had earned, among other things in the school,
+the name of hardly ever speaking the truth; and now he must suffer for
+it. So he stood still and received the swift, hard blows of the ruler on
+his hands; stood without a tear or a promise. Mr. Burrows had not a doubt
+of his guilt, for had not Ellis Holbrook, whose word was law in the
+school, said he saw the mischief done? and did not Tip always deny all
+knowledge of such matters until made to own them?
+
+Still, this time the boy resolutely refused to confess that he had thrown
+a bit of paper that day, and went back to his seat with smarting hands
+and the stern words of his teacher ringing in his ears.
+
+What a heavy, bitter heart the poor boy carried out from the schoolroom
+that afternoon, he felt as though he almost hated every scholar
+there,--_quite_ hated Ellis Holbrook.
+
+Mr. Burrows, catching a glimpse of his face, said to one of the other
+teachers, "That boy grows sullen; with all the rest, his good-nature was
+the only good thing which he had about him, and he is losing that."
+
+Tip heard him, and felt that it was true. He had been punished many a
+time before, and taken it with the most provoking good humour. But to-day
+it was different; to-day, for the first time in his life, he had received
+a punishment which he did not deserve; this day of all others, in which
+he had tried with all his heart to do right!
+
+"Why didn't you hold on, you simpleton?" Bob asked. "Never saw you get
+up so much pluck in my life. What made you back out, and be whipped
+like a baby?"
+
+"Why didn't _you_ own that you threw that plaguy paper ball, and not sit
+there like a coward, and see me take your whipping?"
+
+"_I_ own it! That's a good one! 'Pon honour, Tip, didn't you throw that
+ball? I thought you did; I was aiming one at Ellis Holbrook's head just
+then, and I didn't see what was going on behind me. Didn't you throw
+it--honour bright?"
+
+"No, I didn't; and I'll throw _you_ if you say so again."
+
+And Tip turned suddenly in the opposite direction, but Satan still
+walked with him.
+
+"It's no use," said this evil spirit, speaking out boldly,--"it's no use;
+don't you see it isn't? You might as well give it up first as last; the
+boys, and the teacher, and every one, think you're nothing in the world
+but a wicked young scamp, and you never _can_ be anything else. You've
+been humbugging yourself these four weeks, making believe you had a great
+Friend to help you: why hasn't He helped you to-day? You've tried your
+best all day long, and He knows you have; yet you never had such a hard
+day in your life. If He cares anything at all about you, why didn't He
+help you to-day? You asked Him to."
+
+Tip sat down on a log by the side of the road, and gave himself up for a
+little to Satan's guidance, and the wicked voice went on,--
+
+"Now, you see, you've been cheated. You've tried hard for a whole month
+to _be_ somebody, and no one thinks any more of you than they did before,
+and never will. Your mother scolds just as much, and your home looks just
+as dismal, and Kitty is just as hateful, and the respectable boys in the
+village have nothing to do with you. You might just as well lounge around
+and have a good time. Nobody expects you to be good, or will let you,
+when you want to be."
+
+Softly there came another voice knocking at Tip's heart. At first he
+would not notice it, but it _would_ be heard.
+
+"What of all that?" it said; "suppose nobody cares for you, or helps you
+here. Jesus died, you know, and He is your friend. You _know_ that is not
+a humbug; you _know_ He has heard you when you knelt down and prayed. He
+has helped you. Then there's heaven, where all the beauty is, and He has
+promised to take you--yes, _you_--there by and by! Oh, you must not
+complain because people won't believe that such a bad boy as you have
+been has grown good so soon. Christ knows about it, so it's all right.
+Just keep on trying, and one of these days folks will see that you mean
+it; they _will_--God has promised. He has given you a lamp to light you.
+Why have not you looked at it all this day?"
+
+"Oh," said Tip, "I can't; I _can't_ be a Christian! I have not done right
+nor felt right to-day. I almost hate the boys, and Mr. Burrows too. I
+don't know what to do."
+
+"Go on home," said Satan. "Let the lamp and these new notions and all
+_go_! Christ don't care anything about _you_; such a miserable, wicked,
+story-telling boy as you have been, do you expect Him to notice _you_?"
+
+But Tip's hand was in his pocket, resting on his lamp, as he had learned
+to call it; and the low, sweet voice in his heart was urging him to let
+its light shine. He drew it out, and turned the leaves, and the same dear
+Helper stopped his eyes at the words, "Fear not, for I have redeemed
+thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art _Mine_."
+
+Then came hot, thankful tears. Oh, precious words, sinking right into the
+torn, troubled heart. Christ the Redeemer had called him by his name! He
+was--yes, he _would be His_! He glanced around. Nobody was to be seen; he
+was sitting in the hollow at the foot of the hill, and under the shade of
+a low branching tree. And there he knelt down to pray; and Satan drew
+himself away, for the spot around that kneeling boy was holy ground.
+Tip's soul had gained the victory.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+"Freely ye have received, freely give."
+
+
+Whether Tip felt it or not, there were some changes in his home. Mrs.
+Lewis, though worried and hurried and cross enough, still was not so much
+so as she had been.
+
+The house was quieter, there was no cradle to rock, there were no baby
+footsteps to follow and keep out of danger; she had more time for sewing.
+Yet this very thing, the missing of the clinging arms about her neck,
+sometimes made her heavy heart vent itself in short, sharp words.
+
+But Tip had astonished the family at home,--it didn't require wonderful
+changes to do it,--rather the change which they saw in him seemed
+wonderful.
+
+The fire which she found ready made in the morning, the full pail of
+fresh water, the box: filled with wood, were all so many drops of honey
+to the tired mother's heart. The awkward pat of his father's pillow,
+which Tip now and then gave as he lingered to ask how he was, seemed so
+new and delightful to that neglected father's heart, that he lay on his
+hard bed and thought of it much all day.
+
+Tip got on better at home than anywhere else; he had not so many
+temptations. He had been such a lawless, reckless boy, that they had all
+learned to leave him very much to himself, and, as not a great deal of
+his time was spent there, his trials at home were not many. As for Kitty,
+she did not cease to wonder what had happened to Tip; she perhaps felt
+the difference more than any one else, for it had been the delight of his
+life to tease her.
+
+Now, from the time that he gathered his books, with the first sound of
+the school-bell, and hurried up the hill, until he returned at night,
+ready to split wood, hoe in the garden, or do any of the dozen things
+that he had never been known to do before, he was a never-failing subject
+of thought and wonderment to her. Watching him closely, the only thing
+she could finally settle on as the cause of the change which she found in
+him was, that he now went every Sabbath morning to the Sabbath school.
+The mystery must be hidden there. Having decided that matter, Kitty
+speedily resolved that she would go there herself, and see what they did.
+Many were the kind hearts that had tried to coax her into that same
+Sabbath school, and had failed. But this Saturday afternoon's gazing out
+of the window, with a wonderfully sober face, had ended in her
+exclaiming,--
+
+"I say, mother, I want a needle and thread."
+
+"What do you want with a needle and thread?" asked Mrs. Lewis, stirring
+away at some gruel in a tin basin, and not even glancing up.
+
+"I want to mend my dress; it's torn this way and that, and looks awful. I
+want some green thread, the colour of this wide stripe."
+
+Now for a minute the gruel was forgotten, and Mrs. Lewis looked at Kitty
+in amazement.
+
+"Dear me!" she said at last; "I don't know what will happen next. It
+can't be possible that you are going to work to mend your own dress
+without being scolded about it for a week, and then made to do it."
+
+"Yes, I am, too; I ain't going to look like a rag-bag another hour. And
+I'm going to wash out my sun-bonnet and iron it; then I mean to go over
+to that Sunday school to-morrow. I ain't heard any singing since I was
+born, as I know of, and I mean to."
+
+The gruel began to burn, and Mrs. Lewis turned to it again, saying
+nothing, but thinking a great deal. Once she used to go to Sabbath school
+herself, when she was Kitty's age; and she didn't have to mend her dress
+first, either; she used to be dressed freshly and neatly, every Sabbath
+morning, by her mother's own careful hands.
+
+She poured the gruel into a bowl, and then went over to her workbox.
+
+"Here's a needle and thread," she said at last, drawing out a snarl of
+green thread from the many snarls in her box. "Mend your dress if you
+want to, and I'll wash out your bonnet for you towards night, when I get
+that vest done."
+
+It was Kitty's turn to be astonished now. She had not expected help from
+her mother.
+
+Tip lingered in the kitchen on Sabbath morning. He looked neat and clean;
+he had a fresh, clean shirt, thanks to the washing which his mother had
+done "towards night." He was all ready for school, yet he waited.
+
+Kitty clattered around, making rather more noise even than usual, as she
+washed up the few poor dishes.
+
+Evidently Tip was thinking about her. The truth was, his lamp had shown
+him a lesson that morning like this: "Freely ye have received, freely
+give." He stopped at that verse, reading no further. What did it mean I
+Surely it spoke to him. Had not God given, oh, _so_ many things to him?
+Had He not promised to give him heaven for his home? Now, here was the
+direction: "Freely give." What, and to whom? To God? Surely not. Tip was
+certain that he had nothing to give to God; nothing but his poor, sinful
+heart, which he believed the Saviour had taken and made clean.
+
+What could he give to any one? He leaned out of his little window, busy
+with this thought. Kitty came out to the door, and pumped her pan full of
+water. He looked down on her. There was Kitty; had he anything which he
+could give her? He shook his head mournfully; not a thing. But wouldn't
+it be the same if he could help her to get something? What if he could
+coax her to go to Sunday school; perhaps it would do for her all that it
+had done for him. And at this moment the unwearied Satan came with his
+wicked thoughts.
+
+"Kitty would be a pretty-looking object to go to Sabbath school,--not a
+decent thing to wear! Everybody would laugh at her and at you. Besides,
+I don't believe she would go, if you _did_ ask her; she would only make
+fun of you. Better not try it."
+
+"Oh, Tip Lewis," said his conscience, "what a miserable coward you are!
+After all you have promised, you won't risk a laugh for the sake of
+getting Kitty into the Sabbath school!"
+
+"Yes, I will," said Tip, and he ran downstairs.
+
+And this was why he lingered in the kitchen,--not knowing just what to
+say. Kitty helped him.
+
+"Tip," said she, "I suppose they sing over at that Sunday school,
+don't they?"
+
+"I guess they do;" and Tip's eyes brightened. "Ever so many of them sing
+at once, and it sounds grand, I tell you. They play the melodeon, too:
+don't you want to go and hear it?"
+
+"Humph! I don't know. I don't suppose it will be any stupider than
+staying at home. I get awful sick of that. If I knew the way, maybe I
+would go."
+
+"Oh, I'll take you!" said Tip, in a quick, eager way. He wanted to speak
+before his courage failed.
+
+So Kitty, in her stiff blue sunbonnet and green calico dress, went to
+Sabbath school. There was no mission class for girls, so Mr. Parker sent
+her among the gaily-dressed little girls in Miss Haley's class; but Mr.
+Holbrook detained Tip.
+
+"Edward, you intend to come to Sabbath school regularly, don't you?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then I think we must leave your place in the mission seat to be filled
+by some other boy, and you may come forward to my class."
+
+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_ class. But when he saw the seat full of boys, his face grew
+crimson. At the end of the seat was Ellis Holbrook, the minister's
+son,--the boy who but a few days before had, he believed in his heart,
+told a wicked story about himself, and gained him a severe punishment. He
+did not feel as though he could sit beside that boy, even in Sabbath
+school. But Mr. Holbrook waited, and sit down he _must_. Ellis moved
+along to give him room, and disturbed him neither by word nor look during
+the lesson. But Tip's heart was full of bitterness, and he thought the
+pleasure of that morning gone. The lesson was of Christ and His death on
+the cross, and, as he listened, hard thoughts began to die out. The
+story was too new; it touched too near his heart not to calm the angry
+feelings and to interest him wonderfully.
+
+As soon as school was dismissed, Mr. Holbrook turned to him. "What
+disturbs you to-day, Edward?"
+
+Tip's face grew red again. "I--I--nothing much, sir."
+
+"Have you and Ellis been having trouble in school?"
+
+"He has been getting _me_ into trouble," spoke Tip boldly, finding
+himself caught.
+
+Mr. Holbrook sat down again. "Can you tell me about it, Edward?"
+
+"He said I threw paper balls, and Mr. Burrows whipped me; and I didn't."
+
+"Are you sure you didn't?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Did you say so at the time?"
+
+"Over and over again, but he said he _saw_ me."
+
+"Edward, have you always spoken the truth? Is your word to be believed?"
+
+Tip's eyes fell and his lip quivered. "I've told a great many stories,"
+he said at last, in a low, humble tone; "but this _truly_ isn't one. I'm
+trying to tell the truth after this, and Jesus believes what I have said
+this time."
+
+"So do I, Edward," answered Mr. Holbrook gently, even tenderly. "Ellis
+was mistaken. But I see you are angry with him; can't you get over that?"
+
+Tip shook his head. "He got me whipped for nothing, sir."
+
+"Suppose Christ should follow that rule, Edward, and forgive only those
+who had treated Him well; would you be forgiven to-day?"
+
+This was a new thought to Tip, and made him silent. Mr. Holbrook held out
+his hand for the little red Bible.
+
+"Let me show you what this lamp of yours says about the matter."
+
+And Tip's eyes presently read where the minister's finger pointed: "If ye
+forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
+trespasses."
+
+"Trespasses mean sins," explained Mr. Holbrook; then he turned away.
+
+All this time Kitty had been standing waiting,--not for Tip, she didn't
+expect his company,--but for the stylish little girls to get fairly
+started on their way to church, so she could go home without having any
+of them look at or make fun of her.
+
+Kitty had not been having a very good time: she had the misfortune to
+fall into the hands of a teacher who thought if she asked the questions
+in the question-book, and if one scholar could not answer, passed on to
+the next, she had done her duty. So the singing was pretty nearly all
+Kitty had cared for. God was leaving most of the work for Tip to do,
+after all. He went over to her now, and walked down the road with her.
+The boys had all gone, as well as the girls, so there was nothing to
+hinder their walking on quietly together.
+
+"How did you like it, Kitty?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, I didn't think much of it. I sat by the ugliest girl in town, and
+she made fun of my bonnet and my shoes. I _hate_ her."
+
+Tip had a faint notion in his heart that Kitty also needed the verse
+which had just been given him; but he had other thoughts about her. God's
+Spirit was at work. Having taken her to Sabbath school, having begun a
+good work, he wanted it to go on. It was very hard to speak to Kitty; he
+didn't know what to say; but all the way down the hill there seemed to
+ring in his ears the message, "Freely ye have received, freely give."
+
+"Kitty," he said at last, "don't you want to be a Christian?"
+
+"I don't know what a Christian is."
+
+"But wouldn't you like to love Jesus?"
+
+"How do I know?" replied Kitty shortly. "I don't know anything
+about Jesus."
+
+"Oh, didn't you hear, in the lesson to-day, about how He loves everybody,
+and wants everybody to love Him, and how He died so we could?"
+
+"I don't know a thing about the lesson. I counted the buttons on Miss
+Harley's dress most all the time; they went up and down the front, and up
+and down the sides, and everywhere."
+
+"Oh, but, Kitty, you surely heard the hymn,--
+
+  'Jesus loves me, this I know,
+  For the Bible tells me so.'"
+
+"Yes," Kitty said; "the hymn was pretty enough, only nobody gave me a
+book, and I could just hear a word now and then."
+
+Altogether, Tip didn't feel that he had done Kitty a bit of good. But he
+knew this much, that, since he had begun to think about and talk to her,
+he longed--yes, _longed_--with all his heart to have her come to Christ.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Ellis, come here a moment," said Mr. Holbrook, turning towards his study
+door, as the family came in from church. "What is it about this trouble
+in school with Edward Lewis?"
+
+"No trouble, father; only Tip threw a paper ball, just as he always _is_
+doing, and, as Mr. Burrows asked me if I knew who threw it, of course I
+had to tell him, and that made Tip mad. Why? Has he been complaining to
+you, father?"
+
+"Ellis, did you see Edward throw paper?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Are you positive?"
+
+"Yes--why--that is--I glanced up from my book just in time to see
+it whiz, and it came from Tip's direction, and his hand was raised,
+so I supposed of course he threw it. I thought a minute ago that I
+knew he did."
+
+"But now you would not say positively that some boy near him might not
+have done it?"
+
+"Why, no, sir. Alex Palmer might have thrown it; but I didn't think of
+such a thing."
+
+"Well, Ellis, my verdict is that you were mistaken; I don't think Edward
+told a falsehood this time. I'll tell you why: he is trying to take the
+Saviour for his pattern. I believe he is a Christian. Now, there is one
+thing which I want you to think of. Edward Lewis, who has never been
+taught anything good, who has never had any one to help him, has given
+his heart to Christ; and my boy, for whom I have prayed with, all my soul
+every day since he was born, has not."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
+
+
+"Boys," said Mr. Burrows, one Monday afternoon, "you may lay aside your
+books; I want to have a talk with you."
+
+Books were hurriedly gathered and piled in their places, and the boys sat
+up with folded arms, ready for whatever their teacher had to offer.
+
+Mr. Burrows drew out his arm-chair from behind the desk, and sat down
+for a chat.
+
+"Who will tell me what an acrostic is?"
+
+Several hands were raised.
+
+"Well, Howard, let us hear what you think about it."
+
+"It's a piece of poetry, sir, where the first letter of every line spells
+another word."
+
+"Do you mean the first letter alone spells a word?"
+
+The boys laughed, and Howard explained promptly. "No, sir; I mean the
+first letters of each line taken together form a name."
+
+"Must an acrostic always be written in poetry?"
+
+This question called forth several answers, and made a good deal of talk;
+but it was finally decided that there could be acrostics in prose as well
+as in rhyme; and Mr. Burrows asked,--
+
+"How many understand now what an acrostic is?"
+
+A few more hands were raised, but many of the boys did not understand
+yet; it must be made plainer.
+
+"Howard," said Mr. Burrows, "come to the board and give us an acrostic on
+the word boy."
+
+Howard sprang up. "Must it be a sensible one, sir?"
+
+"Sense or nonsense, just as you please, so as it shows us what an
+acrostic is."
+
+"I can take my parsing-book and give you one, I think, sir."
+
+And Howard came forward and wrote rapidly,--
+
+  "B But you shall hear an odd affair, indeed,
+   O Of which all Europe rings from side to side"--
+
+Then he paused, turning the leaves of his parsing-book eagerly.
+
+"I can't find anything in Y to finish this up with," he said at last.
+
+"Can't you give us a line from your own brain?"
+
+And at this Howard's eye brightened with fun, and, turning to the board
+after a moment of thought, he dashed off the closing line,--
+
+  "Y You who can finish this may have the job;"--
+
+then took his seat amid bursts of laughter from the boys, who all began
+to understand what an acrostic was.
+
+Ellis Holbrook's hand was up, and his eyes were full of questions.
+
+"Mr. Burrows, why is that called by such a queer name as acrostic?"
+
+His teacher smiled.
+
+"You must study Greek, Ellis. We get it from two words in the Greek, or
+from one word made up of two others, which mean _extreme_, or _beginning_
+and _order_. In an acrostic the beginnings of the lines are arranged in
+order. Do you understand how we get that word now?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Well, now, you would all like to know what this talk is for. I want
+every boy in school who can write, to bring an acrostic on his own name
+for his next composition."
+
+The boys groaned, and exclaimed, "They couldn't do it, they were sure;
+they couldn't _begin_ to do it!"
+
+"Yes, you can," said Mr. Burrows; "I don't give my scholars any work that
+they _can't_ do. You may quote it, or make it original, as you please;
+but I want every one of you to _try_."
+
+Johnny Thorpe, the smallest boy in school who could write, now seemed in
+trouble, and stretched up his arm to its full length.
+
+"Well, Johnny, what will you have?" asked his teacher.
+
+"If you please, sir, I don't know what you mean by quote."
+
+Mr. Burrows laughed pleasantly.
+
+"I must remember, I see, to speak plain English; I mean you may borrow
+your essay from a book, or a dozen books, if you like, so that you don't
+try to make us believe the thoughts are your own. You may write in poetry
+or not, as you please; but I want each to choose a subject, and stick to
+it better than Howard did just now. I have given you something to do that
+will keep you hard at work, but you will succeed at last."
+
+Tip went home in a tumult. What could he do? He had never written a
+composition in his life, having made it a point to run away from school
+on composition-day; but running away was done with now. It didn't seem
+possible that he could write anything: certainly not in such a new, queer
+way as Mr. Burrows wished them to.
+
+Supper and wood-splitting were hurried over for that evening, and Tip
+took his way very early to the seat under the elm-tree down by the pond.
+He wanted to think, to see how he should meet this new trouble; it was a
+real trouble to him, for he had set out to do just right, and he saw no
+way of getting out of this duty, and thought he saw no way of doing it.
+
+"There is no place on the road so dark but this lamp will light you
+through, if you give it a chance."
+
+This is what Mr. Holbrook had said when he gave Tip his Bible. And Tip
+had thought of his words very often, had already proved them true more
+than once; but he didn't see how it could help him now.
+
+He took it out, and slowly turned the leaves; it couldn't write his
+composition for him, that was certain. But oh, the bright thought that
+came to Tip just then! Why not find his acrostic in the Bible, and write
+it out? among so many, _many_ verses, he would be sure to find what he
+wanted. But then, how very queer it would be for _him_, Tip Lewis, to
+copy anything from the Bible! What would the boys think? What would Bob
+Turner say? Still, what else could he do? Besides his spelling-book and a
+worn arithmetic, it was the only book that he had in the world.
+
+"I don't care," he said suddenly, after a few moments of troubled
+thought. "I guess I ain't ashamed of my Bible,--it's the only thing I've
+got that I needn't be ashamed of. I'll _do_ it. The boys have got to know
+that I've turned over a new leaf. I wish they did; the sooner they know
+it the better. I say, my lamp shall help me out of this scrape, that's as
+true as can be; it helps me whenever I give it a chance."
+
+He fumbled in his pocket and drew out an old stump of a pencil. The next
+thing was a piece of paper; he dived his hand down into another pocket,
+producing a rusty knife, pieces of string, a chestnut or two, and,
+finally, a crumpled piece of paper on which Bob Turner had scrawled what
+he called a likeness of Mr. Burrows, and given to Tip for a keepsake. He
+spread it out on a flat stone which lay near him, and began his work.
+
+A long, slow work it was for Tip. Hours of that day, and the next, and
+the next, every day, until the fading light drove him home, did he sit
+under the elm-tree turning the leaves of his Bible, poring over its
+contents, writing words carefully now and then on his bit of paper.
+Remember it was new work to him.
+
+At last, one evening, the sun went down in the bright red west, the stars
+shone out in all their twinkling, sparkling glory, the shadows began to
+fall thick and fast around the old tree, when Tip, with a little sigh of
+relief, folded the precious piece of paper, laid it carefully away in his
+Bible, and turned his steps homeward. His acrostic was finished, and into
+his heart had crept some of the beauty of those precious words, which he
+had found for the first time. Words they were which would go with him
+through all his life, and sweetly comfort some dark and weary hours.
+
+The school-books were all piled neatly on the desks that Friday
+afternoon; the shades were dropped to shut out the low afternoon sun; and
+forty boys were still and expectant. The acrostics lay in a great white
+heap on Mr. Burrows' desk, not a name written on any of them. Mr.
+Burrows was to read, and the boys were to have the pleasure of spelling
+out the names of the owners as he read.
+
+A merry time they had of it that afternoon. Some wonderful acrostics were
+read. Ellis Holbrook had a very clever one, arranged from his lesson in
+Virgil. Howard Minturn had borrowed from his father's library a copy of
+Shakespeare, and worked hard over his; the boys and their teacher thought
+it a success.
+
+Even Bob Turner had written; the idea had happened to strike him as a
+very funny one, and Bob always did everything that he thought funny. He
+had found three lines in rhyme which just suited him, and by the time the
+eager boys had spelled out B O B,--which was the only name the boy saw
+fit to own,--the schoolroom fairly shook with their laughter.
+
+Next to his lay a paper which Tip knew, and his heart beat so loudly
+when Mr. Burrows took it up, that he thought every one in the room
+must notice.
+
+The room had now grown quiet, and Mr. Burrows, after opening the paper,
+announced the title,--
+
+"WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS."
+
+Then read slowly and reverently, while the wondering scholars spelled
+out the name.
+
+  "E Even the night shall lie light about thee.
+   D Depart from evil and do good.
+   W Whosoever cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.
+   A A new heart will I give you.
+   R Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
+   D Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to thee.
+
+  "L Lo, I am with you always.
+   E Ever follow that which is good.
+   W Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not.
+   I I will go before thee, and make the crooked paths straight.
+   S So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper."
+
+What a silent and astonished company listened to this reading, and
+spelled the name "Edward Lewis!"
+
+"Edward," Mr. Burrows said at last, "who found those verses for you?"
+
+"I found them, sir, in my Bible. I've got them all marked!" speaking
+eagerly, willing this time to bring proof that he was telling the truth.
+
+Mr. Burrows' voice almost trembled as he answered,--
+
+"It is a beautiful collection of some of the most precious verses in the
+Bible. It was a fine idea; I am very much surprised and pleased. I wish
+that you, and every scholar of mine, could feel in your hearts the full
+meaning of those words of Jesus."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"I can't to-night, Howard," said Ellis Holbrook, in answer to his
+friend's coaxings to accompany him home; "I've got something else to
+attend to. Hallo, Tip! Tip Lewis! Hold on a bit! I'm going your way. No,
+Howard, I'll come up in the morning; I really _can't_ to-night."
+
+Tip waited in wondering silence, while the boy, whom he counted an enemy,
+hurried towards him.
+
+Ellis was a bold, prompt boy: when he had anything to say, he _said_ it;
+so he came to the point at once.
+
+"See here, Tip, did I blunder the other day when I told Mr. Burrows you
+threw paper? I thought I saw you."
+
+"Yes," said Tip, "you did. I didn't throw a bit of paper that day."
+
+"Well, father said he thought I was mistaken. I'm sure I supposed I was
+telling the truth. I'm sorry. I'll say so to Mr. Burrows and the boys, if
+you like, and let him find out who did it, and then was mean enough to
+see you whipped for it."
+
+Tip struggled a little. "No," he said at last, "let it go. The
+whipping is done, and can't be undone; I don't want to make any more
+bother about it."
+
+Ellis eyed him curiously.
+
+"You're a queer fellow," he said at last. "I expect you had about the
+best acrostic, this afternoon, that can be written."
+
+Tip's heart was throbbing with pleasure as he walked on home after Ellis
+had left him. For the first time in his life he had earnest, warm, hearty
+praise from his teacher. Ellis had said, "Father told me he thought I was
+mistaken." Mr. Holbrook, then, did believe and trust him. Besides, there
+was another thought which seemed delightful to him. Tip Lewis, the
+worthless, yes, wicked boy that everybody thought him, had walked down
+the main street side by side, and talking earnestly with Ellis Holbrook,
+the minister's son.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+"Enter not into the path of the wicked."
+
+
+Kitty hung on the gate and watched them pass by,--the long train of high
+waggons with grated windows, out of which strange animals peered with
+their great, fierce eyes; the two elephants in their scarlet and gold
+blankets; the tiny ponies tossing their shaggy manes; the splendid
+carriage drawn by eight gaily blanketed, gaily plumed, dancing horses,
+and every seat filled with splendidly dressed men and women; the bright
+red band-waggon, with the sun glittering over the wonderful brass
+instruments and turning them into gold. Kitty watched all
+this,--watched, and listened to the loud, full bursts of music, until
+her heart swelled and bounded. She sprang from the gate, and stamped her
+foot on the ground.
+
+"I wish--oh, I wish I could go!" she almost screamed at last. "I want
+to--I _want_ to! Oh, I never wanted to go anywhere so bad in my life!"
+
+"I reckon you'll take it out in wanting," said her mother, who had also
+leaned on the fence and watched the show pass by. "Folks who have to dig
+as I do, from morning to night, just to get something to eat, don't have
+any money to spend on circuses."
+
+Kitty shook her head with rage. "I don't go anywhere," she screamed.
+"Never! I never went to a circus in my life, and all the boys and girls
+around here go every year. Tip always goes--always; he manages to slip
+in. Oh, Tip'" and she opened the gate and went out to him on the
+sidewalk, a new thought having come to her, "can't you do something to
+get some money, and let me go to the circus with you? Can't you manage
+some way? Oh, Tip, do! I'll do anything for you, if you only will. I
+never wanted anything so bad before."
+
+And Tip's face, as he walked towards the village ten minutes after that,
+was a study, it looked so full of trouble.
+
+Kitty wanted to go to that circus,--wanted to go so very much that she
+had coaxed and begged him in a way that she had never done before.
+Besides, if the truth be told, Tip wanted to go himself; every time the
+wind wafted back to him a swell of the distant music, it made his heart
+fairly jump. It was true, as Kitty had said, he always managed to slip in
+some way; and the oftener he went, the oftener he wanted to go.
+
+Well, then, what was the matter with Tip? What he had done so many times
+before, he could surely find a way to do again. Oh yes! But Tip Lewis
+to-day was different from any Tip Lewis there had ever been before on
+circus day. Wasn't he trying to do right? But then, what had circuses to
+do with that? He tried to think what were his reasons for being troubled!
+Why did a small voice down in his heart keep telling him that the circus
+was no place for him now?
+
+Looking at the matter steadily, the only reason Tip knew was, that Ellis
+Holbrook and Howard Minturn never went; their fathers had taught them
+differently. Ellis, he knew, rather looked down on people who did
+go,--called them low. This had never troubled Tip before, because he had
+always known himself to be low; but now, wasn't he trying to climb?
+Didn't respectable people generally think that circuses were bad things?
+
+No, poor Tip, they didn't; there was Mr. Bailey, a rich man,--so rich
+and so respectable that his son wouldn't stoop to lend Tip his
+spelling-book at school,--yet Mr. Bailey went to the circus last year and
+took all his children. So did Mr. Anderson and Mr. Stone, and oh! dozens
+of others, rich, great men. Well, did good people go? and Tip's thoughts
+strayed back to Mr. Holbrook, and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Minturn, yea, and
+others, whose voices he had heard on the streets and in stores,
+condemning the circus.
+
+But then, after all, where was the harm? There was Kitty, how much she
+wanted to go; if he could manage to take her, how glad she would be! At
+this point Satan thought there was a chance for him to speak; so he
+walked along with Tip, talking like this:
+
+"Kitty has never asked you to do anything for her before. You want to
+help her; you want to get her to go to Sunday school and to read the
+Bible. Now's your time: if you take her to the circus, very likely she
+will do what you want her to."
+
+This was a little too absurd, even for Tip, who wanted to believe it all
+so badly; but who ever heard of taking any one to a circus in order to
+get them to love Jesus? Tip knew altogether too well for his comfort,
+that day, that Mr. Holbrook's example was the safe one. At last he drew a
+little sigh of relief; he needn't think about it any more, for he had no
+money: he had never owned fifty cents at one time in his life; so the
+question, after all, would settle itself.
+
+No, it wouldn't. Mr. Dewey stood in the door of his market, looking up
+and down the street.
+
+"Hallo, Tip!" he called, as Tip turned the corner; "you're the boy I
+must have been looking for, I guess. If you'll carry home packages for
+me for an hour, and not steal one of them, I'll give you two tickets for
+the circus."
+
+Tip's cheeks glowed at the word steal, and he came near telling Mr. Dewey
+to carry his own packages, if he were afraid to trust him.
+
+But then, those two tickets! Here was a chance for Kitty. The conflict
+commenced again.
+
+A whole hour in which to decide it, for Tip meant to do the work any way.
+Up and down the streets, stopping at this house and that with his
+parcels, back again to the market for more, all the time in a whirl of
+thought. The question was almost decided when the two green tickets were
+placed in his hand; it closed over them eagerly. He hurried towards home.
+
+Towards home led him past the brick hotel. In the bar-room sat some of
+the circus men; he knew them by their heavy beards, which almost covered
+their faces; knew them also because he knew every man in town, just who
+were strangers and who were not. Well, these circus men were very busy
+drinking brandy and playing cards. Tip stopped and looked in at them;
+and, ignorant boy as he was, the thought that good, respectable people
+would go to see and hear such men as these, seemed very strange. It
+couldn't be right, could it? How was it? A great many nice people must
+have blundered terribly if it were wrong; and, on the other hand, if it
+were not wrong, how did the minister happen to be so afraid of these
+things? Why did he himself have so many queer feelings about the matter?
+
+What a trouble he was in! If only he could find somebody or something
+that would decide it for him! Long before this he had walked away from
+the hotel; now he had crossed the bridge, gone around behind the mill,
+and was very near his seat under the elm. Down he sat when he came to it,
+still holding fast the two green tickets, but with the other hand diving
+down in his pocket for the little Bible. That was getting to be a habit
+with him, to hunt for this lamp of his whenever he was in darkness. He
+turned the leaves now with a perplexed face. If he only knew where to
+turn for help!
+
+"Let me see," he said. "Where was that verse that I learned for the
+Sunday school concert? I liked the sound of that; it was somewhere in
+this book full of short, queer verses. I can find it; yes, I see it.
+'For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from
+being taken.'"
+
+It didn't seem to help him; he shook his head slowly, still glancing on
+over the verses, until suddenly his listless look vanished, and he read
+aloud;--"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of
+evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."
+
+"That means them," said Tip, "and me. They're wicked men, that's certain:
+they were drinking and gambling,--swearing too, I guess; and this verse
+reads about them just as plain as day. It says, 'Don't go near
+them,'--says it over and over again; and I'll mind it, I will. I'll take
+these tickets right back to Mr. Dewey, so they won't be here to put me in
+mind of going."
+
+No sooner said than done; he turned around and fairly galloped up the
+hill, around the corner, and landed nearly breathless at the market.
+
+"Here, Mr. Dewey," he said promptly, "I've brought back your tickets; I
+don't want 'em this time."
+
+"What's up now?" asked Mr. Dewey, coming out from behind his desk, and
+eyeing the panting boy curiously. "Won't the tickets pass?"
+
+"Not if they wait till I pass 'em," answered Tip in his prompt, saucy
+way. "I ain't going to the circus, not an _inch_," he added, as if to
+assure himself that he meant it.
+
+"But why not?"
+
+"Oh, I've got reasons."
+
+"Well, now, Tip," said Mr. Dewey, "that's really astonishing! Suppose you
+give us a few of your reasons. We don't know what to make of this."
+
+Tip didn't know what to say; he hesitated and thought, and finally did
+the best thing he _could_,--spoke out boldly. "I've made up my mind that
+I won't go to any more circuses, _ever_! I don't believe in 'em as much
+as I did."
+
+That wasn't it yet,--he had not owned his Master in the answer. Neither
+was Mr. Dewey satisfied.
+
+"But, Tip, give us the _reasons_; this is such a sudden change,
+you know."
+
+"Well," said Tip, "I've been reading about them just now."
+
+"About whom?"
+
+"Why, them circus fellows. They're up here at the tavern; they're
+drinking and fighting, and I don't know what; and I guess, by the looks
+of things, they're pretty wicked. The book I was reading said, Don't go
+near wicked men, turn around and go the other way; and I _mean_ to." And
+with this Tip whisked out of the house and around the corner.
+
+Mr. Dewey shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"The world turns around, sure enough," he said at last.
+
+"How do you know that?" and Mr. Minturn set his market basket on the
+step, and fanned himself with his hat. "I'm my own boy to-day, you see;
+give me something for my dinner. How did you find out that the world
+turned around?"
+
+"Why, Tip Lewis has taken to preaching against circuses. Will you have a
+roast to-day, Mr. Minturn? I gave him a ticket, and he just rushed in
+with it and informed us he wasn't going to circuses any more, because the
+Bible says they are wicked fellows. What do you think of that?"
+
+"Humph!" said Mr. Minturn. "The Bible says it would be better for a man,
+sometimes, if a millstone were about his neck, and he were in the bottom
+of the sea. I'd look out for that, if I were you. Hurry up with your
+meat; I ought to be at the store."
+
+Tip went home to Kitty. She still swung on the gate; at least she was
+there when he came up.
+
+"Oh, Tip," she said, "are you going to take me? Oh, Tip, _do_! I never
+asked you for anything before."
+
+Tip walked slowly up the yard, with his hands in his pockets,
+troubled,--not knowing what to say, or how to say it. At last he stopped
+and wheeled about. "Kitty, I can't; I can't go. I could get tickets if I
+dared, but I don't mean to go any more. They're bad, wicked men, and I'm
+trying to be"--
+
+But Kitty twitched herself away from him, and wouldn't hear any more.
+
+"Do go off!" she said. "You're a mean, ugly, hateful boy! I'm sorry you
+got so awful good, if you can't do that little much for me. Go away and
+let me alone."
+
+Even in his sore trouble a little flash of joy shot through Tip's heart.
+He _was_ different, then. Kitty had noticed it; she knew he was trying to
+be different. There _must_ be a little bit of change in him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+"Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."
+
+
+Over and over in his mind did Tip repeat this verse; it seemed to sound
+all around him, and mixed up with everything he did. And yet he went out
+of the house that evening, and turned straight down the street in the
+direction leading to the tented circus grounds, walking along slowly,
+talking to himself.
+
+"It won't do any harm just to listen to the music. I don't mean to go
+in--of course I don't! Suppose I'd do _that_, after all I said to Kitty!
+Besides, I couldn't if I would; I haven't got any ticket. I'm just going
+to walk down that way, and see if there's lots of folks going, and if the
+music sounds nice."
+
+"Avoid it, pass not by it." Oh yes, Tip knew; he heard the voice, yet on
+he went; beginning to walk swiftly, only saying in answer, "I ain't going
+in; I couldn't if I wanted to; and I don't want to."
+
+By and by he came within sight of the tents and within sound of the
+music, which, to his untaught ears, was wonderfully beautiful; came up
+even to the very door of the large tent, bewitched to go just a step
+nearer, though he didn't mean to go in, not he.
+
+Yes, the people were crowding in. Mr. Douglass stood by the door. Tip
+knew him very well; that is, he knew he lived in a large house and had
+plenty of money; and he knew, when the men were trying to raise any
+money, some one was sure to say, "Go to Mr. Douglass; he's always
+ready to give."
+
+Everybody liked Mr. Douglass. He turned around now from looking down the
+road, and looked down at Tip.
+
+"Well, Tip," he said, "going to the circus?"
+
+Tip shook his head.
+
+"What's the matter?--no money? Pity to get so near and not go in;
+isn't it, pet?"
+
+This last to the dainty little girl whose hand he held.
+
+"Yes," she answered, with a happy smile. "Papa, why don't mamma come?"
+
+"Oh, she'll be along soon. Here, sir," to the doorkeeper, handing him
+twenty-five cents, "let this ragamuffin in. In with you, Tip, and
+practise standing on your head for a month to come."
+
+It was all done in a hurry; the doorkeeper stepped aside, the crowd
+jostled and pushed against him, the music burst forth in a new loud
+swell. A moment more, and Tip stood in the brightly-lighted room, staring
+eagerly around him. There was enough to see; the seats were filling
+rapidly with gaily--dressed ladies and gentlemen. He knew them, many of
+them, had seen them on the streets often and often; had seen some of them
+in Sabbath school, seated before their classes.
+
+Tip was speedily giving himself up to enjoyment, hushing the small voice
+in his heart. One of the nicest men in town had let him in; yes, and
+there he was now with his wife and little girl; Mrs. Douglas was not
+only a teacher in the Sabbath school, but a member of the church. If she
+could go to the circus, why couldn't he? So Tip reasoned, and nobody
+told him that his lamp said, "Every one of us shall give account of
+_himself_ to God."
+
+Presently the wonderful little shaggy ponies trotted out; and back behind
+the curtains was one of the riders; he got a peep of her every now and
+then in her splendid dress; he knew she would be out pretty soon, and
+then she would ride.
+
+Oh, that music! how it rolled around the ring! Tip was too busy looking
+and listening to keep out of people's way; he stepped back, still jostled
+by the crowd who were pouring in, and stepped directly in front of a man
+who was trying to make his way through the crowd around the entrance. Tip
+knew him in an instant; he was one of the circus men,--the one with the
+ugly face that he had noticed in the morning; it was ugly still, and red
+with liquor. He turned a pair of fiery eyes on Tip, and a dreadful oath
+fell from his lips as he swung him angrily out of his way.
+
+Oh, Tip Lewis! No wonder your heart fairly stops its beating for an
+instant, then bounds on with rapid throbs. Only a few days ago you
+listened to the story of a bleeding, dying Saviour, bleeding and dying
+for you; and you promised, with honest tears, that for this you would
+love and serve and honour Him for ever. And yet, to-night, here you are,
+watching the tricks of men who can speak that sacred name in such a way
+that it will make even you, who are used to this, shudder and turn cold.
+"In the name of the Saviour whom you love, what do you here?"
+
+It was to Tip as if Christ Himself had asked that question. He turned
+suddenly, and, with both hands pressed to his ears, fairly fought his way
+through the crowd.
+
+"Let me out! let me go!" He fairly shrieked the words at the astonished
+doorkeeper, who stood aside to let him pass. Up the hill with swift,
+eager steps he ran, trying still to shut out the ring of that awful oath,
+the sound of that hateful voice, speaking the name which had so lately
+become to him the one dear and precious name in earth or heaven. On, on,
+up the hill, and then down on the other side, stopping finally at the
+great tree under the hill, just across the pond. Stopping and sitting
+down, he tried to think. What had he done? He had been warned, he had
+been tempted, and he had _fallen_. It didn't help him now to think that
+good men and women were there. Perhaps God had not so plainly shown them
+the wrong. Perhaps they had never found that verse: "Avoid it, pass not
+by it." Perhaps--oh, _anything_--it was nothing to him now. This much was
+certain: he had done wrong. Such a heavy, _heavy_ heart as Tip had
+to-night. "What _should_ he do? What would Kitty say, if she found it
+out? Oh, what would Mr. Dewey think, or Mr. Holbrook? and then, above
+all else, came the thought, What could Jesus, looking down on him now
+from heaven, what could _He_ think of him? This thought brought the
+bitter tears, but it brought him also on his knees; and he said,--
+
+"Oh, Jesus Christ, in spite of it all, you _know_ I love you. Won't you
+forgive me and let me try again?" Long he knelt there, trying to get
+close to Christ, and his Saviour did not leave him alone. It was only
+yesterday he had learned the verse, and it came to him softly now: "Thou
+art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, of great
+kindness."
+
+In his sore trouble, Tip's lamp had not failed him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+"He honoureth them that fear the Lord."
+
+
+Slowly, but surely, as the late autumn days came on, Tip was growing into
+a better place in the schoolroom, in the opinion of his teachers and his
+schoolmates. In Mr. Burrows' school, ten was the perfect mark, and _x_
+was the very lowest grade a boy could reach. It had once been an everyday
+joke with Tip, that, being _x_, he must be perfect, because it said in
+the spelling-book that _x_ was ten.
+
+But it had been a good many days since Tip had said "_x_;" the boys had
+ceased to be amazed when he answered "ten" in prompt, proud tone.
+
+They were growing, many of them, to be surprised and sorry for him, when,
+in his days of failures, he answered, with drooped eyes and very red,
+ashamed face, "seven," or, it might be, "six."
+
+Though he was still anything but a good reader, no one could fail to see
+that he blundered less and less every day, and Mr. Burrows was growing
+patient with his blunders, growing helpful in his troubles.
+
+The boys saw him working hard over his spelling-book, and few of them now
+had the meanness to laugh when a word passed him.
+
+Mr. Burrows' tones were not so harsh to him as they used to be; and
+now-a-days, when he was accused of breaking rules, instead of being
+called up and unhesitatingly punished, his teacher, who grew every day
+less and less sure that he was at the bottom of all the mischief done,
+always gave him a chance to speak for himself, and was learning to
+believe him.
+
+Oh yes! things were different, and were all the time growing more so. Bob
+Turner saw this plainly: he began to find Tip a very stupid companion,
+and stayed away from school more afternoons than ever.
+
+But poor Tip noticed the change less,--yes, much less than any of the
+others. You don't know how hard it was for him. Do you think Satan was
+willing to leave him, and let him grow quietly into a good boy? Not a
+bit of it. You see he had been born bubbling over with fun and frolic;
+he had never learned to have them come in at the right place or the
+right time.
+
+Sometimes he felt willing to give up all trying to do right, for the sake
+of having a grand frolic just when and where he wanted it,--no matter
+what might be going on just then. Sometimes, when he failed, he felt
+fierce and sullen, and told himself it was all humbug, this trying to be
+good. Sometimes he felt so utterly sad and discouraged, that it seemed to
+him he never could try again; yet through it all he _did_ try heartily.
+
+His arithmetic was the hardest. He was still in the dunce class,--so the
+boys called it, because it was made up of the drones from several
+classes, and was constantly being put back to addition.
+
+It was a sharp winter's morning. No more make-believe winter for a
+while,--the snow lay white and crisp on the ground, and the frosty air
+stung every nose and every finger it could reach.
+
+Tip's study, at the foot of the hill under the elm, had been quite broken
+up, and he found it very hard to study at home,--especially this
+morning. His father's cough had been bad all night, and this made his
+mother troubled and cross.
+
+Kitty, these days, seemed trying to see just how cross and disagreeable
+she could be; and the kitchen--at best a dismal place--was just now at
+the worst. The wet wood in the stove sizzled and stewed and made a smoke;
+and in the midst of Tip's fifth trial on an example which was puzzling
+him terribly, he was called on to split some kindlings.
+
+"This instant!--I won't wait a minute!" Kitty said in a provokingly
+commanding tone; and Tip went at it sullenly, saying, with every spiteful
+drive of his axe through the pine board which he had picked up, "It's no
+use; I _cant_ do that sum, and I ain't going to try. I don't know
+anything, and never will. I've done it over fifty times, and twisted it
+every way I can think of. There's no sense to it, any way,--sixteen
+sheep _stood him in_ two dollars apiece. What does that mean, I'd like to
+know? He had forty sheep and twenty-five cows. I know it all by heart;
+but I can't do it, and that's the whole of it. I wish his sheep had
+choked to death, and his old cows run away, before I ever heard of them.
+I'll go over it just once more." (Tip was back by the kitchen window now,
+with his slate and book.) "Let's see: twenty-five cows at thirty-four
+dollars apiece;" and he worked away in nervous haste, until he came to
+"stood him in." If he only _could_ find out what that meant, he felt sure
+he could do it. If he had somebody to help him; but he hadn't. There
+would be no time after he went to school before the class was called.
+
+Just then he thought of his father; he used to be a carpenter before he
+was sick, and he used to make a great many figures sometimes on smooth
+boards. Tip remembered it was just possible that he might know something
+about the sum. Suppose he should ask him?
+
+He started up suddenly, and went towards the bedroom door.
+
+"Father," he said softly, "can't you tell me what 'stood him in' means?"
+
+The sick man turned himself on his pillow, and looked wonderingly at Tip.
+
+"What do you mean?" he asked at last.
+
+"Why," said Tip, in a despairing tone, "it says 'stood him in' in the
+arithmetic,--the sheep stood him in two dollars apiece,--and I don't see
+any sense to it."
+
+"Oh!" said Mr. Lewis; "I see what you mean;" then he went back to his
+long-ago deserted carpenter's shop.
+
+"Why, Tip, if I had ten pounds of nails, and they were worth eight
+cents a pound, they would stand me just so much,--that is, they would be
+worth that to me; and if I should sell them I'd get so much for them.
+Don't you see?"
+
+Light began to dawn on Tip's mind.
+
+"Then it means," he said, "that the man didn't sell his sixteen sheep; he
+just counted them worth two dollars apiece. Yes, I see; if that's it,
+I'll try it." And he rushed to his work again.
+
+And Tip will never forget the eagerness with which he presently turned to
+the answer in his arithmetic, and from that back to the one on the slate,
+nor the way in which the blood bounded through his veins when he found
+that they agreed perfectly.
+
+"It's exactly it," he called out to his father, in a hearty, grateful
+voice. "I've got it, and I've been at work on it this whole morning."
+
+Ellis Holbrook, about that time, conquered a most puzzling example in
+algebra; but he felt not prouder than did Tip.
+
+"Thomas," said Mr. Burrows to the head boy in Tip's arithmetic class,
+"you may take the twenty-third example to the board."
+
+"Can't do it," answered Thomas promptly.
+
+"Henry may do it, then."
+
+"I couldn't get it either," was Henry's answer. So on down the class;
+Tip's heart meantime beating eagerly, for the twenty-third example was
+about his troublesome, but by this time very much-beloved sheep.
+
+"Robert?" said Mr. Burrows, more for form's sake than because he had the
+slightest doubt about Robert's reply.
+
+"My!" said Bob Turner good-naturedly; "I can't do it."
+
+Tip sat next, and something in his face made Mr. Burrows put the
+question to him, though he had nearly resolved to waste no more time in
+the matter.
+
+"Can you do this, Edward?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Tip promptly and proudly, "I can."
+
+And no nobler figures or firmer lines did chalk ever make on a blackboard
+than was made while that troublesome example was being done.
+
+He was roused from his flutter of satisfaction by hearing Mr.
+Burrows' voice.
+
+"Do you know anything about the lesson, _any_ of you?"
+
+"I'm sure _I_ don't," answered Bob, still good-naturedly.
+
+Mr. Burrows was growing utterly out of patience; this same scene had been
+acted too often to be endured longer. He turned back to the first pages
+in the book.
+
+"Very well," he said at last; "you may take the first page in addition
+to-morrow morning, and we'll see if you can be made to know anything
+about that."
+
+Tip's hopes fell; his heart was as heavy as lead. Not one of the others
+cared; they were used to it; so indeed was he, only now he was trying, he
+did so long to go on; just when he was working _so_ hard, to be put away
+back to the beginning again made him feel utterly disgraced.
+
+"Wait a minute, Tip." Mr. Burrows' eye fell first on him, then on the
+neatly and correctly worked example; then he turned, and asked, "Charlie
+Wilcox, on what page is your arithmetic lesson for to-morrow?"
+
+"We commence multiplication, sir," answered Charlie, a bright little
+boy, who belonged to a bright class, that did not idle over any pages in
+their work.
+
+"Edward," said Mr. Burrows, turning back to Tip, "you have done well
+to-day. You mean to study, after this, I think; I have been watching you
+for some time. The third arithmetic class take the first page in
+multiplication for their next lesson to-morrow; you may take your place
+in that class, and remain there as long as you can keep up with it."
+
+Now Tip was too much astonished to speak or move; his wildest dreams had
+not taken in promotion, at least not for a long, _long_ time.
+
+Bob Turner leaned over and looked at him in actual sober wonder, that Tip
+was to be in a higher class.
+
+Not a word did Tip say. He did not even raise his eyes to his teacher's
+face; and that teacher had not the least idea how the boy before him
+felt. He did not know how Tip's heart was throbbing, nor how he was
+saying over and over to himself, "Things are different; they're surely
+different." He did not know how those few words of his, spoken that
+winter morning, were going to help to make the boy a man.
+
+It was that very morning, standing in that room before the blackboard,
+with his toe on the third crack from the wall, that Tip resolved to have
+an education.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+"The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all."
+
+
+The boys gathered around the stove before school, and talked. The
+boys,--not all of them, by any means. Only that small, select number who
+were above, and led all the rest. Tip wandered outside of the circle,
+feeling very forlorn; he didn't belong anywhere these days. Bob and his
+friends had very nearly deserted him; there was scarcely any of their fun
+in which he had time or desire to join, and the other cliques in school
+had never noticed him; so he stood outside, and wondered what he should
+do with himself. Howard Minturn wheeled suddenly away from the boys, and
+called to him,--
+
+"Tip, see here."
+
+And Tip went there.
+
+"What do you want?" he asked crossly; for some way he felt out of sorts
+with that company of finely-dressed boys around the stove.
+
+"Want you to come over to-night. It's my birthday, you know, and some of
+the boys are coming to take tea, and spend the evening. Can you come?"
+
+Tip's wide-open eyes spoke his astonishment. "What do you want of me?" he
+asked at last, speaking boldly just what he thought.
+
+"Why, I want you to come and help have a nice time," returned Howard,
+with great kindness, but just a little condescension in his tone.
+
+Tip heard it, and his bitterness showed itself a little. "It's a new
+streak you've got, ain't it?" he said, still speaking crossly. "You've
+had lots of birthdays, and this is the first one _I've_ heard of."
+
+"Oh, well!" said Howard proudly, flushing as he spoke; "if you don't want
+to come, why"--
+
+Mr. Burrows' hand was laid on Howard's arm. "Don't spoil a good, noble
+thing, my boy. It is all new to Edward; _urge_ him."
+
+Mr. Burrows spoke low, so no one else could hear him, and turned away.
+
+At recess Howard sought out Tip.
+
+"I honestly hope you'll come to-night, Tip, for you're a good fellow to
+play games with, and the boys would all like to have you."
+
+Tip had quarrelled with his ill-humour, and it had vanished.
+
+"I'll come," he said, in a cheery tone; "only I'll look like a big
+rag-bag by the side of _you_ fellows."
+
+"Never mind," said Howard, turning to join the boys, "_you_ come."
+
+Why had Howard Minturn invited him to the grand birthday party? This was
+the question that puzzled Tip. Had he known the reason, it would have
+been like this: Mr. Minturn had never quite lost sight of Tip since the
+circus. He wanted to help him,--wanted to do it through his son; only he
+wanted the son to think that he did it himself. Knowing Howard pretty
+well, he said, when they were seated at breakfast that morning,--
+
+"I've just been reading about a real hero."
+
+Howard longed to be a hero; he looked up eagerly.
+
+"Who was he, father? What did he do?"
+
+"He was a rich young man, and he had the courage to take for his friend a
+poor fellow who hadn't two cents to his name. To pay him, the time came
+when he was proud to be noticed by the great man who was once so low."
+
+This thought was still in Howard's mind when he walked with Ellis to
+school. So, when Ellis said, "There goes Tip Lewis; father thinks we boys
+ought to notice him; he is trying real hard now-a-days to behave himself,
+you know," it was easy for Howard to mingle Tip in with his thoughts.
+
+"Ellis," he said, after a moment's silence, "suppose I invite him to come
+to our house to-night? He's a splendid good fellow to have a game; never
+gets mad, you know."
+
+"S'pose he'd come?" asked Ellis.
+
+"Yes, of course; jump at the chance. _I'll do it_. Our boys will think it
+odd, I suppose; but I guess I have courage enough to do as I please."
+
+And Howard drew himself up proudly, and thought of his father's hero.
+
+So this was why Tip was invited to the birthday gathering at the grand
+house on the hill.
+
+Mrs. Lewis sewed, that afternoon, on his jacket, mending it up more
+neatly than ever before. She had said very little about this invitation,
+but she couldn't help feeling proud and gratified over it. It was
+certainly a wonderful jump for Tip, from mingling with the worst and
+lowest boys in town, to find himself taking a long stride, and reaching
+the very top. So Mrs. Lewis sewed, and Kitty, as she sat watching the
+needle fly back and forth, spoke her thoughts:
+
+"All of the boys down to Mr. Burrows' school wear white collars on
+their jackets."
+
+"Well," answered her mother snappishly, "what's that to me? S'posing
+they wear white _cats_ on their jackets, I could get him one just as
+easy as t'other."
+
+It was a sore subject with Mrs. Lewis. From her very heart she wished she
+could dress Tip in broadcloth to-day, just as fine as that which Howard
+Minturn himself wore, and a collar so white and shiny that it would
+fairly dazzle the eyes of the others to look upon it; but, since she was
+so powerless to do what she would, it made her cross.
+
+The bedroom door was open, and Tip's father heard. By and by, when his
+cough was quieter, he called, "Kitty!" and the little girl went in to
+him. "Is the jacket fixed, Kitty?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Does it look nice?"
+
+"Some."
+
+"Would you like to find a collar for Tip to wear?"
+
+"Well enough," said Kitty wonderingly.
+
+"Well, now, I've got two or three that I don't wear any more, and never
+shall, I guess" (this last spoken sadly); "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 jacket, and make it look like what the other boys wear? Now,
+you try what you can do, just to see what Tip will say."
+
+Kitty went slowly over to the box. This was new work for her, but her
+father was very pale to-day, and those sadly-spoken words, "and never
+shall, I guess," had quieted her; so she made no answer, but drew out one
+of the collars. It looked nice and white, and shone, too. Mrs. Lewis had
+done it up late one night, with tears in her eyes, because she could not
+hope that it would be worn again.
+
+"What are you doing with that?" she asked sharply, as Kitty appeared from
+the bedroom.
+
+"Father wants Tip to wear it," answered Kitty.
+
+"I'll lend it to him," spoke the sick man; "we want him to look as decent
+as we can to-day, you know."
+
+Mrs. Lewis said no more, but it seemed to her like giving up one more
+hope of her husband's life.
+
+Tip came down from the garret, with neatly-brushed hair, and dressed
+in his clean shirt, nicely mended jacket, and the shiny collar. It
+was wonderful what a difference that collar made; he didn't look like
+the same boy.
+
+"Kitty," he said, his face all aglow with pleasure, "where _did_ I get
+a collar?"
+
+"It's father's; he said wear it," answered Kitty.
+
+"And how did it get on my jacket?"
+
+"Jumped on, likely."
+
+Kitty spoke in a short, half provoked tone; she was so unused to doing a
+kind thing, that she really felt half ashamed of it.
+
+"Well," said Tip, smiling all over his face, "if that's so, it's the best
+jump it ever took, and I thank it from the bottom of my heart." Then he
+carried his bright, good-natured face out of the little house in the
+hollow, and went towards the great house on the hill.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+"Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
+the day of judgment."
+
+
+Howard Minturn was a king among the schoolboys; so, though some of them
+nudged each other and laughed a little when Tip swung open the iron gate
+and appeared in Mr. Minturn's grounds, the most of them, seeing how
+quickly Howard sprang forward, and how heartily he greeted the newcomer,
+did the same. Howard was his father over again; if he did a thing at all,
+he did it well. Every moment of that afternoon was enjoyed as only boys
+know how to enjoy holidays: the whole round of winter fun was gone
+through with,--coasting, snowballing, building forts, rolling in the
+snow, each had their turn.
+
+Tip was not one whit behind the rest in all these matters, and if ever
+boy enjoyed an afternoon, he did that one. The sun had set in its clear,
+cold beauty, and the sharp winter night was coming down; the boys stood
+at the foot of the hill waiting for Ellis and his sled, which were at the
+top; they came at last, shooting down the glassy surface.
+
+"Hurry up," called out Howard, as he spun along. "What the mischief
+became of you? We thought you had gone to hunt up Sir John Franklin
+and crew."
+
+"Hurry down, I should say you meant," answered Ellis, guiding his sled
+skilfully around the curve, and springing to his feet. "I waited for the
+rest of you; thought you were coming back."
+
+"No," said Howard, "we just _ain't_. We appointed a committee to find out
+how many were frozen up altogether entirely, and found that every single
+one of us were; so we're going in to the library fire to get thawed out
+by tea-time."
+
+"All right," said Ellis, shouldering his sled; "Howard, where's
+your skates?"
+
+"Oh, bother! they're at the top of that awful hill. Never mind; you walk
+on slowly, and I'll run back and get them."
+
+The boys obeyed, and Ellis Holbrook was just swinging open the little
+gate that led to Mr. Minturn's grounds, when Howard called, as he ran
+down the hill, "Hold on! Don't go that way, it will lead you right
+through the deepest snow there is; take the big gate." And by the time he
+reached them, panting and breathless, they were at the big gate.
+
+"This is jolly," said Will Bailey, throwing himself into a great
+arm-chair before the glowing fire. "My! I believe I'm a snowball."
+
+"You'd have been an icicle if you had gone the way Ellis was leading you;
+why, the snow is so high," said Howard, raising his hand almost on a
+level with his head.
+
+Ellis laughed. "I'm sure I thought I was going right," he said. "I must
+have been thinking of yesterday's lesson in Sunday school,--'Enter ye in
+at the strait gate.'"
+
+"Ho!" said Will Bailey; "for that matter, one gate is as straight as
+the other."
+
+"You don't understand the Bible, my boy," said Howard, laying his hand on
+Will's shoulder with a provoking little pat, "or you'd know that strait
+means narrow."
+
+"I'll bet a dollar that you were no wiser yourself until father explained
+the verse yesterday," said Ellis, laughing.
+
+Tip, meantime, stood apart flushed and silent; he knew about the Sunday
+lesson, and remembered the solemn talk which Mr. Holbrook gave them; and
+remembered how he urged them, while they were young, to enter into that
+strait gate; he felt shocked and troubled at the sound of Ellis's
+careless words.
+
+"I know one thing," he said abruptly.
+
+"Do you?" said Will Bailey in a mocking tone. "That's very strange!" Will
+felt above Tip, and took care to let him know it.
+
+Ellis turned a quick, indignant glance on him; then spoke to Tip in a
+kind and interested tone: "What were you going to say, Tip."
+
+"That, if I were the minister's son, I wouldn't make fun of the Bible."
+
+Ellis's face was crimson in an instant. "What do you mean by that?" he
+asked haughtily.
+
+"Just what I say," was Tip's cool reply.
+
+"Do you pretend to say that _I_ make fun of the Bible?"
+
+"Humph! Didn't I hear you?"
+
+"No," said Ellis, in a heat, "you _didn't_! and I'd thank you not to say
+so neither."
+
+"Well, now," said Tip, "I'll leave it to any boy here if you didn't. When
+a fellow takes a thing in the Bible and twists it around, and makes
+believe it means some little silly thing that it don't mean at all, I
+call that making fun."
+
+"Poh!" said Howard, coming to the rescue of his friend. "What a fuss
+you're making about nothing. You're getting wise, aren't you, Tip? Ellis
+was only saying that verse in fun, just as lots of people do. I've heard
+good men quote the Bible and laugh over it."
+
+"Can't help that," said Tip boldly; "I say it's wicked, and Ellis
+Holbrook's father says so too. I heard him tell Will Bailey once
+that folks ought to be very careful how they said things that were
+in the Bible.'
+
+"Did he tell you to go around preaching for him through the week? How
+much does he pay you for your services? Come, let's hear."
+
+This was said in Will Bailey's most disagreeable tone. Before Tip had
+time to answer, Ellis spoke again.
+
+"Well, I don't pretend to be as good as some people are, but I really
+can't see any awful wickedness in anything that I've said to-night."
+
+"Neither can anybody else, except Tip," said Will, "and he's good, you
+know; he never does anything wrong, except to tell lies and swear, or
+some little matters."
+
+Ellis was an honest boy. "No," he said gravely, "there is no use in
+saying what isn't true, for the sake of helping my side along. Tip don't
+do either of those things now-a-days, I believe; but I'm sure I don't
+thank him for his good opinion of me."
+
+Howard was glad at this moment to hear the tea-bell peal through the
+house, for the boys were growing cross. Most of them had been so
+astonished at the bold stand which Tip had taken, that they said nothing,
+only gathered round, and waited to see what would come next.
+
+Howard sprang up. "There's something I, for one, am ready for. Come,
+boys;" and he led the way to the dining-room. Oh, that dining-room, with
+its bright lights and splendid table, was such a wonderful sight to Tip!
+It was a very nice birthday supper,--plates of warm biscuit, platters of
+cold chicken, dishes of beautiful honey, silver cake-baskets, filled with
+heavily-frosted cake. Tip, for one, had never seen such a sight in his
+life before, and he was so bewildered with the dazzle and glitter that he
+didn't know which way to turn.
+
+"Howard," said Mrs. Minturn, turning to her son, after she had welcomed
+his friends, "do you want your father to take the head of the table, or
+would you and the boys prefer having the room to yourselves?"
+
+"No, ma'am," answered Howard, with energy; "we want you and father
+_both_. I guess I want _you_ to my party, whoever else I have."
+
+Tip watched the bright light on Howard's face with surprise. How much he
+seemed to love his mother, and how much she loved him! how queer it was!
+The supper was a great success; the boys forgot their excitement and
+ill-humour, and enjoyed everything.
+
+It was almost nine o'clock, the hour when it was generally understood
+that the party was to break up. The boys had been very merry all the
+evening; the discussion which had taken place just before tea seemed to
+have been forgotten, save by Ellis, who, genial and hearty enough with
+the others, was cold and haughty to Tip. Still, they kept apart, and the
+fun had gone on famously. There was a sudden lull in the uproar when Mr.
+Minturn opened the door.
+
+"Are the walls left?" he asked, coming forward.
+
+"The _walls_?" said Ellis inquiringly; "why, sir, did you expect to
+miss them?"
+
+"Well, I had some such fears, but I see they're all right. What are
+you up to?"
+
+"Ellis was telling a story, that's what we were laughing at when you
+came in," said Howard. "Go on, El--never mind father, he likes to
+hear stories."
+
+"No," said Ellis, blushing crimson; "I think I'll be excused."
+
+"Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn; "I'm very fond of stories."
+
+"I was only telling, sir, how Joe Barnes talked to his father when I was
+down there this morning."
+
+"Yes, and, father, you'd be perfectly astonished to hear him," chimed in
+Howard. "I never heard a fellow go on so in my life; he makes fun of
+every single thing his father says."
+
+"Do you think there is anything very surprising in that?" asked Mr.
+Minturn coolly.
+
+"Surprising! I guess you'd think so. Why, when his father is talking to
+him real soberly, he mimics him, and laughs right in his face."
+
+"But I shouldn't suppose you would think there was anything strange
+about that."
+
+The boys looked puzzled. "Why, Mr. Minturn!" said Ellis; "wouldn't you
+think it strange if Howard should do so?"
+
+"Well, no; I don't know that I should have any reason to be astonished."
+
+Howard looked not only surprised, but very much hurt. "I'm sure, father,"
+he said, in a voice which trembled a little, "I didn't know I was so rude
+to you as all that."
+
+"No," said Mr. Minturn, "you never have been, but I rather expect you to
+commence. I shall have no reason to be surprised if you and Ellis and
+Will Bailey, and a host of others, all go to making fun of what your
+fathers say to you after this."
+
+The boys seemed perfectly astonished. "_I_, for one," said Ellis Holbrook
+proudly, "think too much of _my_ father, to be in any such danger."
+
+"You _do_?" said Mr. Minturn; "well, now, I _am_ amazed. I supposed you
+would be the very worst one."
+
+Howard left the table and came over to where his father had seated
+himself.
+
+"Father, what _do_ you mean?" he asked, in an earnest, anxious tone.
+
+"Why, I mean," said his father, "that I was in that room over there
+just before tea, and I heard the discussion which came up between you
+boys, 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 them,
+need not be expected to show much respect for what their father or
+anybody else said."
+
+A perfect stillness settled over the boys at these words, and not only
+Ellis Holbrook's cheeks, but his whole face glowed.
+
+Howard came to the rescue at last, very stammeringly: "But, father--I
+don't think--do you think--I mean--well, sir, you know Ellis and the
+rest of us didn't mean to make fun of what God said. Don't you think that
+makes a difference?"
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. How do you know that Joe Barnes means to make
+fun of what his father says?"
+
+"He acts like it," Howard said.
+
+"Exactly; and so do you, every one of you, except Tip. I don't say, boys,
+that you are all going to be disrespectful to your elders after this; I
+only say I don't see why your earthly friends should expect more
+reverence from you than you give to God."
+
+Boys and man were all silent for a little after that, until Mr. Minturn
+broke the stillness by repeating reverently, "'Enter ye in at the strait
+gate.' I guess you all know what that means. I would like to know whether
+there is a boy here who thinks he has entered in at that gate."
+
+How still the room was while he waited for his answer! Tip could feel his
+heart throb--throb--with loud, distinct beats; twice he tried to break
+the silence, and couldn't. At last he found voice: "I do, sir."
+
+Mr. Minturn turned quickly. "What makes you think so, Tip?"
+
+"Because I love Jesus, and I'm trying to do what He says."
+
+Mr. Minturn's voice trembled a little: "God bless you, my boy; try to
+get all the rest to go through the same gate."
+
+The town clock struck the hour, nine o'clock. The boys made a move to
+separate. Tip took his cap and walked out alone in the cold, clear
+starlight. He felt quiet and strong. It was done at last: he had taken
+his stand before the boys--had "shown his colours."
+
+They all knew now that he was trying hard, and who was helping him.
+Things must surely be different after this, for ever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in player, believing, ye
+shall receive."
+
+
+Meantime, was Kitty forgotten? Not a bit of it. If ever boy prayed for
+any one, Tip prayed for her. His very soul was in it; yet thus far his
+prayers seemed to have been in vain. The lesson, one Sabbath morning, was
+on "God's answers to prayer." Tip listened closely, yet with an
+unsatisfied longing in his eyes.
+
+"Mr. Holbrook," he said, waiting after the rest had gone, "is there time
+for just one question?"
+
+"Yes, for two, if you like," said Mr. Holbrook, sitting down again; "what
+is it, Edward?"
+
+"I want to know why God don't answer folks' prayers right away?"
+
+Mr. Holbrook smiled. "If your questions are all as hard as that, Edward,
+I don't think there will be time for another to-day. But there may be
+several reasons: we will try to find them. Sometimes God doesn't answer
+our prayers at once, simply to try our faith, to see whether we are
+willing to take Him at His word, and keep on asking, until He is ready to
+give; or whether we will grow tired in a little while, and give it up.
+And sometimes we spend all our strength in praying, and don't work; then,
+often, we don't believe we shall get what we are praying for. Do you
+understand me?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Tip promptly.
+
+"Well, let me see if I can make it plainer. For whom are you
+praying, Edward, that you are troubled this morning, because you
+have not been heard?"
+
+"For Kitty; I have been, this long time. Kitty's my sister, and I
+want her to love Jesus; but it don't seem to do any good for me to
+pray for her.
+
+"It is _possible_ that God may be trying your patience, but not probable;
+I think we can find a better reason. Do you work while you pray? I mean,
+do you talk with Kitty,--tell her what you are praying for,--urge her to
+come to Christ,--try to show her how?"
+
+Tip looked grave. "I did talk a little to her once, but it didn't seem
+to do her any good, and I haven't said a word since."
+
+"Did you ever read in the Bible what is said about such praying, about
+saying, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled,' and not _doing_
+anything?"
+
+Tip shook his head, and Mr. Holbrook held out his hand for the little
+Bible.
+
+"Let me find it for you, and when you go home you may read it, and see if
+you, in praying for Kitty and never saying a word to her, are not a
+little like that man. Then there's another thing. Do you really believe
+that God will do what you ask Him? You say every day in your prayer, 'O
+God, make Kitty a Christian;' and yet, wouldn't you be very much
+astonished if Kitty should come to you to-day, and say, 'I want to be a
+Christian!' Are you looking out for any such thing?"
+
+Tip generally spoke his honest thoughts.
+
+"No," he said gravely, "I ain't."
+
+The church bell began to ring, and Mr. Holbrook arose. "I think, if you
+begin to work and pray together, and then ask God to help you to believe,
+that He will surely do as He has promised; that you will soon find your
+prayers answered."
+
+This he said while gathering up his books and papers ready to start,
+and then,--
+
+"Edward, why don't you come to our Thursday evening prayer-meetings?"
+
+Tip's eyes were full of astonishment.
+
+"I never once thought of it," he said. "Why, Mr. Holbrook, boys don't
+go, do they?"
+
+"No," said the minister sadly, "they don't; because I don't know of
+another boy of your age in this whole town who loves the Saviour. Only
+think what a work there is for you to do!"
+
+Tip went home with his brain full of new thoughts. No, he didn't go home;
+he only went as far as the elm-tree, and there he sat down and read what
+Mr. Holbrook had marked in his Bible. Yes, that was just the way in which
+he had been praying for Kitty; and it was certainly true, as Mr. Holbrook
+had said, nothing could surprise him more than that Kitty should really
+and truly come to Jesus.
+
+Before he went from under the tree that day, he prayed this prayer: "O
+God, teach me to believe that you will make Kitty love Jesus, and show me
+how to help her."
+
+After this, of course he looked out for his chances in which to work, and
+of course he found them,--found one that very day. After dinner Kitty
+wandered off by herself. Tip watched her, and she took the road leading
+to the cemetery. God put it into his heart to hurry after her; so, when
+he came up to her, where she sat, on a large stone which she had rolled
+very near to Johnny's grave, his heart was beating at the thought of the
+great work which he had to do.
+
+"What did _you_ come for?" said Kitty, looking up.
+
+Tip hesitated a minute, then told the plain truth.
+
+"I came after you."
+
+"I suppose I know that: you didn't come before me."
+
+"I mean I came to _see_ you."
+
+"Well, look at me, then, and go off; I don't want you here."
+
+Clearly, whatever was to be said must be said quickly, and Tip's heart
+was very full of its message, so his voice was tender:
+
+"Oh, Kitty, I came to ask you if you _wouldn't_ be a Christian. I _do_
+want it so, it seems as if I couldn't wait."
+
+Kitty looked steadily and gravely at her brother. "What do you mean by
+'be a Christian?'" she asked at last.
+
+"I mean love Jesus, and do as He says."
+
+"What'll I love Him for?"
+
+"'Cause you can't help it, when you find out how much He loves you, and
+all the things He does for you."
+
+"What does He say do?"
+
+"He says be good; try to do right things all the time."
+
+Kitty's eyes flashed. "Now, ain't you mean," she said angrily, "to come
+and tell me such things, when you know I ain't good, and _can't_ be good?
+Isn't mother ugly and cross and scolding to me all the time? and don't I
+have to work and work, _always_, and never have anything? And I'm cross
+and get mad, and I _will_, too. I can't help it."
+
+"Oh, but, Kitty," Tip interrupted eagerly, "you don't know about it! He
+helps you, Jesus does. When anything is the matter, when you feel cross
+and bad, you just go and kneel down and tell Him all about it, and He
+helps you every time. And up in heaven, where you can go when you die,
+nobody ever gets cross and scolds. And it's beautiful there: they sing,
+and have fountains, and wear gold crowns; and--and Johnny is there, you
+know; and I'm going, and I _do_ want you to come along."
+
+Kitty's face had been growing graver and graver with every word her
+brother spoke, and when at last he stopped, with his eyes turned towards
+Johnny's little grave, Kitty's shawl was crumpled up in her two hands and
+held tightly to her face; and she was crying, not softly and quietly, but
+rocking herself back and forth, and giving way to great sobs which shook
+her little form.
+
+Tip looked distressed; he didn't know what to say next; he stooped down
+to her at last, and spoke softly: "Oh, Kitty, I'm sorry for you! if you
+only _would_ love Jesus, it would make you happy."
+
+"I want to--I want to!" sobbed Kitty; "I would if I knew how."
+
+Tip's heart gave a bound of joy--a surprised bound, too; he had not
+expected it so soon.
+
+"It's easy, Kitty, it is, truly, if you only just ask God to do it. You
+see He can hear every word you say; He hears you now, but He wants you to
+ask Him about it. Say, Kitty, I'll go off and leave you,--I'll go where I
+can't see nor hear you,--then you kneel down and tell Jesus about it, and
+He'll help you."
+
+"Stop!" said Kitty, as Tip was turning away; "wait! I don't know
+what to say."
+
+"Why, just _tell_ Him, just as you did me, and ask Him to help you. You
+see, Kitty, you can't do a thing without that; He's got to look after you
+every single minute, or it's nothing at all."
+
+Tip went away, and Kitty was left alone,--alone in the spot where her
+brother had first found the Saviour. She felt very strangely; she had
+been left there alone to offer her first prayer.
+
+Kitty had never been taught to kneel down by her bedside every evening,
+and repeat "Our Father;" it was all new and strange to her. She sat still
+a long time, with the sober look deepening on her face. At last she got
+down on her knees and rested her little hard hands on the hard snow which
+covered Johnny's bed, and she said, "Jesus, I want to be what Tip says. I
+want to love you if you'll let me. Nobody loves me, I guess. Tip says
+you'll help me all the time. If you will, I'll try."
+
+After she had said this, slowly and thoughtfully, stopping long between
+each sentence, she didn't feel like rising up; she wanted to say more, so
+she repeated it, adding, "Tip says I must be good. I can't be good, but
+I'll try."
+
+Over and over was the simple, earnest prayer repeated.
+
+Tip did not go back to Johnny's grave; he took a side road down
+through the edge of the grove, and so went home; and when he reached
+home, he went up to his attic room, and knelt down and prayed for
+Kitty as only those _can_ pray who have been working as well as
+asking for what they want.
+
+Kitty was stirring the pudding for supper when he saw her
+again,--stirring away hard at the heavy mass, which grew thicker and
+harder to stir every moment. He went over to her.
+
+"Kitty, let me do this;" and she gave up the pudding-stick. Tip
+stirred away.
+
+By and by she leaned over the kettle to put in some salt, and as she
+sprinkled it around she caught his eager, longing look. She nodded her
+head. "I guess He heard," she said softly.
+
+"I _know_ He did," Tip answered, his eyes very blight; in his heart
+he sang "_Glory!_" And the angels in heaven sang for joy; for that
+night there had been laid aside a white robe and a crown of gold for
+Kitty Lewis.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also
+before My Father which is in heaven."
+
+
+Tip was very undecided what to do. He went out on the steps and looked
+about him in the moonlight; then he came in and took a long look out of
+the window. At last the question, whatever it was, seemed to be settled.
+He turned with a resolute air to Kitty who was washing the tea-dishes.
+
+"Kitty, don't you want to go to prayer-meeting up at the church?"
+
+Kitty dropped her cup back into the dish-pan and stood looking at him, a
+good deal surprised. At last she said,--
+
+"I'd like to, Tip, but I don't look decent to go anywhere. I've only this
+dress and my old hood."
+
+"I wouldn't mind that," said Tip. "I've only this awful old jacket
+either, but I mean to go. Hurry up the dishes, and let's go."
+
+"Well," said Kitty at last, "I _will_; but what will mother say?"
+
+"I'll fix that." And Tip stepped softly into the bedroom. "Are you better
+to-night, father?"
+
+"Not much better, I guess. How's arithmetic to-day?"
+
+"First-rate; Mr. Burrows said I was getting ahead fast. Mother, may Kitty
+go out with me to-night? I'm going up to the church to prayer-meeting."
+
+Mrs. Lewis turned from the basket where she had been hunting long, and as
+yet in vain, for a piece of flannel, and bent a searching bewildered look
+on her son.
+
+"I don't care," she said at last; "she can go if she likes; but I doubt
+if she will."
+
+She _did_, however; in ten minutes more the two were walking along the
+snowy path. Kitty was sober. "Tip," she said presently, "don't you never
+get real awful _mad_, so mad that you feel as if you'd choke if you
+couldn't speak right out at somebody?"
+
+"Well, no," said Tip, "not often. Yes, I do too; I get mad at Bob
+Turner sometimes, mad enough to pitch him into a snow-bank; but it
+don't last long."
+
+"Well, mine does," said Kitty. "I begin in the morning; something makes
+me cross, and I keep on getting crosser and crosser every minute, till it
+seems as if I should fly. Do you suppose I'll always do just so?"
+
+"No," answered Tip positively, "I _don't_. You keep on trying a little
+bit harder every day, and by and by you'll find that you don't get cross
+more than half as easy as you used to. I know it will be so, because
+I've tried it in other things: when I first began to behave myself in
+school, it was the _hardest_ work--my! You can think how I wanted to
+whisper, and things kept happening all the time to make me laugh, but I
+just kept trying, and now I hardly ever think of whispering. Kitty, does
+mother know?"
+
+"No," said Kitty, "she don't."
+
+"If I were you, I'd tell her."
+
+"Oh, Tip, I can't! She never looks at me without scolding me; I can't
+talk to her about this."
+
+"Yes, you can; I'd surely do it if I were you. It will be a great deal
+easier to try hard if mother knows you are trying."
+
+They were almost at the church door.
+
+"Kitty," said Tip suddenly, "let's pray for father to-night. I've been
+praying for him this long time; you help me."
+
+Step by step, God was leading Tip Lewis in the narrow way. No sooner was
+he seated in the bright, warm little room, and had listened to Mr.
+Holbrook's earnest prayer, that every Christian there might do something
+for Christ that night, than the struggle began: what ought he to do for
+Christ? People all around him were, one after another, offering prayer or
+saying a few words. Ought he to? Could he? Oh, he couldn't! Who would
+want to listen to him? It wouldn't do any good. There was Mr. Burrows
+right in front of him; he would be ashamed of him, perhaps. Yes, but
+then, ought he not to own his Saviour? Mr. Holbrook had spoken of the
+verse, "Whosoever will deny me before men," and had made the meaning very
+plain. Mr. Minturn had just prayed that no one there might be ashamed of
+Christ. The end of it all was, that Tip slipped off his seat down on his
+knees, and said, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
+Show me how to pray. I don't want to deny Christ. I want to love Him. I
+want the boys in our school, and my father, and everybody to love Him.
+I'll try to work for Jesus. I'll try to work for Him. Help me every day,
+and forgive my sins for Jesus' sake. Amen."
+
+Tip had never felt so near to God as he did when he arose from his knees.
+Mr. Holbrook's voice trembled with feeling, when, soon after, he prayed
+for the young disciple who had early taken up his cross.
+
+At the close of the meeting, the minister pressed his way through the
+little company of people who were waiting to speak with him.
+
+"Good evening, all," he said hurriedly. "Excuse me to-night, brother," to
+Mr. Minturn, who would have stopped him any way; "I want to speak to some
+people before they get away from me;" and those who watched, saw him
+hurry on until he overtook Tip Lewis and his sister.
+
+"Good evening, Edward. This is Kitty, I think. How do you do, my little
+girl? Edward, do you know such a Bible verse as this: 'I love the Lord,
+because He has heard my voice and my supplication'?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Tip eagerly; "_is_ there such a verse?"
+
+"Yes, somewhere in the Psalms you will find it. I don't remember just
+where. Can you feel the truth of it when you think of your sister?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I _can_. God _did_ hear me."
+
+"And you think you love Jesus to-night, Kitty?"
+
+Kitty felt a great awe for the minister, and her "Yes, sir," was low, and
+spoken in a timid voice.
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"I--I don't know; only I pray, and He hears me, and I like to."
+
+"Well, now, Kitty, almost the first thing which people think of after
+they have found Jesus, is something to do for Him; they begin to look
+around to see what they can find. What are you going to do?"
+
+"I don't know, sir; I haven't got anything I can do."
+
+"Ah, that's a mistake! you can find plenty of work if you look for it;
+only don't look too far, because it is the little bits of things which
+come right in your way that Jesus wants you to do. When you brush up the
+room, and set the table neatly, and brighten the fire, and do little
+thoughtful things that help your mother, then you are pleasing Jesus,
+doing work for Him. Isn't it pleasant to think that in all those little
+things He is watching over you, and that you make Him glad when you do
+them well? Do you know that one of God's commands is, 'Honour thy father
+and thy mother'?"
+
+"No," said Kitty softly.
+
+"It is; those are the very words; Edward can find them for you in the
+Bible; and honour means more than obey; it means, try to please them in
+the very smallest things."
+
+They were very near the corner where Mr. Holbrook must leave them. He
+laid his hand gently on Tip's shoulder, as he said, "Speaking of Bible
+verses, Edward, I have one for you this evening, in the Saviour's own
+words: 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess
+before My Father which is in heaven.' Good-night."
+
+Tip understood him, and there was a bright look in his eyes. The two
+walked on in silence for a little. Presently Kitty said, "I guess Mr.
+Holbrook don't know just how mother is, or he wouldn't talk so."
+
+"Yes, but," said Tip quickly, "God knew all about it always, you know;
+and yet He said that verse."
+
+"So He did," answered Kitty gravely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+"Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth."
+
+
+"Bah," said Will Bailey, "you're fooling, Howard Minturn!"
+
+"As true as I live, I'm not," answered Howard earnestly; "you can ask
+Mr. Burrows."
+
+"What's up?" inquired Ellis Holbrook, joining the two.
+
+"Why, Howard is telling the biggest yarn you ever heard: he says Tip
+Lewis went to prayer-meeting last night and made a prayer."
+
+"Tip Lewis!" and Ellis Holbrook's voice was full, not only of surprise,
+but scorn; "I should like to hear him."
+
+"Well, it's true," repeated Howard. "My father told us about it this
+morning, and he said it was a good prayer too; he said, Ellis, that your
+father couldn't keep the tears out of his eyes when he heard him; and Mr.
+Burrows walked up town with father, and told him that Tip had changed
+wonderfully, that he was one of the best boys in school."
+
+"Well," said Will Bailey, "if Tip Lewis has turned saint, I'll give up.
+Why, he's the meanest scamp in town; my father says he's had enough for
+anything."
+
+"Oh, well now," answered Ellis, "there's no use in being stupid enough
+not to see that what Mr. Burrows says is true. I never saw any one change
+as he has in my life, but I'll be hanged if I like him as well as I did
+before he was so awful good; he's too nice for anything now-a-days."
+
+"Especially when he trips _you_, the minister's son, up, about twisting
+the Bible."
+
+Ellis's face glowed, but he was an honest boy. "He was right enough about
+that," he said promptly; "my father says it's wrong. But, if it will do
+you any good to know it, I haven't liked Tip so well since."
+
+"Say, Tip," said Will Bailey, hailing him at recess, "come here and give
+an account of yourself. They say you turned parson last night; did you?"
+
+"No," said Tip, with the greatest good humour, "I didn't."
+
+"Didn't you speak in meeting?"
+
+A quiet gravity spread itself over Tip's face. "I prayed in meeting," he
+answered soberly.
+
+"Oh, well, what did you pray for? Come, let's know."
+
+"I prayed for _you_." Tip spoke with quiet dignity.
+
+"Humph! Now, that's clever, certainly. Much obliged."
+
+And Will said no more.
+
+Certainly the boys had never talked so much about any prayer-meeting in
+their lives as they did about this one. So that was the way it commenced;
+such a little fire kindled it. Tip didn't know it; he never found it out;
+probably he never will, until he takes his crown in heaven. From the
+humble little prayer which Tip had offered sprang the first buddings of
+the great revival which God sent down to them.
+
+"Say," said Howard Minturn to Ellis on the next Thursday evening, "let's
+go over to prayer-meeting to-night. I really am dreadfully anxious to
+hear Tip speak."
+
+"No," answered Ellis, speaking hastily, more hastily than he often did to
+Howard. "I'm sure I don't care in the least to hear him, and I have
+enough to do without going there."
+
+Howard was _determined_ to go, and to find company.
+
+"Will, let's go to meeting to-night," he said, the next time he came
+across Will Bailey.
+
+Will looked at him in amazement. "What for?"
+
+"To hear Tip."
+
+"Oh!" said Will; "good! I'll go. Let's get a lot of the boys and go over;
+just to encourage him, you know."
+
+And they went. Tip and Kitty were there again; and again, with Tip, the
+struggle had to be gone through; his coward spirit whispered to him that
+the boys would only make fun of him if he said a word, and it would do
+more harm than good. His conscience answered, "Whosoever will deny Me on
+earth, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." The
+solemn words conquered, and again Tip knelt down and prayed.
+
+"My!" said Mr. Minturn, talking with his wife after they reached home;
+"when I thought of the bringing up which that boy has had,--no bringing
+up about it, he has just _come_ up, the easiest way he could,--but when I
+heard him pray to-night, and then thought of our boy, who has been prayed
+for and watched over every day since he was born, I declare I felt as
+though I would give all I'm worth to have Howard stand where Tip Lewis
+does now."
+
+Howard heard this, as he waited in the sitting-room for his father and
+mother; heard it in great amazement, and at first it made him indignant.
+The idea of comparing _him_ with Tip Lewis! Then it made him sorrowful:
+his father's tones were _so_ sad; after all that had been done for him,
+it _was_ hard that he should disappoint his parents.
+
+He listened to his father's prayer that night very closely, and its
+earnestness brought the tears to his eyes. Altogether, Howard went to
+school the next morning with a somewhat sober face, and took no part
+whatever in the boys' fun over the meeting.
+
+Mr. Burrows' heart had been warmed by the voice of prayer from one of his
+scholars, and he began to pray and long for others of them to work also;
+and the great God, who knows the beginning and the end, led his first
+words of anxiety to Howard Minturn. They stood at the desk, teacher and
+scholar, Howard bending over his slate.
+
+"Can't you get it?" Mr. Burrows asked,
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Howard, are you working with all your thoughts to-day?"
+
+"No, sir." And a bright flush mounted to his forehead.
+
+"What is it, Howard?"
+
+"I don't know, sir; not much of anything, I guess."
+
+"Are you not quite satisfied with yourself to-day?"
+
+"Satisfied! I--why--I don't know what you mean, sir; I have tried to do
+the best I could, I believe."
+
+"Do you really think so, Howard?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Did you think so last evening, in the prayer-meeting? Can a boy, who is
+as well taught as you have been, feel that he is doing as well as he can,
+when he knows that he is every day cheating God?"
+
+Howard's face fairly burned.
+
+"I don't understand you, sir."
+
+"Don't you?" and Mr. Burrows' voice was very kind. "I wish that God's own
+Spirit might help you to understand it. Didn't your father and mother
+promise God, when you were born, to try to train you up for Him, because
+you belonged to Him, and they knew it? Now, haven't they done their duty?
+is it their fault that you are not a Christian?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Then it comes back to you. You belong to God, body and soul: He made
+you; He has kept you; He would save you, only you will not let Him. You
+can't help the fact that you belong to Him; all you can do is to refuse
+to give Him your love, and let Him lead you to heaven, and this you are
+doing. Is it right?"
+
+Howard was growing haughty.
+
+"I don't feel the need of any such things, Mr. Burrows," he
+answered coldly.
+
+"Suppose you don't, does that help the matter any? Does it change the
+fact that you belong to God; that you are cheating Him out of His own
+property? The question I ask is, Are you doing right?"
+
+Howard stood, with eyes fixed on his slate, saying nothing.
+
+"Won't you answer me, Howard?" Mr. Burrows asked gently; "is it right?"
+
+And, after a long, long silence, the boy's honest, earnest eyes were
+raised to his teacher's face, and he spoke steadily:
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Are you willing to go on doing wrong?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Will you turn _now_, Howard, and start right?"
+
+Now came another long silence. Howard Minturn, the honest, faithful boy,
+always getting a little nearer right than any of the others, had been
+condemned by his own words, and knew not what to say. At last he spoke:
+
+"I can't promise, Mr. Burrows."
+
+"Howard! such an answer from _you_, to whom I have only needed to point
+out what was right, in order to have it done!"
+
+"But I can't trust myself, sir; I shall not feel to-morrow as I do now."
+
+"That is, you feel like doing your duty today, but you expect, if you
+wait until to-morrow, that you will feel less like it; so you mean to
+wait. Is that right?"
+
+The silence was much longer this time,--so long, that the boys began to
+look curiously at the two figures over by the desk, and wonder why the
+bell was not rung. But at last he raised those clear, truthful eyes
+once more:
+
+"Mr. Burrows, I'll try."
+
+And the next Thursday evening, when in the house of prayer it was very
+still, because Mr. Holbrook had just said, "Is there not _one_ here
+to-night who wants us to pray for him, and if there is, will he not let
+us know it _now_?" suddenly there was a row of astonished faces in the
+seat where the schoolboys were sitting, because from among them arose
+Howard Minturn, and his face was pale and grave, and his voice was
+steady; they all heard his words:
+
+"I want to be a Christian: will you pray for me?"
+
+Oh, wouldn't they! Was there ever such another prayer as that which Mr.
+Minturn offered for his son? Did any one who heard it wonder that such
+prayer was answered, and that in the next meeting, Howard, speaking with
+a little ring of joy in his voice, said, "I love Jesus to-night. I want
+every one to love Him. I am very happy"?
+
+From this the work went on. The little lecture-room grew full and
+overflowed, and the crowd now filled the church; and every night Some new
+voice was heard, asking for prayer.
+
+Will Bailey seemed filled with the spirit of torment; teased the boys
+unmercifully; went to the meeting every evening, and made fun of it all
+day: but the boys were praying for him, and God's pitying eye was on him.
+
+One evening there were two who arose to ask the prayers of Christians:
+one was Will Bailey, the most hopeless, so the boys thought, of all
+the boys in town; the other was Will Bailey's grey-haired father, the
+most hopeless, so the good men feared, of all the strong,
+self-satisfied men in town.
+
+Yet there were two for whom daily earnest prayer was offered, who, in
+this blessed time, held themselves aloof,--two boys so far separated,
+that it seems strange and sad that their names should be coupled just
+here. Bob Turner and Ellis Holbrook, the lowest and the highest; the
+worst boy in school and the best! Yet they were united in this one thing,
+that they would have nothing to do with Christ. Tip had prayed for both,
+worked for both; but this was his success one afternoon.
+
+"Say, Bob, won't you go to meeting to-night, just to please me?"
+
+"Couldn't, Tip, no way in the world. I'd do most anything to please you,
+too, for the sake of old times when we used to steal apples together; but
+I've promised to go with Nick Hunt tonight, and tie old Barlow's cat fast
+to his frontdoor knob, and that's got to be done while the old man is at
+meeting, you know. 'Tain't no matter, either, about my going; you just do
+the praying for you and me too; then it will be all right."
+
+Tip turned away with a sigh and a shudder. Could it be possible that
+_that_ boy had ever been his only companion? Ellis was round by the
+ball-ground, and he went thither.
+
+"Ellis, won't you go down to-night with the boys? it's almost the last
+meeting, you know."
+
+Ellis wheeled around, and spoke in his coldest tone:
+
+"Tip Lewis, you seem to take a wonderful interest in me, and I'm sure I'm
+much obliged to you; but I'll be a great deal more so if you'll attend to
+your own affairs after this, and let mine alone."
+
+Poor Tip! how discouraged he felt! Yet that very evening, going home
+from school, he met Mr. Holbrook; the minister turned and walked up
+town with him.
+
+"Edward," he said, "are you praying for my boy?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will you never stop praying for him while you live, until he comes
+to Christ?"
+
+"I never _will_, sir," answered Tip, with energy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+"Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bore thee shall
+rejoice."
+
+
+How did Mr. Holbrook know so well what Kitty needed to help her? His
+words had given her such new thoughts; some way it was all new to her,
+the idea that she had any duty to perform towards her mother. She stood
+thinking of it that bright winter day,--stood before the little fire, and
+wondered how it was that she ought to commence. She was to be alone all
+day. Mrs. Stebbens, their next neighbour, had fallen down and sprained
+her ankle, and sent to know if Mrs. Lewis could do her promised day's
+work in the village. Kitty was left in charge of the house and her sick
+father. She looked around the room: what an ugly, dreary little room it
+was!--dust, dirt, and cobwebs everywhere; her hood and shawl lying in
+one corner; her mother's apron on the floor in the middle of the room;
+the breakfast dishes not yet washed; the stove all spattered with grease
+from the pork gravy; the hearth thickly covered with ashes; the paper
+window-curtain hanging by one tack; and on the mantelpiece, behind the
+stove, such an array of half-eaten apples, matches, forks, sticky spoons,
+broken teacups, and dirty candlesticks, as would have frightened any one
+less used to it than was Kitty. As she looked around her, a forlorn smile
+came over her face, for she thought of Mr. Holbrook's words: "When you
+brush up the floor, or brighten the fire to please your mother"--
+
+"He don't know," she said to herself, "that mother don't care for
+sweeping and such things; he don't know how we live. I wonder if mother
+_would_ notice now if things were different. What if we did live like
+other folks,--had nice tilings, and kept them put up, and the room swept.
+Suppose I try it. What could I do? I might sweep and wash off the stove,
+and--and clean off the mantelpiece. I'll just do it, and see if anybody
+in this house will care."
+
+No sooner thought than commenced. Kitty went to work. The dishes were
+washed until they shone; those clean dishes shouldn't go in such a
+disorderly cupboard. There was no help for it, the shelves must be
+washed; down came the bottles and bundles, papers of this and boxes of
+that, which had been gathering, Kitty didn't know how long, and the
+astonished shelves felt soap and water once more. How they were scrubbed!
+
+"Kitty," called her father from his bedroom, hearing the racket, "what
+are you doing?"
+
+"I'm cleaning house," answered Kitty promptly.
+
+And her father, because he did not know what else to do, let her work.
+From the cupboard she went to the mantelpiece, bundled the things all off
+in a heap, washed it thoroughly, and put everything in order. What a day
+it was to Kitty! One improvement led to another, and as things began to
+grow clean in her hands, she grew wonderfully interested, and only
+stopped at noon to warm her father's gruel.
+
+It was Saturday, and Tip had gone to pile wood for Mr. Bailey. He was to
+get his dinner and a grammar for his pay. He had wanted a grammar all
+winter, so he worked with a will; and Kitty saw neither him nor her
+mother through all the busy day. The early sun had set long before. Kitty
+thought he certainly would not know that room the next morning, it was
+all so changed. The paper curtain was mended and tacked up in its place;
+the old lounge cover was mended and fastened on smoothly; the mantelpiece
+shone and glowed in the firelight; the two shiny candlesticks, and beside
+them the little box of matches, were all that remained there of the
+rubbish of the morning; the floor was just as smooth and clean as soap
+and ashes, with plenty of hot water and an old broom, could make it;
+hoods and shawls and aprons and old shoes had all disappeared,--nothing
+was lying around: the table was drawn out, the clean, smooth plates
+arranged so as to hide the soiled spots on the tablecloth, the pudding
+was bubbling away in the astonished kettle, and Kitty's joy had been
+complete, when, only a few minutes before, after a great deal of stamping
+and pounding, she had opened the door to Howard Minturn, who said,--
+
+"Mother sent you some milk for your supper.--Where's Tip?--_Isn't_ it
+cold, though?--There'll be prime skating to-night.--Give me the pitcher
+right away, please." All this in one breath.
+
+Now they would have beautiful fresh milk for supper; and if there was
+anything which Tip liked, it was pudding and milk.
+
+So Kitty set the old arm-chair in the warmest corner for her mother,
+fastened her father's door wide open, so that he could see the new room,
+then stirred her pudding, and watched and waited. Her mother came first.
+Kitty's heart had never beat more anxiously than when she heard the slow,
+tired step on the hard snow. Would she notice anything different? In she
+came, tired, cross, and cold, expecting to find disorder, discomfort, and
+cold inside. Could anybody, having eyes, fail to notice the changes which
+had been wrought in that little room since she went out from it in the
+early morning? She shut the door with a little slam, and then the flush
+of the firelight seemed to blind her a little; she brushed her hand over
+her face, and looked around her with a bewildered air. Kitty went over to
+her; some way she felt a great kindness in her heart for her mother, a
+great longing to do something for her.
+
+"Is it cold, mother?" she asked brightly. "Take that chair," pointing to
+the seat in the warm corner. "Supper's all ready, and I've made a cup of
+tea for you."
+
+Mrs. Lewis took off her hood and shawl in silence, untied her wet shoes,
+and placed her cold feet on the clean, warm stove-hearth; took in the
+brightness of the room, the shiny candlesticks, the neatly-spread
+tea-table; took whiffs of the steaming tea,--all in utter silence; only,
+when Kitty's father, looking out, said, "There's been business done here
+since you went away," something in her mother's voice, as she answered,
+"I should think there had," made the blood rush warmly into Kitty's
+cheeks, and made her whisper to herself, as she stooped to place the wet
+shoes under the stove to dry, "Mr. Holbrook told me true, I do believe. I
+guess I have pleased Jesus to-day; I feel so."
+
+While she was taking up the pudding, there was a merry whistle outside, a
+brisk, crushing step on the snow, and Tip whizzed into the room.
+
+Oh, there was no mistaking the look of delight on his face, nor the glad
+ring in his voice, as he said, "Oh, Kitty! why, Kitty Lewis! what _have_
+you been doing? Why, it looks almost as nice here as it does at Howard
+Minturn's."
+
+All that evening there seemed a spell upon the Lewis family. Mrs. Lewis
+didn't say one cross or fretful word; indeed, she had no cause, for in
+Kitty's heart there was a strange, new feeling of love for her mother, of
+longing to please and give her comfort; and never was mother waited on
+with a more quiet care than Mrs. Lewis received that night.
+
+This was the first coming of home-comfort to the family. Tip had apples
+in his pocket, which Howard Minturn had given him; he roasted them
+before the fire, and his father ate very little pieces of them; and his
+mother darned stockings by the light of the candle in the clean little
+candlestick set on the clean little stand; and they were happy.
+
+By and by Tip brought out his grammar, and, finding Kitty very much
+interested in examining it, said,--
+
+"What if you should begin and study grammar with me?"
+
+"What if I should?" answered Kitty. So that evening she commenced her
+education, and, though grammar was a queer study to _begin_ with, still
+it was a beginning.
+
+The pleasant evening wore away; the town clock had struck nine; Kitty's
+father had gone quietly to sleep, and the bedroom door was shut to keep
+all sounds from disturbing him. Tip had taken his candle and gone. Mrs.
+Lewis sat toasting her feet before the dying fire. Yet still Kitty
+lingered. She wanted to take Tip's advice, and tell her mother about her
+dear, new Friend, and this evening, of such wonderful peace, seemed the
+good time for doing so; but she didn't know how. If her mother would only
+say something to help her! and presently she did.
+
+"Kitty, what fit came over you, to go to work and clear up at such rate?"
+
+"I wanted to please _you_, I guess."
+
+Kitty knew that this answer would surprise her mother, and it did, into
+utter silence; but, after what seemed to Kitty a long, _long_ time, she
+spoke again:
+
+"What did you want to do that for?"
+
+Now for it! This was the best chance she could ever hope to have, and her
+voice trembled a little:
+
+"I wanted to please Jesus too, mother, and Mr. Holbrook said if I did
+things to help you, and that you would like, _He_ would be glad---Jesus
+would, you know." A little silence, and then: "I want to please Jesus all
+the time now, because I love Him, and I'm going to try to do right."
+
+It was all out now, and her heart was beating so that it almost stopped
+her voice. Her mother shaded her face with her hand, and neither spoke
+nor moved. Kitty waited a little, then moved slowly towards the door of
+her bit of a bedroom; it was moonlight, so she needed no candle.
+
+"Good-night, mother," she found courage to say at last.
+
+"Good-night;" and her mother's voice sounded strangely, coming from
+behind the closely-held hand.
+
+There was something like a great sob in Kitty's throat as she went to
+her room that night; in her heart was a great longing for mother-love.
+She would have liked to kiss her mother good-night, but she felt how
+queerly that would look; even to _say_ good-night was something very
+unusual. So she knelt down beside her bed, and prayed for her mother.
+
+I don't think Mr. Holbrook knew that the few kind words which he spoke to
+Kitty Lewis, on her way home from prayer-meeting, were seeds which were
+going to spring up and bear fruit unto everlasting life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord."
+
+
+"Father," said Tip, as, after having carefully measured out and given him
+some cough-drops, he sat down for a chat with him before
+school,--"father, didn't you and Mr. Bailey go to school together when
+you were boys?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Lewis. "Our fathers lived side by side, and we used to
+walk more than a mile to school together every morning; we were in the
+same class, too, and the best scholars in school. My! times are changed
+since that day. My father was considerably better off than his was, and
+now he's a rich man, and I'm nobody."
+
+"Was he such a boy as Will Bailey is--or, I mean, as Will used to be?"
+
+"I don't know much about Will; but I know his father was a sorry scamp,
+and many's the scrape he got me into. He took a notion to me. We lived
+near by, and were always together, and then I was as full of pranks as he
+was, I suppose. But he was a regular tyrant over the rest of the boys;
+they were more than half afraid of him; I don't know but what I was
+myself. Anyhow, I know I've thought I'd have been different, maybe, if I
+hadn't followed him so close in all his scrapes."
+
+"Father, did you know Mr. Bailey was different now?"
+
+"Different--how? What do you mean?"
+
+"Why, he comes to prayer-meeting, and speaks and prays, and seems
+to love to."
+
+"The mischief he does!" said Mr. Lewis, surprised out of his usual quiet
+tone. "I should think he _was_ different. Why, he used to make great fun
+of all such things."
+
+"Yes, that's what he says; but I tell you he don't make fun now."
+
+"When did all that happen?"
+
+"A few weeks ago, when the revival was, you know. He got up one night and
+asked them to pray for him, and now he almost always speaks or prays in
+the meetings."
+
+"Well," said Mr. Lewis, after a pause, and with a little sigh, "I'm
+sure I ain't sorry. I only hope it will last; he needed it as bad as any
+one I know of."
+
+"It will last," Tip said, speaking positively. "God will look out
+for that."
+
+Then he waited a little before he spoke again--but he had been praying
+for his father long enough and earnestly enough to feel bold:
+
+"I thought, last night, that you must have been pretty good friends
+once," he said presently, "for he most broke down when he was praying for
+you, and the tears just blinded him."
+
+Mr. Lewis turned himself on his pillow, and looked steadily at his son.
+"Did Mr. Bailey pray for _me_?" he asked at last.
+
+"Yes, he did; and he prayed as if he meant it."
+
+"How came he to?"
+
+"Why, I asked 'em to--all the folks in meeting, you know. I wanted you to
+be a Christian, and prayed for you, and then I asked them if they'd pray,
+and Mr. Bailey got right up. You don't mind that, do you, father? All the
+folks down there ask us to pray for their friends."
+
+"_No_," answered Mr. Lewis at last, speaking slowly, "I don't know that I
+do. I need praying for, I suppose, if anybody does. I'm going where I
+can't be prayed for, pretty fast, I guess."
+
+Tip had no answer to make to that.
+
+"So you prayed for me too, did you?" his father asked presently.
+
+"Yes, and I do every day, father; I _do_ want you to know Jesus."
+
+A long silence followed, and then the sick man spoke again:
+
+"Well, Tip, I'm glad that you've got right, gladder than I can tell you.
+My father was a good man, and tried to make me do what was right; but I
+went all wrong, wasted my whole life, and brought up my children to do so
+too; but you're getting on without my help, and I'm glad you'll grow up
+to be a good man, and be a comfort to your mother when I'm gone. But I
+don't know that you need ask folks to pray for me; it's too late,--I've
+gone too far to get back."
+
+Tip's bold, prompt manner did not forsake him now; he answered quickly,--
+
+"Father, I don't believe any such thing. God doesn't say anything about
+it's being too late; and He says if we want anything very much, and pray
+for it, and it's good to have, He'll give it to us; and I'm bound to
+believe Him. Once I prayed for Kitty, and prayed and prayed, and it
+didn't do a bit of good, until at last Mr. 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 to; and I found out that was it. Just as soon as
+I began to think He would hear me, it all came out straight; and now I'm
+bound to believe Him every time. I've asked Him to make you a Christian,
+and I'm going to keep on asking, and _He'll do it_. Father,"--Tip's voice
+took a softer tone, for he knew there was one very tender spot in his
+father's heart,--"don't you want to see little Johnny up in heaven?"
+
+The muscles around Mr. Lewis's mouth began to twitch nervously, and a
+tear rolled down his cheek.
+
+"I'm pretty near it," he said at last; "and I think sometimes I'd give
+the world, if I had it, to be ready to go; but it's all too late. I've
+known the right way all my life, and I've gone the other way; now I must
+just take my pay."
+
+The very Spirit of Christ must have shown Tip what to say next. He spoke
+the words earnestly and solemnly; he meant no disrespect:
+
+"Father, do you know more about it than God? Because, you see, it don't
+say any such thing anywhere in the Bible; I know it don't, for we talked
+about it in Sunday school once, and Mr. Holbrook said, 'No matter how old
+a man was, nor what he had done, he could be a Christian.'"
+
+"I always thought it looked mean and sneaking in a man to have nothing to
+do with such things all his life, and then turn around just because he
+was going to die, and pretend to be very good. God can't be pleased with
+any such thing as _that_. I've always said that I'd never do it."
+
+Tip couldn't answer this: it didn't sound true; he felt sure it was not
+true; but he had no wisdom with which to meet it. He went to school with
+those last words of his father's ringing in his heart, and his thoughts
+took shape, and spoke in the very first sentence that he addressed to Mr.
+Holbrook, whom he overtook as he came out of the post office:
+
+"Mr. Holbrook, can I ask you a question?"
+
+And the minister, always ready to help any one out of trouble, smiled and
+bowed, and walked on by the side of the troubled boy.
+
+"If a man should tell you he thought it would be mean in him to turn
+around and go to serving God, after he had found out he had but a little
+while to live, when he had cheated Him out of all the rest of his life,
+what would you say?"
+
+"I think," said Mr. Holbrook, "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 life, simply because he had been doing so all the other
+years. Because a man has been doing wrong for forty years, I don't know
+why he should add another year of wrong; I should think he might much
+better turn around, and make all the amends he could."
+
+"Oh!" said Tip, drawing a long breath; "why couldn't I have thought of
+that? I knew it was wrong,--I saw it plain enough; but I couldn't think
+of a word to say."
+
+Mr. Holbrook looked earnestly at the eager boy. "Edward," he said at
+last, "do you think your father would see me this morning?"
+
+"Yes," said Tip decidedly, "I know he would. If you would only go and see
+him, Mr. Holbrook, and explain that to him, I would be _so_ glad."
+
+And, looking back soon after, he had the satisfaction of seeing Mr.
+Holbrook walk quickly down town in the direction of his home. And now Tip
+felt hopeful for his father: he had prayed for him, he had worked for
+him, and now Mr. Holbrook had gone to him; surely he could leave the rest
+in God's hands.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+"Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
+
+
+"Here Tip!" said Howard Minturn; "hold this frame steady while I try
+that nail. Will, don't put that one up so high, it ain't even with the
+others. Hold on, Ellis,--catch hold of this stool, it's tipping. There,
+now, it's all nice and in order,--isn't it, Mr. Burrows?" And he sprang
+from his stool, as their teacher entered the schoolroom door.
+
+"Very likely," answered Mr. Burrows, smiling; "only I didn't hear what
+you said."
+
+"I say we're ready for examination, room and all."
+
+"The room is, certainly; and I hope your brains are. Ellis, I'd move that
+chair a little to the left; it will be in the way of the classes as it
+stands now. Do you feel brave to-day, Edward?"
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Tip promptly; "pretty brave."
+
+And he did, besides feeling eager and excited. The long winter term was
+over; to-day and tomorrow were to be days of examination. The boys had
+been working hard for it,--none harder than had Tip. It was the first
+examination which had ever come to him in this exciting way. Always
+before he had been among the few inevitable dunces, running away from
+examination altogether, or else laughing good-naturedly over his own
+blundering ignorance. But to-day it was different: he stood there on the
+stage among the workers, proudly answering his teacher's questions, and
+looking proudly over at the group of idlers,--Bob Turner at their
+head,--who loitered near the windows, wondering that he could ever have
+been of their number. This was going to be a great day for Tip; it is
+true he was far behind some others of his age, so far that not a single
+class of Howard Minturn's and Ellis Holbrook's were to be examined that
+day,--the advance classes being put for the next day,--while all of his
+came that morning; but then Tip knew there was change enough in him to
+call the attention of every one present. He felt the change in himself;
+his mother felt it, when she that morning brushed his hair for him, and
+fastened a clean collar on his jacket; the boys in school felt it. He had
+taken his place among the workers.
+
+The bell rang at last, and the scholars filed in and took their places.
+There were visitors, even in the early morning; the people liked to
+attend Mr. Burrows' examinations. Tip's class in reading came first on
+the list, and never had his eyes been so bright or his face so eager. Tip
+had learned to read. Patiently, earnestly, he had plodded on through the
+long winter; now his sad blunderings in that line were over for ever; not
+a boy in school read more slowly, distinctly, and correctly than Tip
+Lewis. The selections were to be made by the committee, immediately after
+class, of those who were considered ready to enter the history class on
+the following term. This was the highest reading class in the school: and
+Tip's eyes fairly danced when Mr. Holbrook, who was chairman of the
+committee, out of a class of thirteen read but two names,--"Thomas Jones"
+and "Edward Lewis."
+
+"Hallo, Tip!" Howard Minturn had said to him at recess; "let's shake
+hands. Welcome to history; it's awfully hard and interesting."
+
+And Tip did shake hands, and laughed; and looked over at the other
+clique--the dunces--with a half-patronizing nod to Bob Turner; and
+wondered how he _could_, have borne it to have been numbered with them
+that day; then he felt that he was climbing into the first set, and
+climbing _fast_.
+
+In spelling, too, he came off conqueror; spelled down the class, spelled
+until Mr. Burrows closed his book with the words, "I presume you are
+tired of this, gentlemen, and, as our examinations are confined to the
+lessons, I think it will hardly pay to go further, for Edward has not
+missed since the second week in the term."
+
+So again, flushed and excited, Tip went to his seat victorious. Only
+arithmetic now, and he would be through with the working part of the day.
+It was the last recitation in the morning, and he was so eager and
+anxious to do well, that he began to grow nervous.
+
+The class was called at last. They had gone slowly and carefully through
+long division, and would be ready for fractions next term. The recitation
+passed off finely. Tip had not studied day and night during the winter
+for nothing. He was at the board, working an example in long division; it
+was almost finished. The hand of the clock pointed to ten minutes of
+twelve. In ten minutes he would be through, and his name would stand on
+that honoured list, among those who had not missed one word or made one
+mistake during the examination. His hand began to tremble. What was the
+matter with that example? Oh, what _was_ the matter? The remainder was
+too large; no--it was too small; no--it was--he didn't know what!
+Everybody was watching him; he heard a boy laugh softly. He had made a
+mistake, then; what was it? where was it? Mr. Burrows' voice came to him,
+calm and kind:
+
+"Edward, don't get excited. Look at your remainder closely; take the
+first figures of divisor and remainder--nine in thirty-one, how many
+times? That will help you."
+
+Ellis Holbrook stood but a step from the blackboard, just behind him. Tip
+heard his low whisper, "Seven," and, without waiting to think,--indeed,
+he was too nervous to think,--he caught at the number.
+
+"Seven times!" he said hurriedly.
+
+Then he heard bursts of laughter from the boys, and dashed down his chalk
+in an agony of shame and pain. And the clock struck twelve!
+
+The honour was lost.
+
+The boys gathered around him after school was closed.
+
+"It was too bad, Tip," Howard Minturn said, in a tone of honest
+sympathy. "You'd have had it in a minute more."
+
+"I'd have had it if it had not been for Ellis Holbrook, and he's a mean
+scamp!" Tip answered, in a rage.
+
+"Whew!" said Will Bailey; "what did Ellis do?" and Ellis turned, and
+proudly confronted the angry boy.
+
+"He told me wrong just on purpose; that's what he did, and he knows it."
+
+And Tip broke away from them, and dashed out of the room.
+
+Howard Minturn stood aghast! That Ellis Holbrook, his best friend, and
+the very pink of honour among the boys, should do so mean a thing, he
+could not think, and yet it was hard to think that Tip had not told
+the truth.
+
+"What does he mean, Ellis?" he asked at last.
+
+"You'll have to ask him if you want to find out," said Ellis haughtily.
+"He knows better than anybody else what he means, I guess."
+
+The boys started homeward presently in a body. Bob Turner and his friends
+surrounded Tip, and Bob, who never lost a good opportunity for teasing,
+commenced at once:
+
+"Poor little fellow, missed his lesson, so he did. Don't him cry; him
+shall have a penny to buy a multiplication-table with."
+
+"Hold your tongue!" answered Tip, too angry to see how foolish it was to
+let such words, coming from a boy who didn't know a single line of the
+multiplication-table, provoke him.
+
+"_Such_ a pity!" began Bob again; "when it had spelled its lesson all so
+nice, and had its face washed and its hair combed so pretty. Mustn't cry
+now, to spoil its face. Poor little fellow!"
+
+Tip turned to his tormentor a face perfectly white with rage, and the
+boys hardly knew his voice:
+
+"Bob Turner, if you say another word, I'll knock you down and thrash you
+within an inch of your life. I will"--
+
+Oh, Tip Lewis! God forgive you for the way in which you in your blind
+rage have finished that sentence,--for the use which you have made of
+that great Name, which above all others you profess to reverence and
+fear! The awful word, once spoken, recalled him to himself: he
+clapped both hands over his face and ran wildly up the hill, then
+down out of sight.
+
+The boys had all heard it. Howard, Ellis, Will Bailey, and a half-dozen
+others, were just behind him.
+
+Ellis Holbrook's pride rose high.
+
+"There's your wonderful boy," he said, "who was so changed, and has
+taken it upon himself to preach so many sermons to _me_. I'm sure I
+never finished any of my angry speeches with an oath, if I _am_ so far
+below him."
+
+What an afternoon that was to Tip! he will _never_ forget it. He went
+no farther than the great tree, which was budding out in spring
+green. Down he sat on a stone, and once more covered his face with
+his hands, and such a storm of rage and pain swept over him as he had
+never known before.
+
+How could he, how _could_ he have said that word?
+
+Ever since he had learned to pray, he had been afraid of that
+sin,--afraid he might forget, and go back to his old habits, and he had
+watched and guarded his lips with such care and prayer. But lately he had
+given up all fear; it had been such a long time, and he had never once
+fallen, he felt sure that he never would again.
+
+He had felt so sure and proud and strong, that he had asked no help from
+God that day; he had been so eager to spend every moment on his
+arithmetic, that he had found no time to go to his Bible for strength. No
+wonder--oh, no wonder that he fell! He had been standing too firmly,
+feeling no need of help. Now, what should he do? How low he felt, how
+mean! Could God forgive him? Yes, He _could_.
+
+Tip felt in his soul that there was nothing which God could _not_ do, and
+yet he felt too mean and fallen to dare to ask Him for anything more; he
+forgot for the moment that Jesus Christ died to save _sinners_.
+
+The sun went on over his head, and commenced his afternoon work; then
+there came up the hill the sound of the school-bell, but Tip took no
+notice of that; he didn't want to _think_ of school, much less even _go_.
+He began to fumble presently for his Bible,--he _must_ have some help. It
+opened of itself at the Psalms, and he read the first line which he saw:
+"Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks "--No, not that, and he turned back
+a couple of leaves. "Make a joyful noise "--No, no! he didn't want to
+hear anything about joy; his heart was as heavy as lead. So he turned
+over several leaves at once: he _must_ find something that would read as
+if it meant him. "O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath, neither chasten me
+in Thy sore displeasure." Oh, that was it! God was very angry with
+him,---had a right to be,--this was just what he ought to say. He read on
+through the psalm; almost every verse seemed for him, and when he read
+the one next to the last,--"Forsake me not, O Lord; O my God, be not far
+from me,"--he said it over and over, and finally, in a great burst of
+tears, got down and said it on his knees.
+
+The short spring day was over, and the chilly night was setting in. Tip
+had reached home finally, had split the wood for the next day, done
+whatever he could find to do about the house, and then carried the vests
+which his mother had just finished to the clothing-store,--going away
+around behind the mill so as to avoid passing the schoolhouse, lest he
+might chance to see some of the boys. Then he came home, ate his supper
+in silence, and went up to his attic. He felt better than he had at noon,
+but his heart was still heavy, and he dreaded the next day, not knowing
+what he ought to do, or how to do it. This was Thursday evening, but he
+didn't mean to go to prayer-meeting. Kitty had asked him, had even coaxed
+a little, but he said, "No, not to-night." He felt stiff and sore from
+his long sitting under the great tree in the early spring dampness. He
+told himself that this was the reason why he was not going to
+prayer-meeting; but the real one was, he felt as if he could not possibly
+face Mr. Burrows that evening, and _certainly_ not Mr. Holbrook,--of
+course, Ellis had told him all about it. He felt very tired, and his
+head and limbs ached; he was going to read a chapter in his Bible and go
+to bed. He chose the same psalm which had come to him with so much power
+that afternoon, read it slowly and carefully, then knelt down to pray,
+and as he did so a new trouble loomed up before him. What should he do?
+He had prayed for Ellis Holbrook and Bob Turner ever since he began to
+pray for himself, but he felt as though he could not possibly pray for
+either of them to-night. Both had tried to injure him; both had
+succeeded. He wished them no harm: he didn't want to choke or drown them,
+as he had felt like doing at noon, but clearly he didn't want to pray for
+them. He had arisen from his knees, and was sitting on the edge of the
+box which was his table and chair, with a very troubled face. The more he
+thought about it, the more he felt that he could not pray for those boys
+just then. At last he thought he had found a way out of the difficulty.
+He said to himself that he was very tired, almost sick; he would just
+repeat the Lord's Prayer and go to bed. In the morning, very likely, he
+should feel differently; he almost knew he should. So he knelt down once
+more.
+
+"Our Father which art in heaven," slowly reverently, through the sweet
+petition, until he came to "forgive us our debts as we"--There he
+stopped. He understood that prayer; they had been taking it up in Sunday
+school, a sentence at a time, and talking about it, and only the Sunday
+before last that sentence had been explained. To-night Tip could not
+finish it; there was no getting around the fact that he had not forgiven
+either Ellis or Bob. Once more he got up, and took a seat on the edge of
+his bed to think. He was never so perplexed in his life. What ought he to
+do? Couldn't he pray at all? Mr. Holbrook had said he must never mock God
+by asking for what he did not mean, and to say those words, "as we
+forgive our debtors," feeling as he did to-night, would be mocking God.
+He ought not to feel so, but how could he help it? Suddenly, with a
+little sigh of relief, he went down on his knees again: he had thought of
+something which he could say. "Oh, Jesus, make me feel like praying for
+Bob and Ellis; make me want them to be Christians as hard as I did last
+night; make me feel like forgiving them." Then there was silence in the
+lonely attic, while Tip, still on his knees, struggled with the evil
+spirit within him, and came off conqueror, for presently he added, "Oh,
+dear Jesus, I'll forgive them both!" and then he finished the
+prayer--"forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." While he went
+around after that, making ready for rest and sleep, the "peace of God
+which passeth understanding" came down and settled in his heart.
+Presently he seemed to come to another difficulty, for he sat down with
+one boot in his hand and one still on his foot. This question, however,
+was settled promptly: he pulled the boot on again in a hurry, then picked
+up his jacket and put that on, seized his hat, and ran down-stairs.
+
+"Kitty," he said, putting his head in at the kitchen door, "I'm going,
+after all; come on."
+
+And Kitty joyfully ran for her hood and shawl.
+
+But Tip did not open his lips in prayer-meeting that evening; he felt
+bowed down to the very ground with shame; he did not once raise his eyes
+to the seat where Howard Minturn, Will Bailey, and others of the
+schoolboys were sitting; and, when the short hour was gone, he made haste
+to get out from Mr. Holbrook's sight and the sound of his voice. But he
+had much reason, after that, to thank God that he did not succeed. He had
+just got from under the gaze of the hall-lamp, and stood a minute in the
+darkness waiting for Kitty, when he felt Mr. Holbrook's hand on his arm,
+and heard his kind, quiet voice:
+
+"Edward, Mrs. Holbrook has some little business to transact' with Kitty
+to-night; shall I walk with you?" And, as Tip saw there was no help for
+it, and walked by his side, he said, "I didn't see you at school this
+afternoon: how was that?"
+
+"Mr. Holbrook, didn't Ellis tell you about it this noon?"
+
+"Ellis has told me nothing. I heard, from one of the smaller boys, a very
+sad story. Have you anything to tell me?"
+
+"No, sir, I have not; it's all true. I got awful mad, and I said mad
+things. I--I did worse than that."
+
+Tip's voice sank to a solemn whisper. Mr. Holbrook, too, was silent and
+sad; at last he said,--
+
+"What, Edward! do you mean to give up, and go back to the old life?"
+
+And he remembered, years after, just how painfully his heart throbbed
+while he waited for Tip's answer; it was prompt and plain: "No, sir; God
+wouldn't even let me do that."
+
+And then for a minute Mr. Holbrook did not speak for very
+thankfulness, that, through all this maze of sin, God was leading Tip
+into the light again.
+
+"Do you feel that you have God's forgiveness?" he asked, speaking gently.
+
+"Yes, sir." Tip could not give very long answers that evening.
+
+"Why were you so quiet to-night in prayer-meeting?"
+
+"Because," said Tip, speaking low, "I was ashamed to say anything before
+you or Mr. Burrows or the boys, after what happened today."
+
+"More ashamed with us than you were with God?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I was; because God knows all about it,--just how sorry I am,
+and how He has forgiven me, and is going to help me; and you didn't
+know that."
+
+Again Mr. Holbrook was thankful.
+
+"How about to-morrow, Edward?" he asked at last.
+
+And this time Tip's answer was very low: I don't know; I don't know
+what to do."
+
+"If you knew what was right to do, would you _do_ it?"
+
+"I'm pretty sure I'd _try_ to, sir."
+
+"Well, did you honour or dishonour Christ to-day?"
+
+Tip's answer was in a more timid tone than he often spoke:
+
+"I dishonoured Him."
+
+"Do the boys know that you are very sorry, and have asked God to
+forgive you?"
+
+"No, sir; they don't know anything about it."
+
+"Don't you think, for the honour of Christ, they ought to?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Who ought to tell them?"
+
+No immediate answer came to this; then, after a little,--
+
+"Mr. Holbrook, how could I tell them--to each one--about it?"
+
+"See if you cannot answer your own question. Will not all the boys be
+likely to hear about it?"
+
+"Yes, sir; they'll be sure to."
+
+"And would they all be likely to hear what you have to say, unless you
+spoke to all at once?"
+
+"But, Mr. Holbrook, if I did that, it would have to be in school."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"But to-morrow is the last day, and it's examination."
+
+"Well?"
+
+That short word seemed to have a good deal of power over Tip, for he
+only answered it by saying, after a long silence,--
+
+"Mr. Holbrook, I wonder if you can think how very hard that would be?"
+
+"Edward, I wonder if you can think how very hard it was for your Saviour
+to listen to your words this noon?"
+
+And Mr. Holbrook heard no more from Tip, save, when they reached the
+corner, a very low, very grave "Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+"He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in
+trouble: I will deliver him, and honour him."
+
+
+There were not many visitors in the next morning; it was too early, as
+yet, for any but the examining committee, and a few very fond, very
+anxious mothers. Mr. Burrows' hand was on the bell; in a few moments
+the algebra class would be in full tide of recitation. Ellis and Howard
+had their slates in their hands, ready to start at the first sound,
+when Tip Lewis left his seat and made his way towards the stage. Mr.
+Burrows looked surprised; this was entirely out of order; but a look at
+Tip's face made him change his mind about sending him back to his seat,
+and bend his head to listen to the few words that were hurriedly
+whispered in his ear. Then he looked more surprised, hesitated a
+minute, then asked,--
+
+"Hadn't you better wait until noon, and I can detain the scholars a
+few moments?"
+
+"No," said Tip, shaking his head, and speaking earnestly; "I'm afraid, if
+I wait till noon, I shan't do it at all."
+
+"Very well," Mr. Burrows answered finally. "Scholars, one of your number
+tells me that he has something of importance to say to you; we will wait
+and hear him."
+
+It was well for Tip that he was a bold boy, that every day of his life
+had been such as to teach him a lesson of boldness, else his courage
+would surely have failed him, when he felt the many curious eyes resting
+on him. As it was, his face was scarlet, when he turned it away from the
+desk and towards the boys. Yet he spoke promptly, as he always did when
+he spoke at all:
+
+"I want to tell the boys that I am sorry for yesterday. I suppose they
+all know what I did. I got awful mad, and I--I said a dreadful word. I
+didn't think I would ever be so wicked again; I feel awful about it. But
+I don't want the boys to think that I don't love Jesus any more, because
+I do; and He is going to help me try Such a silence as was in that
+schoolroom then, the boys had never felt before! Mr. Burrows' face was
+shaded with his hand; he let the silence rest upon them for a moment,
+after Tip had taken his seat; then he spoke, low and solemnly,--
+
+"Boys, what God has forgiven, I feel sure that no scholar of mine will be
+mean enough ever to mention again."
+
+Then the bell sounded, and the business of the day went on. Tip had laid
+his head down on the desk the minute he took his seat, and he kept it
+there throughout the recitation. He had been through a fearful struggle;
+it was hard work for a boy like him to stand up before the school and
+tell them how he had fallen. But it was over now, and from his very soul
+he felt that he had done right.
+
+Bob Turner, sitting beside him, was quiet and sober; and when Tip raised
+his arm with such a sudden jerk that he knocked his arithmetic to the
+floor, Bob leaned over and quietly picked it up and laid it back in its
+place; which was a wonderful thing for Bob Turner to do.
+
+At noon the boys gathered around Tip, quiet and kind; no one spoke of
+what had been _the_ important event of the morning; all were on good
+behaviour.
+
+Ellis Holbrook came into their midst.
+
+"Tip," he said, speaking gravely, yet very coldly, "perhaps it would be
+as well for you to know that you made quite a blunder yesterday, when you
+said I told you wrong; I hadn't the slightest notion of telling you,
+right or wrong. But I know how you came to think so. I was looking out a
+word in Mr. Burrows' dictionary, and stood just behind you, when Mr.
+Bailey leaned over and asked me how many there were in your class when
+all were present, and I answered him, seven."
+
+Tip looked perfectly astonished.
+
+"Why didn't you say so yesterday?" he asked at last.
+
+"Because you didn't give me a chance," Ellis answered coolly. "I'm not in
+the habit of cheating, nor of being told that I do, so I was not prepared
+with an answer."
+
+"That's true," said Tip, after a minute, answering the first part of
+Ellis's sentence; "that's true, I didn't. I was mad, and I just banged
+off before anybody could say anything. I might have known you didn't do
+any such thing; it ain't like you."
+
+And Tip walked away, leaving Ellis to think that the boy who was so far
+below him had shown much the better spirit of the two.
+
+The busy day was drawing to a close; the last recitation was over, and
+the boys were in a state of grand excitement, waiting to hear the report
+of the committee; waiting to know whose names were to stand on the Roll
+of Honour, having passed through the entire examination without a
+mistake. Poor Tip was sad; yesterday morning he had felt so sure that his
+name would have an honourable place, and to him it was so much more
+exciting, because it would be for the first time. How hard he had worked;
+and now it was all lost! Stupidly lost, too, he said to himself, over an
+example that he had done a dozen times; and he drew a heavy sigh, and
+roused himself to listen to the report. Mr. Burrows had already called
+for it, and Mr. Holbrook, as chairman of the committee, had arisen; but,
+instead of reading the report, said,--
+
+"Mr. Burrows, if there is time, I should like to say a few words to the
+scholars. Boys, you were all listeners to Edward Lewis's examination
+yesterday, and I presume you know better than I do how hard he has
+worked. Now, I think any one who watched him yesterday could not have
+failed to see that, had he not grown excited and nervous, he could have
+worked that example. Mr. Burrows, may I put a question to vote?"
+
+And Mr. Burrows giving a hearty consent, he continued, "Very well. Now I
+want every boy here, who is willing to allow Edward Lewis to go to the
+board _now_ and try that example, and, if he succeeds, give him the place
+which would have been his yesterday, to stand up."
+
+Ellis Holbrook was the first to spring to his feet, and every single
+boy in the room followed his example; Tip alone sitting still, with
+burning cheeks.
+
+"Well done," said Mr. Holbrook "Now it only remains to get your teacher's
+consent to our plan."
+
+Which Mr. Burrows gave by wheeling his table from before the blackboard
+and picking up an arithmetic. "You may come forward, Edward. I will
+dictate the example; which one is it?"
+
+"The thirty-ninth, sir; fifty-first page."
+
+By this time Tip was at the board. How they watched him! how fearful his
+teacher was for him! how he longed to have him succeed! Tip worked fast
+and boldly; his hand did not tremble; chalk and fingers and brain did
+their duty; the terrible "nine in thirty-one, how many times," as a test
+for the larger number, was reached, and an unusually large and bold
+figure _three_ was placed in the quotient; a few more rapid dashes, and,
+with a grand flourish after the "seventeen remainder," Tip threw down the
+chalk, pushed back the hair from his hot temples, and walked to his seat.
+The boys could not keep quiet any longer: a very soft tapping was heard
+at first, then, finding they were not silenced, it rose to a loud,
+decided stamping of many feet. But Mr. Holbrook was on _his_ feet again,
+and they were quiet directly, for the report was finally to be read.
+
+"My son," said Mr. Holbrook, not long after, laying his hand kindly on
+Ellis's shoulder, as he was hurrying from the room, "what do you think of
+Edward's religion to-night?"
+
+"I think it is honest, sir," Ellis answered quickly. "Excuse me, father,
+if you please; I must see Howard a minute before he goes;" and so he ran
+away from his father's longing look.
+
+As for Tip, he borrowed from Howard Minturn a copy of the village paper,
+which came out a few days after, and read the report of the examination;
+read this sentence: "And, among all the pupils, perhaps no one of them
+has made more rapid or astonishing progress than has Edward Lewis."
+
+Then, while the twilight deepened, he turned eagerly to the next column,
+which read in this way:--
+
+  "ROLL OF HONOUR;
+
+  "Being an alphabetically arranged List of those
+  who passed the entire Examination without
+  making an error:
+
+  WILLARD BAILEY.
+  ELLIS HOLBROOK.
+  HARVEY JENNINGS.
+  EDWARD LEWIS."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+"I will lead them in paths that they have not known."
+
+
+"See here, Tip," called Mr. Minturn, appearing in his store door one
+morning not long after the examination; "I want to talk to you."
+
+Tip swung his basket off his shoulder, and went into the store. He was at
+work for Mr. Dewey, and every piece of meat which he carried home took
+the form, in his eyes, of a Latin grammar and a dictionary; for these two
+books were what he was at present aiming after.
+
+"I'm in a great hurry, Mr. Minturn," he said; "I've got a piece of meat
+for your folks in my basket, and I expect they want it."
+
+"They'll have to wait till they get it," answered Mr. Minturn; "but I
+never hinder folks long. What are you going to do with yourself, now
+school's out?"
+
+"Oh, work; anything I can find to do while vacation lasts."
+
+"So you're going to keep on at school, are you? I thought likely, since
+your father was laid up, you'd he hunting for steady work, so you could
+help the family along. There's a hard winter coming, you know."
+
+There was no mistaking Mr. Minturn's tone. It said, as plainly as words
+could have done, "That's what I think you ought to do, anyhow."
+
+Tip looked troubled. "There's nothing for me to do," he said at last; "I
+don't know of a place in this town where I could get steady work that I
+could do; and besides, if there was, I'm after an education now."
+
+"My brother is here from Albany," Mr. Minturn made answer to this. "He is
+a merchant, has a large store there, and keeps a great many clerks. He's
+been plagued to death lately with one of his boys,--when he sent him home
+with bundles, he'd open them and help himself; and my brother told me
+last night, if I could warrant him a boy who was perfectly honest, he'd
+take him home with him, pay his fare down, and do well by him. I thought
+of you right away, and I told my brother that you were just the boy for
+him,--you'd be as true as steel; but then, if you're going to keep on at
+school, it's all up."
+
+Mr. Minium did not add, that he had kept his brother until eleven o'clock
+the night before, telling him Tip's history,--what a boy he had been, how
+he had changed, how he was struggling upward; and, finally, the whole
+story of the examination,--the failure, the downfall, the public
+confession; nor how his brother had listened eagerly, and had said, with
+energy, after the story was finished,--
+
+"Such a boy as that ought to be helped; and I'm ready to help him."
+
+None of this did Tip hear, but he stooped down for his basket when Mr.
+Minturn had finished speaking, with a bright blush on his cheek. It was
+something for a boy like him to be called "as true as steel."
+
+"Yes," he said decidedly; "I'm going to keep on at school, that's
+certain. Thank you all the same."
+
+And out he went; yet all the way up and down the streets his thoughts
+were busy over what he had just heard. It was _time_, certainly, as poor
+as they were, that he began to work; his mother's sewing supported the
+family now, and hard and late into the nights she had to work to keep
+them from hunger. Tip had thought of this question before, but had
+always comforted himself with the thought that work was not by any means
+an easy thing to get in the village; the odd jobs which he could find,
+out of school hours, being really the only things he could get to do.
+But no such comfort came to him to-day: here was a chance, and a
+splendid one, for getting steady work, and by and by good wages
+probably; why wasn't he glad?
+
+Oh, ever since he gave himself to Christ, there had been in his heart a
+longing to get an education, and not only that, but to become a minister.
+Very small, faint hopes he had, and even those were frightened sometimes
+at their own boldness; but every day the desire grew stronger, and it did
+not seem as though he could possibly give up school now. It was out of
+the question, he told himself, just as he was beginning to enjoy his
+books so much, and was doing well. Mr. Burrows would be disappointed in
+him; he had encouraged him to study. No, it couldn't be done. He would
+consider the matter settled. And yet there was his mother, working day
+and night, and he, her only son, not helping. There was his father,
+growing weaker every day, coughing harder every night; long ago they had
+given up the hope that the cough would ever leave him. There was Kitty,
+who ought to be in school, but could not because her mother _must_ have
+the little help which she could give. Tip was half distracted with
+thinking about it; he felt provoked at Mr. Minturn, and Mr. Minturn's
+brother, and the store in Albany, and the boy who helped himself out of
+other people's bundles; they were all trying to cheat him out of his
+education. A dozen times he said it was settled, and as many times began
+at the beginning to think it all over again. He went home finally, after
+the meat was carried around; but this didn't help him any. Home hadn't
+gone back to its old state of dirt and disorder: Kitty's first attempt
+had been too successful, and she had liked the looks of things too well
+to give up; so there was a great change for the better in the
+housekeeping, which both Kitty and her mother enjoyed. Still, there was
+no denying that, though a clean, it was a very forlorn little room, with
+very few things for comfort or convenience. Tip had never seen this with
+such wide-open eyes as he did today; so coming home did not quiet the
+vexing thoughts.
+
+He split wood and pumped water without whistling a note, growing more
+sober every minute. At last, after supper, when the work was all done
+that he could do, he drew a sigh of relief; it was so nice to have time
+for thought. He could go up to his attic, and he would not come down,
+no, not if it wasn't in three days, until this thing was decided finally
+and for ever.
+
+Kitty sewed steadily on the seam which her mother had fixed for her, and
+wondered why Tip didn't come down and hear her lesson, which had been
+ready for him this hour. It was another hour before he came; then his
+mother said,--
+
+"Tip, if you've a cent in the world, do take it, and go and get your
+father some of that cough-candy. I do believe he hasn't stopped coughing
+since supper."
+
+Tip took his hat and started for the store; as he went he whistled a
+little. The cough-candy was found at a store away up town, and, getting a
+paper of it, Tip dashed on around the corner and opened Mr. Minturn's
+store door.
+
+"When is your brother going home?" he asked, without ceremony, seeing Mr.
+Minturn behind the counter.
+
+"Next Monday."
+
+"Well, I'm going to talk to father, and I think likely I'll want to go
+along with him."
+
+"All right."
+
+So Tip slammed to the door and ran away and Mr. Minturn never knew what a
+downfall that decision had been to the boy's dear hopes and plans.
+
+It was all settled in the course of a day or two. Mr. Minturn from Albany
+was very kind. Tip was to have wages that seemed a small fortune to him,
+and enough had been advanced to get him a new suit of clothes, which his
+mother made.
+
+One would have supposed that the future would look bright to him; yet it
+was with a very sad heart that he took his seat in prayer-meeting that
+Thursday evening, the last time he expected to be in that room for--he
+didn't know how long. He had a feeling that he ought to be very glad and
+thankful, and wasn't at all.
+
+Through the opening hymns and prayers his heart kept growing heavier
+every moment, and it was not until Mr. Holbrook arose, and repeated the
+text which he had chosen for the evening, that Tip could arouse himself
+to listen. It was a queer text, so he thought,--"Who shall roll away the
+stone?" What could Mr. Holbrook be going to say on that? He found out,
+and had reason to remember it for ever after. As he went out from that
+meeting, his thoughts, had he spoken them, would have been like these:
+
+"That's true,--I don't believe any man but Mr. Holbrook would ever have
+thought of it: they worried at a great rate about that stone, how they
+would get it rolled away, and when they got there it was gone. I'll
+remember that. I'll do just as he said: when I see a stone ahead of me, I
+won't stop and fret about it; I'll walk straight up to it, and when I get
+there maybe it will roll out of my way."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
+
+
+Behold Tip, now in Albany, far away from home and friends, from every one
+that he had ever seen before, save Mr. Howard Minturn, young Howard's
+uncle. But he had been there some time, and was growing into a
+settled-at-home feeling. It had been a wonderful change to him. Mr.
+Minturn did not board his clerks; but for some reason, best known to
+himself, he had taken Tip home with him. For a few days the boy felt as
+though the roses on the carpets were made of glass, and would smash if he
+stepped on them. But he was getting used to it all; he could sit squarely
+on his chair at the table instead of on the edge, spread his napkin over
+his lap as the others did, and eat his pie with a silver fork under the
+light of the sparkling gas.
+
+"Mother," said little Alice Minturn, "why does father have Edward board
+here, and sit at the table with us?"
+
+"Because, Alice, your father wants to help him in every way; your uncle
+Minturn thinks he is an unusually good, smart boy."
+
+"I think so too," said Alice, and was satisfied.
+
+And Tip Lewis was Tip no longer; no one knew him by that name; every one
+there said "Edward," save the store clerks, and they called him "Ed."
+
+He had a queer feeling sometimes that he was somebody else, and that Tip
+Lewis, whom he used to know so well, would be very much astonished if he
+could see him now.
+
+He went into Sabbath school, and became a member of Mr. Minturn's Bible
+class; but teachers were scarce, and before he had been there three weeks
+Mr. Minturn sent him to take charge of a class of very little boys, who
+called him "Mr. Lewis," and made him feel strange and tall. He began to
+realize that he was almost sixteen years old, and growing very fast.
+
+He was leading a very busy life now-a-days; at work all day, in and for
+the store, and in the evening doing all he could with his books. Those
+books and his love for them were a great safeguard to him, kept him away
+from many a temptation to go astray; and yet it was hard work to
+accomplish much in the little time he had, and with no helper. Sometimes
+he sighed wearily, and felt as though the road was full of stones.
+
+"I pity you, old fellow," one of the younger clerks said to him one
+evening, as they were leaving the store.
+
+"I don't know for what," was the good-natured answer.
+
+"Why, Mr. Minturn's pink of a perfect and wonderful and altogether
+amazing son Ray has just got home from the University; saw him pass the
+store not an hour ago, leaning back in the carriage like a prince."
+
+"What's he?" asked Edward.
+
+"He's a prig; that's what he is."
+
+"What's a prig?"
+
+"Ho! you're a greeney, if you don't know what a prig is. Wait till he
+snubs you and lords it over you awhile; then I guess you'll know. He'll
+have a good chance, seeing you're right there at the house all the while.
+I wouldn't be in your shoes for a penny."
+
+Spite of its making him a great greeney, Edward did not know what a prig
+was; but, judging from his companion's tone, he decided that it must be
+something very disagreeable. He went home feeling cross and
+uncomfortable, wishing that Ray were anybody in the world rather than Mr.
+Minturn's son, or anywhere else rather than at home. He was beginning to
+have such a nice time there; they were all so kind to him, and really
+seemed to like him. It was too bad to have it all spoiled.
+
+"I know what kind of a fellow he is," he muttered to himself; "he's like
+that Mr. Symonds who comes to the store twice a week or so after kid
+gloves, and acts as if he thought he was a great deal too good to ask me
+a decent question. My! I wish he was in Texas."
+
+The dining-room was a blaze of light when he peeped in, soon after the
+family were gathered waiting for Mr. Minturn. The newcomer sat on the
+sofa, one arm a-round little Alice, and the other resting gently on his
+mother's lap. Edward guessed, by his mother's face, that she did _not_
+wish he was in Texas. Mr. Minturn came in presently, and Edward stole
+into the room just behind him; but Alice called him eagerly:
+
+"Edward, Ray has come! Come over here and see him."
+
+"Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn, as Edward stood still, with very red
+cheeks; and Ray sat up and held out his hand.
+
+"How do you do, Edward? Alice has been making me acquainted with you this
+afternoon, so you're not a stranger."
+
+How very clear and kind his tones were! Edward was astonished. That same
+evening he was more astonished. He was in the library, at work over his
+books; Mr. Minturn had to go to a committee meeting, expecting to be
+detained late; as he arose from the dinner-table, he said,--
+
+"How am I to get in to-night? Here's my night-key in two pieces."
+
+"I'll be night-key, sir," said Edward promptly.
+
+"Well, you may; you can take your books to the library, and have a long
+evening to pore over them."
+
+So he was there, poring over them with all his might, when the door
+opened gently, and Ray Minturn came in.
+
+"Are you hard at work?" he asked kindly.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Edward, wishing he would go out again. But he didn't
+seem in a hurry to do so; he took a book from the case, and glanced over
+it a moment, then came towards Edward.
+
+"What are you studying?"
+
+"Fractions," answered Edward briefly.
+
+"Do you have any trouble?"
+
+"Yes, lots," speaking a little crossly, for he wanted to go on with his
+work; "I can't get this one I'm at, to save my head."
+
+"Suppose I see what is the matter." And Bay drew a chair to the table and
+sat down, glancing his eye over the slate.
+
+"Rather, suppose you see for yourself," he said in a few moments. "Just
+run over that multiplication at the top of the slate."
+
+"Oh, bother!" Edward said, after he had obeyed orders; "that figure three
+has made me all this trouble."
+
+"Smaller things than figure threes make trouble. Have you been to
+school lately?"
+
+"Always, till I came here; but I might just as well have been out until
+last winter."
+
+"What happened last winter?"
+
+"Lots of things," answered Edward, with brightening eyes. But he
+didn't seem disposed to state any of them; so, after waiting a little,
+Ray asked,--
+
+"Wouldn't you get on faster with your books if you had a teacher?"
+
+"Think likely I should; but I haven't got any, so I'll have to get on as
+fast as I can."
+
+"How would it do if I should play teacher while I am at home, and give
+you the hour from nine till ten?"
+
+Edward laid down his pencil, turned his eyes for the first time full upon
+Kay, and looked at him in silent astonishment.
+
+"Do you mean it?" he asked at last.
+
+"Certainly I do; I shouldn't say so if I didn't. Don't you think you
+would like it?"
+
+"Like it! I guess I would. But I don't know--What do you do it for?"
+
+"Because I am glad to help a boy who seems to be trying to help himself.
+We will consider it settled, then. It is ten o'clock; will you come out
+to prayers now?"
+
+And at this the astonished look on Edward's face deepened.
+
+"Is Mr. Minturn here?" he asked.
+
+"No; but his son is. Are you so surprised that I should have prayers in
+my father's absence?"
+
+"Yes," said Edward; "I didn't know--I mean I didn't think"--
+
+"You didn't think I had learned to pray, perhaps. Thank God, I have."
+Then he laid his hand kindly on Edward's shoulder. "Have _you_ learned
+that precious lesson yet, my friend?"
+
+"Yes," said Edward softly; "a good while ago."
+
+"I am very glad; you will never learn anything else that is quite so
+important. What is all the study for, by the way? Have you any plans.'"
+
+"Yes," said Edward, astonished at what he was about to tell to a
+stranger; "I want to get an education, and then, if I possibly _can_ do
+that, I want to be a minister."
+
+Ray's hand fell from his shoulder, and when he answered this, his voice
+was low and a little sad:
+
+"God bless you, and help you. I hope you will never have to give it up."
+
+Edward made up his mind that night that a prig meant the best and
+kindest,--yes, and the wisest young man in the world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."
+
+
+The long, bright summer days and the glowing autumn days were gone;
+mid-winter was upon them. During all this time Edward was hard at work;
+there was plenty of business to be done at the store. He had been
+promoted; very rarely, now-a-days, was he called on to carry home
+purchases, or to do errands. He had his counter and his favourite
+customers. There had been another change, too, which Edward felt sure Ray
+had had a hand in; Ray had a hand in everything that was good and
+thoughtful. He had long evenings for study now; he came up to dinner with
+Mr. Minturn at six o'clock, and had no further work to do until the next
+day. Oh, those long evenings! What rapid progress he made! what a
+teacher Ray was! Could a boy help getting on who was so carefully and
+kindly led?
+
+What was _not_ Ray to him?--teacher, friend, brother; constant,
+unfailing, loving guide. Edward was learning to love him with an
+almost worship.
+
+Meantime, every one saw better than did Edward himself how he had
+changed. He had not been in constant intercourse with a Christian family,
+who lived their religion every day and every hour, for nothing; his
+improvement had been constant and rapid.
+
+He came home from the post office one evening with his hands full of
+letters, among them a very queer-looking one for himself. He carried the
+others to the library, and his own to his room. Such an odd letter as it
+was! He was glad it was his business to get the mail, and that none of
+the other clerks had seen this, with his name written at the very top of
+the envelope, and written "Tip" at that. How oddly it looked, and how
+queerly it sounded when he said it over! It was so long since he heard
+that name, he never wanted to again. He was glad that Ray Minturn had
+never called him Tip, nor heard him called so.
+
+Who could it be from? Nobody wrote to him except Kitty, and once in a
+long while his mother; but this was no home-letter. At last he broke the
+seal, and read:--
+
+
+"DEER TIP,--Mother's dead, I feel bad, you kno that, so what's the use?
+I've got to go to work. I like you better than any of the other felows,
+always did. Can't I com out there to your store and work, I'll behave
+myself reel wel; I _will_, honour bright, if you'll git me a place.
+I've got money enuff to get there. I dug potatoes for old Williams and
+earned it. Rite to me rite off that's a good fellow. I want to com
+awful. BOB TURNER."
+
+
+Edward was thunderstruck! he dropped the letter on the floor in disgust.
+What was to be done now? The idea of having Bob Turner there was
+perfectly dreadful; besides, thank fortune! it was impossible. They
+wanted more help, to be sure, had been looking out for a boy that very
+day, but not such a one as Bob,--that was out of the question; and
+yet--Bob's mother was dead! In his rude, careless way, Bob had loved his
+mother rather better than he had any one else, and Edward did not doubt
+that he felt badly. He was without friends now; surely he needed one if
+he ever did. But it was _so_ disagreeable to think of having him
+there,--he was so different from any of the others, and he would call
+_him_ Tip, and be always around in his way; would seem to lead him back
+to the old life from which he thought he had escaped altogether. It was
+not to be thought of for a moment. But then--and now came a startling
+thought. How long he had been praying for Bob! Perhaps this was the way
+in which God meant to answer, by giving him a chance to work as well as
+pray. Perhaps he ought to be _willing_ to have him come. No matter how
+much the clerks might make fun of him for having such a friend; no matter
+how much pain and annoyance it might cause him; if this was God speaking
+to him to help his brother, how dreadful it would be to make no answer!
+
+He sat down to think about it; his algebra lay open before him; he was
+not quite ready for Kay, but he could not attend to algebra now.
+
+"Let me see," he said; "if there _should_ be such a thing as that Bob
+could come, what would I do for him? One of two things is certain, either
+he'll lead me or I shall him; we always did when we were together much.
+Which will it be? If he leads me, he'll lead me into mischief, just as
+sure as the world; if I lead _him_, I'll try to keep him out of mischief.
+It's clear that I ought to be the leader. Now, how would I do it, I
+wonder? Bob ought to be a Christian; he won't be safe two minutes at a
+time until he is. If God says anything, He says He'll hear prayer. If I
+believe that, why don't I pray for Bob, so that he'll be converted? I
+_do_ pray for him always, 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 all. That's
+wrong. God wants him safe, and He knows he isn't safe now, and He's
+willing to help him; it must be my fault that He don't. My business and
+lessons, and all that sort of thing, are putting Bob and Ellis, and even
+father, pretty much out of my thoughts. That's wrong too, and must be
+stopped. Mr. Minturn says a thing is never half done that hasn't a corner
+in the day belonging to itself. I'll try that rule. After this, every
+evening at half-past eight, I'll come up here to my room and lock the
+door, and I'll pray for Bob; I'll pray as though I expected an answer,
+and was going to be on the look-out for it. I won't let anything hinder
+me from coming at just that time, unless it's something that I can't
+help. Meantime, I'll get him a place if I can."
+
+Edward was as straightforward as Tip had been; this point decided, he
+went down-stairs to the library door, and knocked.
+
+Mr. Minturn was alone, and busy; but he looked up as Edward entered in
+answer to his "Come in."
+
+"Well, sir, what is it?"
+
+"Have you time for a little piece of business?"
+
+"Always time for business; sit down. What is it about?"
+
+"Have you found a boy yet?"
+
+"No. Have you?"
+
+"Yes, sir; there's a boy out home who wants to come; I've just had a
+letter from him. His name is Turner--Bob Turner."
+
+"Is he a good boy?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Well, that's plain! What are you talking about, then?"
+
+"I want you to make him a good boy, sir."
+
+"Humph! that's an idea. I can't make boys over new. Is he honest?"
+
+"No, sir, I don't think he is very,--not what you mean by honest; but his
+mother is dead, and he hasn't any friends; he goes with a miserable set
+of fellows, and he'll get worse than he is in no time if he stays there."
+
+"And the whole of it is, you think it's my duty to let him come, and try
+to save, him! Suppose I should, what would you do for your share?"
+
+"I'd try, too."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Why, I'd try to get him to do right."
+
+"Suppose he should try to get you to do wrong?"
+
+"He couldn't!" said Edward positively.
+
+"How did you find that out?"
+
+"Because I should pray for myself every day, and for Bob too; and God
+hears prayer."
+
+"Yes, but God's people sometimes get very far away from Him; if this Bob
+should lead _you_ astray, I'd be sorry I ever heard of him."
+
+"I don't feel much afraid," Edward said, speaking this time in a more
+quiet, less positive tone, "for I never go wrong when I pray often; pray
+about everything that comes up, you know, and mean what I pray for."
+
+"Humph!" said Mr. Minturn; "that's a good idea; I guess you're pretty
+safe under _that_ rule."
+
+"Besides," said Edward, reserving one of his best arguments till the
+last, "I know somebody who would help Bob ever so much,--Mr. Ray would
+find him out."
+
+Mr. Minturn's eyes grew bright, and he smiled a half sad smile.
+
+"Yes," he said, "that's true enough; Ray can't come near anybody without
+helping him. Well, write to the boy to come on; we'll try him. Has he
+anything to come with?"
+
+"Yes, sir, he says he has money enough to get here." And Edward went away
+glad, for he had begun to be very willing to have Bob there.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+"If ye abide in Me, and My word abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
+and it shall be done unto you."
+
+
+Edward got up one morning feeling years older than he had only the
+morning before,--older and graver, feeling a great responsibility resting
+on his shoulders; for he was The weary frame, racked with so many pains,
+was at last at rest. Kitty had written just a line, telling the sad
+story, but it did not reach him until nearly a week after; and with it
+came Mr. Holbrook's,--a long letter, full of tender sympathy, telling all
+about how, in the afternoon of an early spring day, they had laid his
+father by Johnny's side.
+
+Edward read on eagerly, until he came to this sentence: "My dear boy, I
+have a most precious message for you. I was with him only an hour before
+he died, and at that time he said to me, 'I want you to tell Tip that God
+has heard his prayer, and saved his father; and that I shall watch for
+him to come to heaven, and bring all the rest.' And, Edward, I haven't a
+shade of doubt but that your father is with his Redeemer; you must let me
+quote again a verse which I once gave you: 'I love the Lord, because He
+has heard my voice and my supplications.'"
+
+And at this point the letter dropped from his hand, and Edward shed his
+first tears for his father.
+
+It was curious, the different ways that Mr. Minturn and his son had of
+expressing sympathy.
+
+"Oh," Mr. Minturn said, when he was told, "why in the world didn't they
+send for you?"
+
+"Because, sir, my father died very suddenly, and my mother thought I
+could not afford to come so far for the funeral."
+
+"Afford! as if that would have made any difference. Did they think I
+would let it cost _you_ anything?"
+
+Edward showed Mr. Holbrook's letter to Ray after that; and when it
+had been read, expressed the feeling which had been much in his heart
+ever since the news came, and which had been strengthened by Mr.
+Monturn's words:
+
+"I shall always be sorry that I could not have gone to the funeral."
+
+And Bay answered, resting his arm, as he spoke, lightly on Edward's
+shoulder, to express the tenderness which he felt, "No you won't, my dear
+fellow; when you get up there, in the glory of the Redeemer's presence,
+and meet your father face to face, you will not remember to be sorry that
+you did not see him _buried_."
+
+Meantime Bob had come, and been set at work. He did not board at Mr.
+Minturn's. Edward had heard that matter arranged with a little sigh of
+relief; his precious hour with Ray, then, would be undisturbed.
+
+Bob was doing very much better than anybody who knew him would have
+imagined he _could_ do; he seemed to have made up his mind to behave
+himself, sure enough. Yet his being there was a trial to Edward in
+several ways: he had a great horror of being called "Tip;" that name
+belonged to the miserable, ragged, friendless, hopeless boy who used to
+wander around the streets in search of mischief, not to the young man
+who was a faithful clerk in one of the finest stores in Albany, besides
+being a teacher in Sabbath school, and a very fair scholar in Latin
+and algebra. But Bob Turner could not be made to understand all this;
+and though he stared at the neat black suit which Edward wore, and
+opened his eyes wide when Mr. Minturn went and came in company with his
+old companion, and honoured him in many ways, he still called him
+"Tip," in clear, round tones, that rang through the store a dozen times
+a day. But there was nothing which Ray could not smooth over, so Edward
+thought, when one evening he flounced into the library with a very much
+disturbed face.
+
+"I wish that fellow knew anything," he said angrily.
+
+"What is the matter now?" Bay asked, meeting the bright, angry eyes with
+a quiet smile.
+
+Edward laughed a little. "Well, I can't help feeling vexed; Bob screeches
+that hateful little name after me wherever I go. I despise that name, and
+I wish he could be made to understand it."
+
+"How did you happen to be called Tip at first?"
+
+"Why," said Edward, turning over the leaves of his dictionary, "my little
+sister Kitty made it up before she could talk plain. How she ever got
+that name out of Edward, I don't know; I'm sure I wish she had been
+asleep when she did it; but that's what she called me, and that's what
+I've been ever since."
+
+"And did Johnny, the little boy that died, ever call you so?"
+
+Edward's eyes began to grow soft.
+
+"Often," he said gently; "and it was about the only name he could speak;
+he was a little fellow."
+
+"Well, Edward, I should not think it would be such a very disagreeable
+name to you, when your father, who is gone, always used it, and always in
+kindness, you told me; and it is the only name by which little Johnny can
+remember you. There are two things to be thought of in this matter," Ray
+continued, after a moment, finding Edward not disposed to speak: "one is,
+if you hope to do anything with this old companion of yours, you must be
+ready to take worse things from him than a quiet, inoffensive little name
+like that; he will learn your right name, perhaps, in time. And the other
+is--What is Bob Turner's right name, my friend?"
+
+Edward's face flushed, his lips quivered into a little smile, then he
+laughed outright.
+
+"It would be ridiculous to call _him_ Robert!" he said, still laughing.
+"Ray, here's my exercise, if you want it now."
+
+And Ray heard no more complaints about the offending little name.
+
+"Say, Tip, just go home with me to-night," Bob coaxed one evening, as
+Edward, having been detained late at the store, was leaving just as Bob
+was closing the shutters. "Mr. Ray's head is so bad you won't have any
+plaguy lessons to-night to hinder you. Every single fellow in the store
+but me is going to the theatre, and I am awful lonesome up there alone."
+
+"It is a wonder you are not going too," said Edward.
+
+"No, it ain't. I can keep a promise once in a while, I reckon. That
+Ray Minturn can do anything with a fellow, and I was fool enough to
+promise him that I wouldn't go. Come, go up home with me; do, that's a
+good fellow!"
+
+"No," said Edward decidedly, "I can't."
+
+"Now, Tip Lewis, I think you're real mean; you don't never come to see me
+no more than if I was in Guinea. You act as if you were ashamed of me,
+and I keep my word and behave myself, too; and you're a mean,
+chicken-hearted fellow, if you're ashamed to notice me now-a-days, just
+because you board in a big house and dress like a dandy."
+
+"Poh!" said Edward; "what nonsense that is! I'd look well being ashamed
+of any one that Minturn talked with. But, Bob, I can't go to-night, nor
+any other night just about this time; because I made a promise that I'd
+do something else, at exactly half-past eight, and that nothing in the
+world should hinder me if I could help it; and it can't be far from
+half-past eight now."
+
+Bob eyed him curiously. "Tip, you're the oddest fellow born, I do
+believe," he said at last "Is it lessons?"
+
+"No, it's nothing about lessons."
+
+"Couldn't I _help_ you to do it?"
+
+"Yes," said Edward, after a thoughtful silence; "you _could_ help me
+better than any one else, only you won't."
+
+"Well, now," Bob answered earnestly, "as sure as I'm alive, I will, if
+you'll tell me what it is; I'll help you this very night."
+
+"Do you promise?" asked Edward.
+
+"Yes, I do, out and out; and when I promise a thing through and through,
+why, _you_ know, Tip Lewis, that I do it."
+
+"Well," said Edward, as he tried the door to see that all was safe before
+leaving, "then I'll tell you. Every night, at exactly half-past eight, I
+go to my room and ask God over and over again to make you want to be a
+Christian."
+
+Not a single word did Bob answer to this; he took long strides up the
+street by the side of Edward in the direction of Mr. Mintern's, never
+once speaking until they had reached the door, and stood waiting to be
+let in; then he said, "Tip, that's mean."
+
+"What is?"
+
+"To get a fellow to promise what he can't do."
+
+"I have not. Don't you want to be a Christian?"
+
+"No; I can't say that I'm particular about it."
+
+"But that's too silly to believe. You need a friend to help you about as
+badly as any one I know of, and when you can have one for the asking, why
+shouldn't you want Him? Besides, I didn't say _make_ you a Christian,
+anyhow; I said make you _want_ to be one. You can pray, that _I'm_ sure;
+any way, you promised, and I trusted you."
+
+Bob followed him through the hall, up the stairs, to his neat little
+room, and whistled "Hail, Columbia," while he lighted a match and turned
+on the gas.
+
+"My! you have things in style here, don't you?" he said, looking around,
+while the bright light gleamed over the pretty carpet and shining
+furniture.
+
+"Yes," said Edward; "everything in this house is in style. Bob, it's
+half-past eight."
+
+"Well," Bob said good-naturedly, "I'd like to know what I'm to do; this
+is new business to me, you see."
+
+"I'm going to kneel down here and pray for you, and you promised to do
+the same."
+
+Edward knelt at his bedside, and Bob, half laughing, followed his
+example. But Christ must have been praying too, and putting words into
+Edward's heart to say. By and by, in spite of himself, Bob had to put up
+his hand and dash away a tear or two. He had never heard himself prayed
+for before.
+
+That evening was one to be remembered by Bob Turner, for more than one
+reason. Bay sent for both of the boys to come to his room; he was sick,
+but not too sick to see and talk with Bob whenever he could get a chance.
+He made the half-hour spent with him so pleasant, that Bob gave an eager
+assent to the request that he would come often. More than that, he kept
+his word; and as often as he passed Edward's door, towards nine o'clock,
+he stepped lightly, for he knew that he was being prayed for, and there
+began to come into his heart a strange longing to pray for himself. One
+evening he discovered that Ray, too, prayed every night for him, and the
+vague notion grew into a certainty, that what they two were so anxious
+about for him, he ought to desire for himself.
+
+"Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
+
+Edward had taken this promise into his heart; he was trying to live up
+to the condition to abide in Christ, and in due season God made His
+promise sure.
+
+"I wish," Bob said to Ray one evening when the weary head was full of
+pain,--"I _do_ wish I could do something for you."
+
+"You can," Ray answered quickly,--"something that I would like better
+than almost anything else in the world."
+
+"What is it?" Bob's question was sincere and eager.
+
+"Give yourself to Christ."
+
+Bob heard this in grave, earnest silence.
+
+"I would," he said after a minute, "if I knew how."
+
+"Do you mean that?"
+
+"Yes, I do; I'm sick of waiting, and I'm sick of myself."
+
+"If I should tell you how, would you do it?"
+
+"Yes, I would," spoken evidently with honest meaning.
+
+"Kneel down, then, here beside me, and say to God that you want to be a
+Christian; that you are willing to give yourself up to Him now and for
+ever, to do just as He tells you."
+
+Bob hesitated, struggling a little, and at last knelt down. There was
+silence in the room, while three sincere hearts were lifted up in prayer;
+and surely Christ bent low to listen. When Bob would have risen, Bay laid
+one hand on his arm, and, steadying his throbbing head with the other,
+said solemnly,--
+
+"Blessed Redeemer, here is a soul given up to Thee. Do Thou take it, and
+wash it in Thy precious blood, and make it fit for heaven. We ask boldly,
+because Thou hast promised, and we know that Thy promises are sure."
+
+"Edward," Ray said the next evening, as they sat alone, and were silent
+for a little, after Bob had left them, and gone home rejoicing in the
+hope of sins washed away, "what was that verse that your minister at home
+quoted for you in his letter?"
+
+"I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplication,"
+Edward repeated it with brightening eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+"And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away."
+
+
+Onward sped the busy days, until at last there came an evening which made
+it exactly three years since Edward had first set foot in Albany. They
+had been years of wonderful progress to him. He had gone on steadily with
+his evening studies; he had been an eager pupil, and Ray had been a
+faithful teacher. This evening he sat in the library waiting for Ray, but
+he had a very troubled face. Once more he took Kitty's long letter out of
+his pocket. Kitty wrote long letters once in two weeks, but it was a rare
+thing to have a postscript added by his mother. He turned to this and
+read it again; it was a very kind one. They were doing well now, so she
+wrote. Her health was very good, now that she slept quietly at night;
+and just here Edward knew there had come in a heavy sigh, because there
+was no constant coughing to disturb her rest. She had steady work, and
+could support Kitty and herself nicely without his help; he must keep
+what he earned for himself after this. "Kitty says you want to go to
+school," so the letter ran; "if you do, save up your money for that. Your
+poor father had a notion that you would make a scholar; I think it would
+please him if you did."
+
+Surely he could not wish for a kinder, more thoughtful letter than this;
+coming from his _mother_, too! she must have changed much, as well as
+himself. But this very letter had greatly unsettled his quiet life; the
+old longing to give himself up to study, to prepare for the ministry, had
+broken loose, and well-nigh overwhelmed him with its power. He wanted it,
+oh, so much! it had grown strong, instead of weak, during these three
+years. But what to do, and how to do it? That was the question. Certainly
+he was not prepared to answer it. If he stayed where he was, led his busy
+life all day in the store, how was he ever to go through with the
+necessary course of study, which it was high time he commenced in
+earnest? If he left them, these dear friends, who had taken him into
+their home and hearts, and made him feel like one of thorn, how was he to
+live while he studied? How, indeed, could he study at all? The truth was,
+Edward, calling to mind Mr. Holbrook's lecture that last evening in the
+home prayer-meeting, and his resolution taken then, thought that the
+stone was ahead of him no longer, but that he had walked _close_ up to
+it, and could not take another step because of it, and very large and
+impossible to move did it look to his shortsighted eyes.
+
+Just as he was growing hopelessly moody, Lay came in, and settled himself
+among the cushions, rather wearily.
+
+"Ray," said Edward anxiously, "you are not well enough for lessons
+to-night."
+
+"No," answered Ray, smiling, however, as he spoke; "I think I am not,
+because I want to talk instead. I am full of a scheme which needs your
+help; for once we'll let the lessons go. It is an age since I have heard
+anything concerning your plans; you have not given up your desire for the
+ministry, I hope?"
+
+"No, Ray; I shall never give that up."
+
+"I thought not; it would not be like you. That being the case, isn't it
+time to do something definite?"
+
+"Time, certainly," Edward answered gloomily; "but what's to do?"
+
+"That brings me to the unfolding of my scheme. Edward, do you know
+that it was my lifelong desire to reach the point towards which you
+are looking?"
+
+"_No_," said Edward, with pitying interest; "I never thought of it."
+
+"Well," and Ray smiled sadly, "it is so; and I hope you may never know
+how hard it is to have to give up such a wish. I cannot say that I did
+actually give it up entirely until very lately. I gave up all study three
+years ago, and came home to regain strength! _you_ know how well I have
+succeeded in that." And Ray pressed his thin, wasting hand across his
+damp forehead. "It is all over now, _utterly_." The hand did duty now for
+a moment, shading his eyes from the light. Presently he spoke more
+cheerily. "All over for myself, but not for you; so, Edward, what I want
+to say to-night, in brief, is this: You have talents, perseverance, and
+health; I have money,--the four combined cannot fail to speed you in your
+work. What say you?"
+
+"I--I don't understand you," Edward spoke, in complete bewilderment.
+
+"Let me speak more plainly. I want you to go now, _immediately_, to some
+good preparatory school, thence to college, thence to the seminary, and
+the means wherewith to do these three important things shall be at your
+disposal. Isn't that plain?"
+
+"Why," said Edward, "I don't know what to say; I am too much astonished,
+and--and thankful."
+
+"Then you will do it?"
+
+"Only,--Ray?"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Isn't there a right kind of pride, about being helped in these things?"
+
+"There is a great deal of wrong kind of pride. Let me show you;" and he
+sat up and spoke eagerly. "It is right and honourable for people to help
+themselves in this world, but very vain and foolish to refuse help which
+would greatly aid the cause that they profess to have at heart. You see
+how it is: God has given me money; I am ready and waiting to give it back
+to Him. I would gladly give myself to Him in the ministry; I have longed
+and prayed for this; but He has seen fit not to answer as I wished. I
+have no strength to give; you have, and are ready to give it. Do you
+think God would be less pleased with the offering if we united it, thus
+giving me a chance to do something?"
+
+"No," said Edward, speaking very slowly; "only, I had hoped to
+accomplish my plans without help from any one but God."
+
+Ray leaned back again among the cushions, and spoke wearily,--
+
+"That is, you prefer to be a great many years longer in preparation than
+you need be, and have about half as much strength finally as you would
+have, had you not overworked, rather than give me a chance to do what I
+could, since I cannot do what I would."
+
+"But, Ray, there are plenty of people to help, even if you do no more for
+me. The world is full of poor young men, struggling to get an education."
+
+"Yes, that is so; and I suppose you would enjoy helping some young
+man out in Oregon, of whom you had never heard, quite as well as you
+would me."
+
+Edward came quickly to the sofa where Ray was lying, and laid his hand
+tenderly over the closed eyes.
+
+"Ray, there is nothing in the world I would not do for you."
+
+"Will you let me help you into the ministry, as rapidly as money
+_can_ help?"
+
+"I will be glad to; it is a great, noble offer, and I thank you from my
+heart. You mustn't think that I don't; only I thought--perhaps"
+
+"I know," said Ray, for Edward had stopped doubtfully; "I understand just
+how you feel; but I _do_ think the feeling, in this case at least, is
+wrong; and, my dear brother, you will be glad when you know how thankful
+you have made me."
+
+"Yes; and after all you will not be doing any more for me--you
+_can't_--than you have done. I think money is very little, compared with
+that. Ray," and Edward sank down among the cushions in front of him, "I
+do believe you are more to me than any other human being ever will be."
+
+Ray smiled, quite as if he did not think so, but would not unsay it
+for anything.
+
+"It is all right," he said gently, after a little silence. "I think you
+will do so much more than I ever _could_ have done. God bless you, my
+dear brother!"
+
+After that Edward went up to his room, got out his little red Bible,
+his precious lamp, and, opening at the history of the rock-bound grave,
+read on until he came to the verse, "And when they looked, they saw
+that the stone was rolled away." Around this he made heavy marks with
+his pencil, thinking, meantime, that the angel of the Lord was still at
+work on earth.
+
+"Bob," said Edward, stopping before Bob's counter, two days after this
+matter was settled, "I am going to start for home in the morning."
+
+"Are you, though?" Bob answered eagerly, stopping his work to take the
+sentence in fully. "My! I wish I was going along, just to see what folks
+would say."
+
+"About _you_, do you mean?" said Edward, laughing, and thinking
+wonderingly, as well as joyfully, of the change which there had been in
+Bob Turner.
+
+Bob had a counter too, and was no longer an errand-boy; there had very
+rarely been known such a rapid promotion in that store; but the truth
+was, Mr. Minturn had early learned that Bob Turner was destined to be,
+not a minister, nor a lawyer, not even a scholar, but a thorough,
+energetic, successful merchant. He had no sooner made this discovery than
+he determined to give the boy a chance.
+
+So Bob had earned a name and a place in the store, and was a general
+favourite with the other clerks, and was beginning to have customers who
+sought him out, and liked to make purchases of him. More than all, Bob
+was an earnest Christian; his loving tenderness for, and almost worship
+of, Ray Minturn, kept him from being much led into temptation, and his
+influence over the younger clerks was growing to be for good. He was
+destined to be more popular than Edward had been; for Edward had risen
+too rapidly, and was too much at home with the entire Minturn family, not
+to be looked upon with some degree of envy.
+
+"Well, Tip,"--Bob had never learned not to say Tip, and probably never
+would, but Edward had long since forgotten to care,--"tell every one
+at home that I'm well and happy, and never want to see one of them
+again. I don't believe I have a friend there: anyhow, I know I don't
+deserve to have."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto,
+according to Thy word."
+
+
+Kitty Lewis shook out the folds of her new bright pink calico dress,
+walked to the little looking-glass, for about the tenth time, to see if
+the dainty white ruffle around her neck was in order; then took a survey
+of the room, lest there might possibly be something else to do which
+would improve its appearance.
+
+It was the same little room in which Kitty had spent her childhood, from
+which Johnny first, and then long afterwards the husband and father, had
+been carried out to return no more. And yet it was not the same,--there
+was a neat rag carpet on the floor, a Christmas gift from Mrs. Minturn;
+the round table in the corner was covered with a bright red cloth, and
+strewn with a few books and papers; the full white curtain was looped
+away from the window, and the light of a clear sunset glimmered in the
+room; everything was neat and bright and cheery. The table was set for
+tea, the white cloth showing just the folds in which it was ironed; there
+were three plates and three cups and saucers, instead of two, while
+Kitty, in her restless wanderings around the room, and Mrs. Lewis, in her
+frequent glances out of the window, both showed that somebody was being
+watched and waited for.
+
+"The eastern train is in," Kitty said finally "Now, if he comes
+to-night, he'll be here in three minutes." And it could not have been
+much more than that when a quick, crushing step was heard on the gravel
+outside, then on the plank before the door, then the door swung open,
+and Edward Lewis walked into the little room out of which he had gone
+three years before.
+
+Kitty was all ready to spring forward, say, "Oh, Tip!" and throw her arms
+right around his neck. Instead, she stood still. Some way, in spite of
+the long letters which had passed between them during these years, Kitty
+had fully expected to see a stout, tanned boy, in a strong, coarse suit
+of grey, with thick boots and a new straw hat. Of, at least,--why, of
+course, she knew he must have changed some; hadn't she? But then she did
+_not_ think he would be so tall, and have a face and hands without tan or
+freckle, or that his clothes would be so _very_ black and fine, and fit
+as though they had grown on him, or that his collar would be so white and
+glossy, or his boots so small and shiny. So Kitty stood still in
+embarrassed silence. But the mother,--oh, she saw in him the picture of
+the dear, dead father, as he used to come to her long, long ago; the
+husband who, through all change and poverty and pain, she had _always_
+loved! And all the tenderness that had ever been in her heart took form,
+and spoke in those words with which she came forward to greet her
+son,--"Oh, my _dear_ boy!"
+
+There was happiness in the little home that night; only the bedroom door
+was closed, and Edward knew that his father's bed was vacant.
+
+Such a queer feeling as possessed him all the next day, while he went
+around the village! He went _every_where. He felt like walking through
+every street, and stepping on every stone on which his feet had trod in
+the old life, now utterly gone from him. He wandered down to the
+river-bank, where he had lain that summer morning and envied the fishes;
+and, standing there, thanked God for the mission class in Mr. Holbrook's
+Sabbath school. Thence to the cemetery, where by the side of little
+Johnny's grave the new life had been commenced. There was a long grave
+beside the short one now; and, standing there, he thanked God for the
+hope which he had of meeting the father and the baby in heaven. Thence to
+the great elm-tree at the foot of the hill; and, standing there, he took
+out once more the little red Bible, and turned the leaves lovingly;
+lingered over the name written by Mr. Holbrook's hand, turned again to
+the first verse which he had ever read from its pages: "Thy word is a
+lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Time and again had he
+proved the truth of that verse. There, under that very tree, it had
+helped him to fight battles with Satan and come off conqueror. And he
+thanked God for the Bible. After that he went directly to the village;
+just looked in at the meat market for the sake of the old days.
+
+Somebody told Mr. Dewey who was coming, and he was just ready to say,
+"Hallo, Tip!" but instead, he came around from behind the counter, and,
+holding out his hand, said, "How do you do, Lewis? Glad to see you."
+Something, either in the city-made clothes or the quiet air of dignity
+with which they were worn, made him dislike to say "Hallo, Tip!" to the
+tall young man before him.
+
+Mr. Minturn shook him heartily by the hand. "Never rejoiced over any
+one's luck more in my life!" he said; then, in the same breath, "How's
+Ray? Oh yes, I see how it is, poor fellow! And you love him too; of
+course, every one does."
+
+There was still the schoolroom to visit, and as Edward went up the
+familiar walk he wished Bob Turner could have been with him to make this
+call. But Bob was probably rushing like a top through the city store,
+without a thought of the old schoolhouse or the miserable days which he
+had spent there.
+
+Mr. Burrows himself answered the knock, and gave him a hearty greeting.
+Three years had made changes there. Edward found himself looking eagerly
+towards the back row of seats fur the old faces,--Will, Howard, Ellis,
+and half a dozen others,--before he remembered that they had long since
+entered higher schools. The boys whom he hid left plodding through long
+division were filling those back seats now, and leading their classes in
+algebra and Latin. He sat down near the blackboard to watch the progress
+of Joe Bartlett through an example in division. And behold, he was doing
+that old never-to-be-forgotten example about the cows and sheep! He
+picked up an arithmetic eagerly.
+
+"Mr. Burrows, do you remember that example?'
+
+"I remember that it has puzzled some forty or more of my boys in the
+course of time," said Mr. Burrows, laughing; "but nothing very special
+about it."
+
+"I do; it was the cause of my first promotion."
+
+"Was it, indeed! I'm afraid it will never be the cause of poor Joseph's;
+it seems to be mastering him."
+
+Mr. Burrows was engaged with a grammar class, and Edward offered to
+assist the bewildered Joseph.
+
+"I remember those sheep of old," he said kindly, as he turned to the
+board. "Isn't it the 'stood him in' that troubles you?"
+
+"Yes, it is," Joe answered grumbly. "I don't see no sense to it."
+
+"Let me show you. Suppose"--And he went through with the well--remembered
+explanation. It was successful, Joe understood it, and went on briskly
+with the figures.
+
+Edward turned towards Mr. Burrows. "It was the way my father explained it
+to me," he said, with eyes that glistened a little.
+
+Some one brought Mr. Burrows a note, and, as he read and laid it down, he
+said, "Now, Edward, if you had continued at school instead of running
+away from us, I should get you to hear this recitation in algebra, and
+take leave of absence for a few minutes. There is a friend in town whom I
+would give much to see before the next train leaves."
+
+"Suppose you set me at it as it is."
+
+Mr. Burrows looked surprised.
+
+"Have you been studying algebra, Edward?"
+
+"Somewhat."
+
+"How far have you been?"
+
+"Through."
+
+"Do you feel _positive_ that you could do examples over here?" turning to
+"Evolution."
+
+"_Entirely,"_ Edward answered, smiling at Mr. Burrows' doubts. Ray had
+been a thorough teacher.
+
+So Mr. Burrows went away, and Edward took his seat on the stage and
+commenced the recitation. At first the boys were disposed to be wise, and
+display their knowledge; when they had known him last, he was in
+division. But he was in algebra now, or rather through it, and they
+speedily discovered that he seemed to have every example in the lesson
+committed to memory.
+
+Meantime, Mr. Burrows returned, and listened with astonishment and
+delight.
+
+"Thank you heartily," he said afterwards. "You ought to fit yourself for
+teaching. But, Edward, you did not get through algebra alone?"
+
+"No," said Edward, flushing at the thought of Ray; "I had the best and
+wisest teacher on earth."
+
+Well, he sat down in what had been his seat, and tried to imagine that it
+was his seat still; that Bob would be in pretty soon, and plague him
+while he studied his spelling-lesson. But he could not do it. "Things
+were different,"--very different. First and foremost, there was Ray: he
+had not known _him_ in those days; if he had, he said to himself, things
+would have been different long before they were.
+
+Going back up town he met Mr. Holbrook, who turned and walked with him.
+
+"And so," he said, after the long talk was concluded, "you go next
+week, do you?"
+
+"Next Tuesday, sir."
+
+"Well, God bless you, my friend, as He has, and will." Then, after a
+minute, "Edward, my son is a wanderer yet: do you still remember him?"
+
+"Always, sir," Edward answered, in firm, steady tones; "and, Mr.
+Holbrook, God _never_ forgets!"
+
+As he went on past Mr. Minturn's store, could he have heard the remarks
+that were made there, very likely he might have remembered a certain
+statement which he made to the little fishes that summer morning.
+
+Mr. Minturn, looking out after him, said to Mr. Dewey,--
+
+"There goes one of the finest and most promising young men in this town."
+
+"Yes," answered Mr. Dewey, laughing a little; "I used to notice that he
+improved every day after he brought back those circus tickets."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+"For them shalt find it after many days."
+
+
+"Come in;" and the Rev. Edward Lewis laid down his book, pushed back
+his study chair, and was ready to receive whoever was knocking at his
+study door.
+
+"Mr. Lewis," said the little girl who came in in answer to his
+invitation, "father has just come from the post office, and he brought
+you some letters, and here they are."
+
+Mr. Lewis thanked his little next-door neighbour, took his letters, and,
+when the room was quiet again, settled back in his chair to enjoy them.
+
+The first one was from a brother minister, begging an exchange. The next
+brought a look of surprise and delight to his face, for he recognised
+Ellis Holbrook's handwriting. And the delight spread and deepened as he
+read; especially when he came to one sentence: "I asked father what
+message he had for you, and he replied, Send him this verse, and tell him
+that again it is peculiarly his, 'I love the Lord, because He has heard
+my voice and my supplication.'" That, you see, would have told me the
+whole story, without this long letter. "I thank God that He put it into
+your heart to pray for me, as also that He has heard your prayers. God
+bless you. By the way, father wants you to assist him on the first
+Sabbath in July. I earnestly hope you can do so; he thinks you will be
+coming east about that time."
+
+Was there ever a more thankful heart than was that minister's as he laid
+down his old schoolfellow's letter? How constantly, how sometimes almost
+hopelessly, had he prayed for Ellis Holbrook! How many times had he been
+obliged to reassure himself with the promise, "In due season we shall
+reap, if we faint not." And now again had God's word been verified to
+him. He took the letter up once more, to look lovingly at that closing,
+never before written by Ellis,--"Your brother in Christ."
+
+There was still another letter to read. That writing, too, was familiar;
+he had received many reminders of it during the past years. He laughed as
+he read, it sounded so like the writer:--
+
+
+ALBANY, _June_--, 18--.
+
+"DEAR TIP,--Do you have Fourth of July out your way this year? We do here
+in Albany; rather, I'm going to have one in my yard. Perhaps you remember
+a Fourth of July which you took me to once, when we were ragged little
+wretches at home? I do, anyhow, and this is to be twin-brother to that
+time. All the ugly, dingy little urchins that I know have been invited.
+We're to have fine fireworks and fine singing and fine _eating_. My wife
+added that last item,--thought it a great improvement. I'm not sure but
+it is; most things are that she has a hand in. Now, to come to the point
+of this letter,--you're to make the speech on that occasion. No getting
+out of it now! I planned this thing one day in the old schoolhouse. Oh,
+did you know Mr. Burrows had given up teaching? Grown too old. Queer,
+isn't it? Don't seem as if anybody was growing old except me. At first I
+wasn't going to have my feast on the Fourth, because, you remember, it
+was on _that_ day that our blessed Ray left us; but, talking with Mr.
+Minturn about it, he said Ray would have been delighted with it all,--and
+so he would, you know. Don't think we are going to gather in all Albany;
+it's only the younger scholars of the mission school, in which my wife
+and I are interested.
+
+"Tell Howard and Kitty to be sure and come; they can put their visit a
+few weeks earlier as well as not.
+
+"Oh, by the way, if you have heard from Ellis Holbrook lately, you are
+singing 'Glory Hallelujah' by this time!
+
+"I am writing this in the counting-room, and am in a great hurry, though
+you wouldn't think it. Shall expect you by the third, _certainly_.--
+
+"Yours, etc.,
+
+"BOB TURNER."
+
+
+These letters came on Saturday evening. The next morning, in Sabbath
+school, when the superintendent's bell rang, the minister left his class
+of mission scholars, and went up the aisle towards the altar, pausing
+first to speak with a bright-eyed little lady, who sat before her class
+of bright-eyed little girls.
+
+"Kitty, where is Howard?"
+
+"At home, coaxing a fit of sick headache."
+
+"Well, here are letters that will interest you both,--came last evening;
+one contains an invitation. Tell Howard I think we must try to go. Mother
+bade me tell you she wanted to see you at the parsonage in the morning;
+she is not out to-day."
+
+Then he went on. The scholars began to sit up straight, and fold their
+arms; they knew they must listen if they wanted Mr. Lewis to talk to
+them. When every eye was fixed on him, he began,--
+
+"Children, I have a very short story to tell you to-day about myself.
+Years ago, when I was a little boy, my Sabbath school teacher told us a
+story, one morning, which was the means of bringing me to Jesus. I have
+to thank that lady, next to God, that I am standing here to-day a
+minister of Christ. She was not our regular teacher, but was a stranger;
+I never saw her after that Sabbath. Perhaps you can imagine how I have
+longed, since I became a man and a minister, to find that lady, and tell
+her what one hour of faithful teaching did for me. I thought it would
+help her, encourage her. I thought she would be likely to tell it to
+other teachers, and it would help them. But though I had it always in
+mind, and made very earnest efforts to find her, I never succeeded until
+last week. You know, children, it is ten years since I came here to be
+your pastor, 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
+seeking. And what else do you think I heard of her? Why, that two weeks
+ago she died. Scholars, my first thought was a sad one, that I never
+could thank her now. But you know I can; I expect to one of these days.
+Why, when I get to heaven, one of the first things I shall do will be to
+seek her out and tell her about it. So, you see, she will know it, even
+if some of the watching angels up there have not told her already.
+
+"Just here, I want to say one word to the teachers. This incident should
+come with wonderful encouragement to your hearts, reminding you that you
+may often speak words which spring up and bear fruit that reaches up to
+God, though you do not know it, and _will_ not, until in heaven you take
+your crowns, and question why there are so many stars.
+
+"Children, next Sabbath I will tell you the story which led me to Christ;
+and all this week I am going to pray that it may have the same effect on
+some of my scholars.
+
+"It is time now for your verse. If any of you can find out why what I
+have been telling you to-day made me think of this verse, you may tell me
+next Sabbath. Now repeat,--'Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou
+shalt find it after many days.'"
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tip Lewis and His Lamp
+by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP ***
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
+<html>
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content=
+    "text/html; charset=us-ascii">
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tip Lewis and His Lamp, by
+      Pansy.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+    <!--
+    * { font-family:   Times;}
+    P { text-indent:   1em;
+        margin-top:    .75em;
+        font-size:     12pt;
+        text-align:    justify;
+        margin-bottom: .75em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; }
+    HR  { width: 33%; }
+    PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; }
+    // -->
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+  <body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's Tip Lewis and His Lamp, by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+#2 in our series by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
+Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
+copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
+this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
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+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
+
+**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: Tip Lewis and His Lamp
+
+Author: Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
+Release Date: January, 2006 [EBook #9648]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on October 13, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Joel Erickson, Mary Meehan, David Garcia
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+</pre>
+
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <h1>
+      TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP
+    </h1>
+    <center>
+      <b>BY PANSY</b>
+    </center>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <center>
+      AUTHOR OF "ESTER RIED," "ESTER RIED YET SPEAKING," "MRS.
+      SOLOMON SMITH LOOKING ON," "AN ENDLESS CHAIN," "FOUR GIRLS AT
+      CHAUTAUQUA," ETC. ETC.
+    </center>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <hr>
+    <table summary="TOC" border="0" width="100%">
+      <tr>
+        <td>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH1">CHAPTER I.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH2">CHAPTER II.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH3">CHAPTER III.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH4">CHAPTER IV.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH5">CHAPTER V.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH6">CHAPTER VI.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH7">CHAPTER VII.</a>
+          </p>
+        </td>
+        <td>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH8">CHAPTER VIII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH9">CHAPTER IX.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH10">CHAPTER X.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH11">CHAPTER XI.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH12">CHAPTER XII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH13">CHAPTER XIII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH14">CHAPTER XIV.</a>
+          </p>
+        </td>
+        <td>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH15">CHAPTER XV.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH16">CHAPTER XVI.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH17">CHAPTER XVII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH19">CHAPTER XIX.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH20">CHAPTER XX.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH21">CHAPTER XXI.</a>
+          </p>
+        </td>
+        <td>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH22">CHAPTER XXII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH23">CHAPTER XXIII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH24">CHAPTER XXIV.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH25">CHAPTER XXV.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH26">CHAPTER XXVI.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH27">CHAPTER XXVII.</a>
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            <a href="#CH28">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a>
+          </p>
+        </td>
+      </tr>
+    </table>
+    <hr>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      TIP LEWIS AND HIS LAMP.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH1"><!-- CH1 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER I.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Cast thy bread upon the waters."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The room was very full. Children, large and small, boys and
+      girls, and some looking almost old enough to be called men
+      and women, filled the seats. The scholars had just finished
+      singing their best-loved hymn, "Happy Land;" and the
+      superintendent was walking up and down the room, spying out
+      classes here and there which were without teachers, and
+      supplying them from the visitors' seat, which was up by the
+      desk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The long seat near the door was filled this morning by half a
+      dozen dirty, ragged, barefooted boys; their teacher's seat
+      was vacant, and those boys looked, every one, as though they
+      had come thither just to have a grand frolic.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, such bright, cunning, wicked faces as they had!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Their torn pants and jackets, their matted hair, even the
+      very twinkle in their eyes, showed that they were the
+      "Mission Class."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That is, the class which somebody had gathered from the
+      little black, comfortless-looking houses which thronged a
+      narrow back street of that village, and coaxed to come to the
+      Sabbath school,&mdash;to this large, light, pleasant room,
+      where the sun shone in upon little girls in white dresses,
+      with blue and pink ribbons fluttering from their shoulders;
+      and upon little boys, whose snowy linen collars and dainty
+      knots of black ribbon had evidently been arranged by careful
+      hands that very morning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But those boys in the corner kicked their bare heels
+      together, pulled each other's hair, or laughed in each
+      other's faces in the greatest good humour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The superintendent stopped before them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, boys, good morning; glad to see you all here. Where's
+      your teacher?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hain't got none!" answered one,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Gone to Guinea!" said another.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "She was afraid of us," explained a third. "Tip, here, put
+      his foot through one of her lace flounces last Sunday. Tip's
+      the worst boy we've got, anyhow."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys all seemed to think this was very funny, for they
+      laughed so loudly that the little girls at their right looked
+      over to see what was the matter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip ran his fingers through his uncombed hair, and laughed
+      with the rest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said the superintendent, "I'm going to get you a
+      teacher,&mdash;one you will like, I guess. I shall expect you
+      to treat her well."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was just one person left on the visitors' seat,&mdash;a
+      young lady who looked shy and quiet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Mr. Parker," she said, when the superintendent told her
+      what he wanted, "I can't take that class; I've watched those
+      boys ever since they came in,&mdash;they look mischievous
+      enough for anything, and act as they look."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then shall we leave them with nothing but mischief to take
+      up their attention?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, but&mdash;they really ought to have a better teacher
+      than I,&mdash;some one who knows how to interest them."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But, Miss Perry, the choice lies between you and no one."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And, while she still hesitated and looked distressed, Mr.
+      Parker bent forward a little, and said softly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these My
+      brethren, ye did it not to Me.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady rose quickly, and gathered her mantle about her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I will go, Mr. Parker," she said, speaking quickly, as if
+      afraid her courage would fail her. "Since there is no one
+      else, I will do the best I can; but oh, I am afraid!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Down the long room, past the rows of neatly-dressed,
+      attentive children, Mr. Parker led her to the seat near the
+      door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Now, boys," said he, "this is Miss Perry. Suppose you see if
+      you can't all be gentlemen, and treat her well."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Perry sat down in the teacher's chair, her heart all in
+      a flutter. She taught a class in her own Sabbath school
+      hundreds of miles away,&mdash;five rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed
+      little girls gathered around her every Sabbath; but they were
+      little girls whose mothers had taught them to love their
+      lessons, to listen respectfully to what their teacher said,
+      to bow their heads reverently in prayer; and more than that,
+      they loved her, and she loved them. But these boys! Still she
+      must say something: six pairs of bright, roguish eyes,
+      brimful of fire and fun, were bent on her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Boys," she said gently, "have you any lessons for me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Not much," answered Bob Turner, who always spoke first.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "We don't get lessons mostly. Don't come unless it's too hot
+      to go fishing or berrying."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip comes 'cause he's too lazy to go past the door,"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't!" drawled out the boy they called Tip; "I come to
+      get out of the sun; it's hotter than sixty down home."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Never mind, boys," said their frightened teacher; for they
+      were all laughing now, as though the funniest thing in the
+      world had happened. "See here, since you have no lessons,
+      shall I tell you a story?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh yes, they were willing enough to hear a story, if it
+      wasn't stupid.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll tell you something that happened to a boy when he was
+      about thirteen years old. His name is Robert; he told me this
+      story himself, so you may be sure it's true.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He said one evening he was walking slowly down the main
+      street of the village where he lived"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Where was that?" asked Bob Turner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, it was away out west. He said he felt cross and unhappy;
+      he had nowhere in particular to go, and nothing to do. As he
+      walked, he came to a turn where two roads met. 'Now,' thought
+      he, 'shall I turn to the left and go home, and hang around
+      until bed-time, or shall I turn to the right and go down to
+      the river awhile?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You see, Robert hadn't a happy home,&mdash;his mother was
+      dead, and his father was a drunkard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "While he stood thinking, a boy came around the other corner,
+      and called out,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Going home, Rob?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Don't know,' said Robert; 'I can't make up my mind.'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Suppose you come on down to our house, and we'll have a
+      game of ball?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Still Robert waited. He was fond of playing ball,&mdash;that
+      was certain,&mdash;and he liked company better than to walk
+      alone; why he should think of wandering off down to the river
+      by himself he was sure he didn't know. Still something seemed
+      to keep saying to him, 'Go this way&mdash;turn to the right;
+      come, go to the river, 'until he said at last,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'No; I guess I'll take a walk this way first.'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And he turned the corner, then he was but a few steps from
+      the river."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What came of the other fellow?" asked Bob.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, some more boys came up just then, and he walked along
+      with them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There was a large elm-tree on the river bank, and there was
+      one particular spot under it that Robert called his seat; but
+      he found a gentleman seated there this time; he had a book in
+      his hand, partly closed, and he was leaning back against a
+      tree, watching the sunset.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He looked around as he heard Robert's step, and said, 'Good
+      evening; will you have a seat?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He moved along, and Robert sat down on the grass near him;
+      then he said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'I heard a boy call out to another just now, "Going home,
+      Robert?" Are you the boy?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'No,' said Robert; 'Hal Carter screamed that out to me just
+      as he came round the corner.'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Oh, you are the one he was talking to. Well, I'll ask you
+      the same question. <i>Are</i> you going home?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'No,' said Robert again; 'I have just walked straight away
+      from home.'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Yes; but are you going up <i>there</i>?' And the gentleman
+      pointed up to the blue sky. 'That's the home I mean; I've
+      just been reading about it; this river made me think of it.
+      Where it says, you know, "And he showed me a pure river of
+      water, clear as crystal." Then it goes on to describe the
+      city with its "gates of pearl" and "streets of gold," the
+      robes and crowns that the people wear, the harps on which
+      they play, and, after this warm day, I couldn't help thinking
+      that one of the pleasantest things about this home was the
+      promise, "Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."
+      Aren't you going to that home, my boy?'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'I don't know,' Robert said, feeling very much astonished."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At this point the superintendent's bell rang, and Miss Perry
+      had to hasten her story.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I haven't time, boys, to tell you all the gentleman said,
+      but, after that talk, Robert began to think about these
+      things a great deal, and pretty soon he learned to read the
+      Bible and to pray. That was more than fifty years ago. He is
+      an old minister now; I have heard him preach a great many
+      times; and he told me once he should always believe God put
+      it into his heart to turn to the right that evening, instead
+      of the left."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh!" exclaimed Tip, just here; and Miss Perry stopped.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Joe pinched me," said Tip, to explain his part of the noise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But their teacher felt very badly; they had not listened to
+      her story as though they cared to hear it; they had slid up
+      and down the seat, pulled and pinched and pricked each other,
+      and done a great many mischievous things since she commenced;
+      and yet now and then they seemed to hear a few words; so she
+      kept on, because she did not know what else to do.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Mr. Parker," she said, when the school was dismissed,
+      and her noisy class had scrambled, some through the window
+      and some through the door, "some man who understands boys
+      ought to have had that class; I haven't done them any good,
+      but I tried;" and there were tears in her eyes as she spoke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You did what you could," said the superintendent kindly;
+      "none of us can do more."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some loving voice ought to have whispered in that teacher's
+      ear, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
+      shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his
+      sheaves with him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH2"><!-- CH2 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER II.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Tip Lewis yawned and stretched, and finally opened his eyes
+      rather late on Monday morning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, bother!" he said, with another yawn, when he saw how the
+      sun was pouring into the room; "I suppose a fellow has got to
+      get up. I wish getting up wasn't such hard work,&mdash;spoils
+      all the fun of going to bed; but then the old cat will be to
+      pay, if I don't get around soon."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And with this he rolled out; and when he was dressed, which
+      was in a very few minutes after he tumbled out of his ragged
+      bed, he was the self-same Tip who had been at the bottom of
+      most of the mischief in Miss Perry's class the day
+      before,&mdash;the very same, from the curly hair, not yet
+      combed nor likely to be, down to the bare, soiled feet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The bed which he had just left, so far as neatness was
+      concerned, looked very much like Tip, and the room looked
+      like the bed; and they all looked about as badly as dust and
+      rags and poverty could make them look.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After running his fingers through his hair, by way of
+      finishing his toilet, Tip made his way down the rickety
+      stairs to the kitchen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It seemed as though that kitchen was just calculated to make
+      a boy feel cross. The table stood against the wall on its
+      three legs, the tablecloth was daubed with molasses and
+      stained with gravy; a plate, with something in it which
+      looked like melted lard, but which Tip's mother called
+      butter, and a half loaf of bread, were the only eatable
+      articles as yet on the table; and around these the flies had
+      gathered in such numbers, that it almost seemed as though
+      they might carry the loaf away entirely, if too many of them
+      didn't drown themselves in the butter. Over all the July sun
+      poured in its rays from the eastern window, the only one in
+      the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip stumbled over his father's boots, and made his way to the
+      stove, where his mother was bending over a spider of sizzling
+      pork.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," she said, as he came near, "did you get up for all
+      day? I'd be ashamed&mdash;great boy like you&mdash;to lie in
+      bed till this time of day, and let your mother split wood and
+      bring water to cook your breakfast with."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You cooked, a little for you, too, didn't you?" asked Tip,
+      in a saucy, good-natured tone. "Where's father?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Just where you have been all day so far,&mdash;in bed and
+      asleep. Such folks as I've got! I'm sick of living."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Mrs. Lewis stepped back from the steaming tea-kettle, and
+      wiped great beads of perspiration from her forehead; then
+      fanned herself with her big apron, looking meantime very
+      tired and cross.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Yet Tip's mother was not so cross after all as she seemed;
+      had Tip only known it, her heart was very heavy that morning.
+      She did not blame his father for his morning nap, not a bit
+      of it; she was only glad that the weary frame could rest a
+      little after a night of pain. She had been up since the first
+      grey dawn of morning, bathing his head, straightening the
+      tangled bedclothes, walking the floor with the restless baby,
+      in order that her husband might have quiet. Oh no; there were
+      worse women in the world than Mrs. Lewis; but this morning
+      her life looked very wretched to her. She thought of her
+      idle, mischievous boy; of her naughty, high-tempered little
+      girl; of her fat, healthy baby, who took so much of her time;
+      of her husband, who, though she never said it to him, or even
+      to herself, yet she knew and felt was every day growing
+      weaker; and with these came the remembrance that her own
+      tired hands were all that lay between them and want; and it
+      is hardly a wonder that her voice was sharp and her words ill
+      chosen. For this mother tried to bear all her trials alone;
+      she never went for help to the Redeemer, who said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Wah!" said Johnny, from his cradle in the bit of a bedroom
+      near the kitchen,&mdash;which kitchen was all the room they
+      had, save two tiny bedrooms and Tip's little den up-stairs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis glanced quickly towards the door of her husband's
+      room; it was closed. Then she called,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, make that baby go to sleep!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh yes!" muttered Kitty, who sat on the floor lacing her old
+      shoe with a white cord; "it's easy to say that, but I'd just
+      like to see you do it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ah yah!" answered Johnny from the cradle, as though he tried
+      to say, "So should I."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, not being noticed, he gave up pretending to cry, and
+      screamed in good earnest, loud, positive yells, which brought
+      his mother in haste from the kitchen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ugly girl!" she said to Kitty, as she lifted the conquering
+      hero from his cradle; "you don't care how soon your father is
+      waked out of the only nap he has had all night. Why didn't
+      you rock the cradle? I've a notion to whip you this minute!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I did," answered Kitty sulkily; "and he opened his eyes at
+      me as wide as he could stretch them."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Crash! went something at that moment in the kitchen; and,
+      with Johnny in her arms, Mrs. Lewis ran back to see what new
+      trouble she had to meet. Tip, meantime, had been in business;
+      being hungry, he had cut a slice of bread from the loaf, and,
+      in the act of reaching over to help himself to some butter,
+      hit his arm against a pitcher of water standing on the corner
+      of the table. Over it went and broke, just as pitchers will
+      whenever they get a chance. This was too much for the tired
+      mother's patience; what little she had vanished. She tossed
+      the slice of bread at Tip, and as she did so, said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There! take that and be off. Don't let me see a sight of
+      your face again to-day. March this instant, or you will wish
+      you had!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And in the midst of the din, while his mother looked after
+      the pork, which had seized this occasion for burning fast to
+      the spider, Tip managed to spread his slice of bread, find
+      his hat, and make good his escape from the comfortless home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was an hour yet to school-time; or, for the matter of
+      that, he might have the whole day. Tip went to school, or let
+      it alone, just as he pleased. He made his way straight to his
+      favourite spot, the broad, deep pond, and laid himself down
+      on its grassy bank to chat with the fishes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My!" he said; "how nice they look whisking about. It's cool
+      down there, I know; they don't mind the sun. I wish I had my
+      fish-pole here, I'd have one of them shiny big fellows there
+      for my dinner; only it's too hot to fish, and it would seem
+      kind of mean, besides, to get him up here in this blazing
+      sun. Hang me if I make even a fish get out of the water
+      to-day, when it can stay in!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Of all the scholars in Miss Perry's class, the one who she
+      would have said paid the least attention was this same boy
+      who was lying on his face by the pond, envying the fishes.
+      Yet Tip had heard nearly every word she said; and now, as he
+      looked into the water, which lay cool in the shade of some
+      broad, branching trees, there came into his heart the music
+      of those words again,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I declare," he said, as the meaning of those words dawned
+      upon him, "I'd like that! they'll never be too warm again. It
+      was a pretty nice story she told us about that boy. He
+      couldn't have had a very good time; his father was a
+      drunkard. I wish I knew just about what kind of a fellow he
+      was; he turned right square round after that man talked to
+      him. Now he is a minister; I suppose lots of people like him.
+      It must be kind of nice, the whole of it. I would like to be
+      somebody, as true as I live, I would. I'd like to have the
+      people say, 'There goes Tip Lewis; he's the best boy in
+      town.' Bless me! that would be funny; I don't believe they
+      could ever say it; they are so used to calling me the worst,
+      they couldn't help it. What if I should reform? I declare I
+      don't know but I will."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip rolled over on his back, and looked up into the blue,
+      cloudless sky; lying there, he certainly had some of the most
+      sober thoughts, perhaps the only really sober ones he had
+      ever known in his life. And when at last he slowly picked
+      himself up, turned his back upon the darting fishes, and
+      walked towards the school-house, he had in his mind some
+      vague notion that perhaps he would be different from that
+      time forth. Just what he was going to do, or how to commence
+      doing it, he didn't know; but the story, to which he had
+      seemed not to listen at all, had crept into his heart, had
+      commenced its work; very dimly was it working, very blindly
+      he might grope for a while, but the seed sown had taken root.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH3"><!-- CH3 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER III.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these My
+      brethren, ye did it unto Me."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Around the corner, and far up the street from where Tip Lewis
+      lived, there stood a large white house; not another house in
+      the village was so beautiful as this. Many a time had Tip
+      walked slowly by the place, and cast the most admiring
+      glances on the broad green lawns and bubbling fountain, of
+      which he caught; glimpses from the road. Often he had stood
+      outside, at the great gate, and fairly <i>longed</i> for a
+      nearer view of that same fountain; for the truth was, though
+      he was such a rough, mischief-making,&mdash;yes, a
+      <i>wicked</i> boy, down in his heart he had a great love for
+      beautiful things.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On this Fourth of July morning, Tip was up and abroad very
+      early. He held a horse, which had been so frightened by
+      fire-crackers that it wouldn't stand still a minute, and the
+      owner of it gave him ten cents, with which he immediately
+      bought fire-crackers for himself, and frightened the very
+      next horse he saw. When the great cannon on the hill was
+      fired, he got in the way, just as much as he knew how, which
+      was a great deal; he contrived to be around when the largest
+      bell was rung, and add his voice to the uproar among the boys
+      who were gathered around the church doors; indeed, wherever
+      there was commotion or confusion, Tip managed very soon to
+      be, and to do his part towards making the most of it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      About ten o'clock he had lived out the most of his pleasures,
+      having been on hand since a little after three. He had no
+      more money to spend, saw no chance of getting any more; he
+      had had no breakfast, and was very much in doubt as to
+      whether he would get any, if he took the trouble to go home;
+      he had some way lost track of all his companions; and,
+      altogether, he was beginning to feel as if the Fourth of July
+      were a humbug. He felt ill-used, angry; it seemed to him that
+      he was being cheated out of a good time that he expected to
+      have. He sat down on the edge of an old sugar-barrel and
+      thought about it a while; then finally, with his hands in his
+      pockets, and whistling "Yankee Doodle" in honour of the day,
+      he sauntered along the street in search of something to take
+      up his time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hurrying towards him, with hands not in his pockets, but full
+      of packages, came Mr. Mintum, the owner of the grand white
+      house on the hill.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To Tip's surprise, the gentleman halted suddenly before him,
+      and, eyeing him closely, asked, "Whose boy are you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "John Lewis's."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Where do you live?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "T'other side of the pond, by the mill."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, your father is the carpenter, I suppose,&mdash;I know
+      him. What's your name?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip! What kind of a name is that? is it all the one you
+      own?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Tip, "I suppose my name was Edward when I was a
+      little shaver; but nobody knows it now; I don't myself."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Tip, then, I'll call you that, for I want you to know
+      yourself to-night. What are you going to do?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "When? to-night? Oh, hang around, I s'pose,&mdash;have some
+      fun, if I can find any."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Fun. Is that what you're after? You come up to my house
+      to-night at dark, and see if you can find it there. We are
+      going to have fireworks, and songs, and all the fun we can."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip was not by any means a bashful boy, and it took a great
+      deal to astonish him; but this sudden invitation almost took
+      his breath away. The idea that Mr. Minturn had actually
+      invited <i>him</i>, Tip Lewis, to come to the white
+      house!&mdash;to come near to that wonderful fountain, near
+      enough perhaps to feel the dash of its spray! He could have
+      danced for joy; yet, when Mr. Minturn said, "Well, will you
+      come?" for the first time in his life he was known to stammer
+      and hesitate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I&mdash;I don't&mdash;know. I haven't got any clothes."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Clothes!" repeated Mr. Minturn; "what do you call those
+      things which you have on?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I call 'em <i>rags</i>, sir," answered Tip, his
+      embarrassment gone, and the mischief twinkling back into his
+      face again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn laughed, and looked down on the torn jacket and
+      pants.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Not a bad name," he said at last. "But you've got water at
+      your house, haven't you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Lots of it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then put your head into a tub of it, and a clean face up to
+      my house to-night, and we'll try and find that fun you're
+      looking for."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Mr. Minturn, who had spent a great deal of time for him,
+      was passing on. "See here!" he called, after he had moved
+      forward a few steps; "if you see any boy raggeder than you
+      are yourself, bring him along,&mdash;bring every boy and girl
+      you meet who haven't anywhere else to go."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ho!" said Tip, as soon as the gentleman was at safe
+      distance; "if this isn't rich, then I don't
+      know,&mdash;fireworks in that great yard, pretty near the
+      fountain maybe, and lots of fun. We can take anybody we like.
+      I know what I'll do. I'll hunt up Bob Turner; his jacket has
+      got enough sight more holes in it than mine has. Oh, ho!
+      ain't it grand, though?" And Tip clapped his hands and
+      whistled, and at last, finding that didn't express his
+      feeling, said, "Hurrah!" in a good strong tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Yes, hurrah! Tip is right; it is glorious to think that one
+      man out of his abundance is going to open his heart, and
+      gather in God's poor, and, for one evening at least, make
+      them happy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      God bless Mr. Minturn!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Never had the good man's grounds entertained such a group as,
+      from all quarters of the large town, gathered before it was
+      quite dark.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ragged boys and girls! If those were what be wanted, he had
+      them, sure enough, of almost every age and size. There were
+      some not so ragged,&mdash;some in dainty white dresses and
+      shining jackets; but they went down and mingled with the
+      others,&mdash;brothers and sisters for that night at
+      least,&mdash;and were all, oh, <i>so</i> happy!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How they <i>did</i> dance and laugh and scream around that
+      fountain, and snap torpedoes and fire-crackers, and shout
+      with wild delight when the rockets shot up into the sky, or
+      the burning wheels span round and round, scattering showers
+      of real fire right in among the crowds of children!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Well, the evening hasted away; the very last rocket took its
+      bright, rushing way up into the blue sky; and Mr. Minturn
+      gathered his company around the piazza with the words,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Now, children, Mr. Holbrook has a few words to say to you,
+      and after that, as soon as we have sung a hymn, it will be
+      time to go home."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Holbrook was the minister; many of the children knew him
+      well, and most of them were ready to hear what he had to say,
+      because they knew, by experience, that he was old enough and
+      wise enough not to make a long, dry speech after nine o'clock
+      on the Fourth of July.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Only Tip, as he turned longingly away from the last dying
+      spark of the rocket, muttered, "Bother the preaching!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Holbrook came forward to the steps, as the boys and girls
+      gathered around him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Children," said he, "we have had a good time, haven't we?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir!" came in a loud chorus from many voices.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes; I thought you acted as though you felt pretty happy.
+      Now this has been a busy day, and we are all tired, so I'm
+      not going to keep you here to make a speech to you; I just
+      want to tell you, in as few words as I can, what I have been
+      thinking about since I stood here to-night. I have watched
+      you as you frolicked around that fountain,&mdash;so many
+      young, bright faces, all looking so happy,&mdash;and I said
+      to myself, When the time comes for us to gather around that
+      fountain of living water which is before the throne of God, I
+      wonder if <i>one</i> of these boys and girls will be
+      missing&mdash;<i>one</i> of them? Oh, children, I pray God
+      that you may <i>all</i> be there, <i>every</i> one."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just a little speech it was,&mdash;so little that the
+      youngest there might almost remember the whole of
+      it,&mdash;yet it meant <i>so</i> much.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip Lewis had wedged his way in among the boys until he stood
+      very near the minister, and his face wore a sober, thoughtful
+      look. It was only two days since his long talk with himself
+      at the pond. Fourth of July, with all the merrymaking and
+      mischief that it brought to him, had nearly driven sober
+      thoughts from his mind, but the minister's solemn words
+      brought back the memory of his half-formed resolves, and
+      again he said to himself he believed he would reform; this
+      time he added that if he knew about <i>how</i> to do it, he
+      would begin right away. He felt it more than ever when the
+      sweet voices of many children floated out on the evening air,
+      as they sang,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "I have read of a world of beauty,
+    Where there is no gloomy night,
+  Where love is the mainspring of duty,
+    And God is the fountain of light.
+  I have read of the flowing river
+    That bursts from beneath the throne,
+  And beautiful flowers that ever
+    Are found on its banks alone.
+  I long&mdash;I long&mdash;I long to be there!"
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      If somebody had only known Tip's thoughts as he stood there
+      listening to the beautiful Sabbath school hymn! If somebody
+      had only bent down to him, and whispered a few words, just to
+      set his poor wandering feet into the narrow way, how blessed
+      it would have been: but nobody did.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ah, never mind! God knew, and took care of him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH4"><!-- CH4 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IV.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "They that seek Me shall find Me."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis's room was in order for once; swept, and even
+      dusted; the cook-stove cooled off, and the green paper
+      curtain at the window let down, to shut out the noise and
+      dust; it was quiet there too.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty stood in the open door, her face and hands clean, hair
+      combed, and dress mended; stood quite still, and with a sober
+      face, unmindful, for once, that there were butterflies to
+      chase and flies to kill all around her. In the only
+      comfortable seat in the room, a large old-fashioned
+      arm-chair, sat the worn, wasted frame of Kitty's father.
+      There was a look of hopeless sadness settled on his face.
+      Neither Tip nor his mother were to be seen. One or two women
+      were moving through the house, with quiet steps, bringing in
+      chairs and doing little thoughtful things in and about that
+      wonderfully orderly room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the table was that which told the whole story of this
+      unusual stillness and preparation. It was a pine coffin, very
+      small and plain; and in it, with folded hands and brown hair
+      rolled smoothly back from his baby forehead, little Johnny
+      lay, asleep. Somebody, with a touch of tenderness, had placed
+      a just budding rose in the tiny white hand, and baby looked
+      very sweet and beautiful in his narrow bed. Poor little
+      Johnny! his had been a sad, neglected babyhood; many weary
+      hours had he spent in his cradle, receiving only cross looks
+      from Kitty, and neglected by the mother, who, though she
+      loved Johnny, and even because she loved him, must leave him
+      to work for her daily bread. But it was all over now:
+      Johnny's cries would never disturb them again; Johnny's weary
+      little body rested quietly in its coffin; Johnny's precious
+      self was gathered in the Saviour's arms.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip came out of the bedroom, and softly approached the
+      coffin; his hair, too, was partly combed, and some attempt
+      had been made to put his ragged clothes in order. His heart
+      swelled, and the tears gathered in his eyes, as they rested
+      on the baby.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip loved his little brother, and though he had not had much
+      to do with him, yet he had this much to comfort
+      him,&mdash;Johnny had received only kindness and good-natured
+      words from him, which was more than Kitty could say. As she
+      stood there in the door, it seemed to her that every time she
+      had ever said cross, naughty words to the poor baby, or
+      turned away from his pitiful cry for comfort, or shook his
+      little helpless self, came back to her now,&mdash;stood all
+      around his coffin, and looked straight at her. Poor Kitty
+      thought if he could <i>only</i> come back to them for a
+      little while, she would hold him in her arms all night,
+      without a murmur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      People began to come in now from the lowly houses about them,
+      and fill the empty chairs. Mrs. Lewis came out from the
+      bedroom, and sat down beside the arm-chair, thankful that her
+      tear-stained face and swollen eyes were hidden, by the thick
+      black veil which some thoughtful neighbour had sent for her
+      use.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a few minutes a dozen or more people had filled up the
+      vacant spaces in the little room, and Mr. Holbrook arose from
+      his seat at the coffin's head.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip turned quickly at the first sound of his voice, and
+      listened eagerly while he read from the book in his hand,
+      "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God,"
+      listening until the closing sentence was read, "And there
+      shall be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
+      shall there be any more pain, for the former things are
+      passed away."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had never paid such close attention to anything in his
+      life as he did to Mr. Holbrook's words; after that they were
+      very simple and plain spoken, so that a child might
+      understand them, and were about heaven, that beautiful city
+      of which Tip had heard and thought more during the last three
+      weeks than he ever had in his life before. His heart had been
+      in a constant Struggle with Satan, ever since that morning in
+      the Sabbath school. He didn't know enough to understand that
+      it was Satan's evil voice which was constantly persuading him
+      that he could not be anybody, that-he was only a poor,
+      miserable, ragged boy, with nobody to help him, nobody to
+      show him what to do; that he might as well not try to be
+      anything but what he was; and he didn't know either that the
+      other voice in his heart which struggled with the evil
+      counsel, which said to him, "Other boys as poor and ignorant
+      as you are have reformed; that Robert did about whom the
+      teacher told you; and then, if you don't, you will never see
+      that river nor the fountain, nor the streets of gold," was
+      the dear, loving voice of his Redeemer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now, as he listened to Mr. Holbrook, and heard how Johnny,
+      little Johnny whom he loved, had surely gone up there to be
+      with Christ for ever, and how Jesus, looking down on the
+      father and mother, and the children who were left, said to
+      them, "I want you, too, to give Me your hearts, so that when
+      I gather My jewels I may come for you." The weak, struggling
+      resolves in his heart grew strong, and he said within
+      himself, while the tears fell slowly down his cheeks, "I
+      will; I'll begin to-day."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The coffin-lid was screwed down, and Johnny's baby-face shut
+      out from them for ever. A man came forward and took the light
+      burden in his arms, and bore it out to the waggon; down the
+      narrow street they drove, to the burial-ground, which was not
+      far away. They laid Johnny down to sleep under the shade of a
+      large old tree; and the grass waved softly, and the birds
+      sang low, and the angels surely sang in heaven, because
+      another little form was numbered among the thousands of
+      children who stand "around the Throne."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The people moved slowly from the grave,&mdash;all but Tip; he
+      didn't want to leave Johnny; he wanted to follow him, and he
+      didn't know how. Mr. Holbrook glanced back at the boy
+      standing there alone, paused a moment, then, turning back,
+      laid his hand gently on Tip's shoulder.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You can go up there too, my boy, if you will," he said, in a
+      low, kind tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip looked up quickly, then down again; he wanted to ask
+      how&mdash;what he should do; but his voice choked, he could
+      not speak a word; and with the earnest sentence, "God bless
+      you, my little friend, and lead you to Himself," Mr. Holbrook
+      turned and left him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip wandered away into the woods for a little. When he
+      returned the earth was heaped up fresh and black over the new
+      mound, and Johnny was left underneath it all alone. Tip
+      walked around it slowly, trying to take in the thought that
+      the baby was lying there; that they should never see him
+      again; trying, a moment after, to take in the thought that he
+      was not there at all, but had gone up to the beautiful world
+      which the hymn told about; then he thought of the chorus, and
+      almost felt it.&mdash;"I long, I long, I long to be there."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had heard people pray; he had been to Sabbath school
+      often enough to catch and remember most of the words of the
+      Lord's Prayer; he knew enough of God to understand that He
+      could hear prayer, and that His help must be asked if one
+      wanted to get to heaven. He hesitated a moment, glanced half
+      fearfully around him,&mdash;no one was there, no one but
+      himself, and Johnny, lying low at his feet, and God looking
+      down upon him. Presently he knelt down before the little
+      grave, and began,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy
+      kingdom come"&mdash;Then he stopped. Tip was in earnest now;
+      he did not understand that prayer: he felt as though he was
+      not saying what he meant. He commenced again,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Jesus, I want"&mdash;Then he waited a minute. What did
+      he want? "I want to be different; I'm a wicked boy. I want to
+      go where Johnny is when I die. Do show me how!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Did Jesus ever fail to hear such a prayer as
+      that,&mdash;simple, earnest, every word of it <i>felt?
+      Never</i>&mdash;and He never will.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip rose up from that spot feeling that something was
+      different. Ay, and always would be different; the Saviour had
+      reached down and taken hold of the young seeker's hand, and
+      would for ever after lead him up toward God.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH5"><!-- CH5 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER V.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Thy word is a lamp to my feet."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The Sabbath morning sun awoke Tip from a heavy sleep. He lay
+      still a few moments, thinking who he was. Things were
+      different: he was not simply Tip Lewis, a ragged little
+      street boy, any longer; this was the morning when he was
+      going to start out under a new motto, with Jesus for his
+      guide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was going to Sabbath school. He had not been since the
+      morning that Miss Perry had taught the class, and told the
+      story which was to be a blessing to him through all his
+      future life. His evil spirit had been strong upon him during
+      the three Sabbath mornings that had passed since then, and
+      persuaded him to stay away from the school, but this morning
+      he was resolved to go. He had a secret hope that he should
+      see Miss Perry again, for he did not know that she was
+      hundreds of miles away from that village, and would probably
+      never be there again; all he knew was, that a gentleman had
+      brought her to the door, and introduced her to the
+      superintendent as Miss Perry; that much he heard as he sat
+      gazing at them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This morning he judged by the sun that it was pretty late,
+      yet he didn't get on very fast with the business of dressing:
+      he sat down on the foot of the bed, and looked sorrowfully at
+      his jacket; he even turned it inside out to see if it
+      wouldn't improve its appearance, but he shook his head, and
+      speedily turned it back again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      If he "only had a collar," he said to himself,&mdash;"a
+      smooth white collar, to turn down over the worn-out
+      edges,&mdash;it would make things look <i>so</i> much
+      better." But that was something he had never had in his life,
+      and he put on the old ragged brown jacket with a sigh. Then
+      he put on his shoes, and took them off again: the question
+      was, which looked the best,&mdash;shoes which showed every
+      one of his toes peeping out on the top, or no shoes at all?
+      Suddenly a bright idea struck him: if his feet were only
+      white and clean, he thought they would certainly look much
+      better. Down he went to the rickety pump in the back yard,
+      and face, hands, and feet took such a washing as they had
+      never received before; then the old comb had to do duty. Tip
+      had never had such a time getting dressed; but, some way, he
+      felt a great longing this morning to make himself look
+      neatly; 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 done. Still, to carry a freshly-washed face and
+      hands and smooth hair was the very best he could do; and, if
+      he had but known it, these things made a great improvement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He made his way half shyly into the mission seat, for the
+      truth was he did not know just how the boys would receive his
+      attempt at respectability; but he had no trouble, for several
+      of his companions had seen his face when he took his last
+      look into that little coffin the day before, and they felt
+      sorry for him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No Miss Perry appeared; and it seemed, at first, that the
+      mission boys were to have no teacher. It was a warm morning,
+      and the visitors' seat was vacant.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But there was at last a great nudging of elbows, and whispers
+      of "Look out now!" "We're in a scrape!" "No chance for fun
+      today!" And only Tip's eyes looked glad when Holbrook halted
+      before their class, with "Good morning, boys." Then, "Good
+      morning Edward; I am glad to see you here to-day;" and the
+      minister actually held out his hand to Tip. Mr. Holbrook
+      never called him Tip; he had asked him one morning what his
+      real name was, and since then had spoken it, "Edward," in
+      clear, plain tones.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was a restless, wearying class. It required all Mr.
+      Holbrook's wits and wisdom to keep them in any sort of order,
+      to gain any part of their attention. Yet it was not as bad as
+      usual; partly because the minister knew how, if anybody did,
+      to teach just such boys, and partly because Tip, hitherto the
+      spirit of all the mischief there, never took his eyes from
+      the teacher's face. Mr. Holbrook watched his close attention,
+      and took courage. When the other scholars passed out, he laid
+      his hand on Tip's arm, with the words, "You have been a good
+      listener to-day, Edward, Did you understand the story I told,
+      of the boy who started on a journey to the Holy Land?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Some of it I did: you meant that he started for heaven."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You understand it, I see. Don't you want to take that
+      journey?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I mean to, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Help Thou mine unbelief,'" was Mr. Holbrook's prayer just
+      then. He had hoped for, longed for, prayed for these boys,
+      especially for this one since the day before; yet he was
+      astonished when he received the firm, prompt answer, "I mean
+      to, sir,"&mdash;astonished, as too many are, that his prayer
+      was heard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Have you started, my boy?" he asked, speaking with a little
+      tremble in his voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir, I've tried; I told God last night that I would,
+      but I don't much know how."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You want a lamp, don't you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "A what, sir?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "A lamp. You remember in the story the boy found dark places
+      every little way; then he took out his lamp, so he couldn't
+      lose the road. Don't you need it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want some help, but I don't know as a lamp would do me any
+      good."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ah yes; the one I mean will surely help you, if you give it
+      a chance." Mr. Holbrook took from his pocket a small,
+      red-covered book, and held it up. "Do you know what book this
+      is?" he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's a Bible, ain't it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes. Have you ever read in the Bible?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Some, at school."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You know, then, that God told men just what to say, and they
+      wrote it here, so you see that makes it God's words; that is
+      what we call it sometimes,&mdash;the Word of God. Now, let me
+      show you something." He turned the leaves rapidly, then
+      pointed with his finger to a verse; and Tip read, "Thy word
+      is a lamp to my feet."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh," he said, with a bright look, "that is the kind of lamp
+      you mean!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That is it; and, my boy, I want you to take this for your
+      lamp. There is no place on the whole road so dark but that it
+      can light you through, if you try it. When you don't
+      understand it, there is always Jesus to go to, you know."
+      And, taking out his pencil, Mr. Holbrook wrote on the
+      fly-leaf, in plain, round letters, "Edward Lewis." Then,
+      handing the book to him, with a bow and smile, the minister
+      turned away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip walked out of the school and down the road, holding his
+      treasure closely. Such a queer, new feeling possessed him.
+      Things were really to be different, then. The minister had
+      talked with him, had shaken hands with him, and given him a
+      Bible. And here he was walking quietly away from the school,
+      all alone, instead of leading a troop of noisy boys, intent
+      on mischief.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Tip Lewis," he said to himself, as he hugged his book,
+      "I don't know but you will be somebody, after all; you mean
+      to try with all your might, don't you? and you've got a lamp
+      now!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH6"><!-- CH6 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VI.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou
+      shalt go. I will guide thee with Mine eye."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Why," said Tip, as he sat on the foot of the bed, turning
+      over the leaves of his Bible,&mdash;"why, that is the very
+      thing I want. 'I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the
+      way which thou shalt go.' Yes, that's exactly it. I want to
+      begin to-day, and do every single thing so different from
+      what I ever did before, that nobody will know me. Now, if
+      He'll help me, I can do it. I'll learn that verse."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The verse was repeated many times over, for Tip was not used
+      to study. While he was busy thus, the Spirit of God put
+      another thought into his heart.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I must ask Christ to help me now," he said, with reverent
+      face; and, kneeling down, he made known his wants in very
+      simple words, and in that plain, direct way which God loves.
+      Then he went down&mdash;stairs, prepared for whatever should
+      befall him that day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty was up, and rattling the kitchen stove.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, what's to pay?" Tip asked, as he appeared in the
+      door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's to pay with you? How did you happen to get up?"
+      Receiving no answer to this, she continued, "The old cat is
+      to pay,&mdash;everywhere,&mdash;and always is! These nasty
+      shavings are soaked through and through, and the wood is
+      rotten,&mdash;and there isn't any wood anyway,&mdash;and I
+      can't make this fire burn to save my life. Mother is sick in
+      bed,&mdash;can't sit up at all. She told me to make a cup of
+      tea for father, and things look as if it would get made some
+      time next month."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty was only twelve years old, but, like most of those
+      children who have been left to bring themselves up, and pick
+      up wisdom and wickedness wherever they are to be found, she
+      was wonderfully old in mind; and was so used to grumbling and
+      snarling, that she could do it very rapidly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh," said Tip to himself, drawing a long breath, "what a
+      place for me to commence in!" Then he came bravely to Kitty's
+      aid.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "See here, Kitty, don't make such a rattling; you'll wake
+      father. I can make this fire in a hurry. I have made one out
+      of next to nothing, lots of times; you just put some water in
+      the tea-kettle, and we'll have a cup of tea in a jiff."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty stood still in her astonishment, and watched him while
+      he took out the round green sticks that she had put in, laid
+      in bits of dry paper and bits of sticks,&mdash;laid them in
+      such a careless, uneven way, that it seemed to her they would
+      never burn in the world; only he speedily proved that they
+      would, by setting fire to the whole, and they crackled and
+      snapped in a most determined manner, and finally roared
+      outright.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Certainly Kitty had never been so much astonished in her
+      life. First, because that rubbish in the stove had been made
+      to become such a positive fire; secondly, that Tip had
+      actually set to work without being coaxed or scolded, and
+      made a fire!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was a queer, new feeling about it all to Tip himself;
+      for, strange as it may seem, so entirely selfish had been
+      this boy's life, that this was actually the first time he had
+      ever, of his own free will, done anything to help the family
+      at home. His spirits rose with the effort.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Come, Kitty," he said briskly, "here's your fire. Now, let's
+      fly round and get father and mother some breakfast. Say, do
+      you know how to make toast?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's likely I do," Kitty answered shortly. "If you had
+      roasted your face and burnt your fingers as often as I have,
+      making it for father, I guess you would know how."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now, just suppose we make two slices,&mdash;one for
+      mother, and one for father,&mdash;and two cups of tea. My!
+      you and I will be jolly housekeepers, Kitty."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph!" said Kitty contemptuously.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You see she wasn't in the least used to being good-natured,
+      and it took a great deal of coaxing to make her give other
+      than short, sharp answers to all that was said. But, for all
+      that, she went to work, after Tip had poured some water in
+      the dingy little tea-kettle and set it over the fire, cutting
+      the two slices of bread, and getting them ready to toast when
+      there should be any coals.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip, meantime, hunted among the confusion, of all sorts of
+      things in the cupboard, for two clean plates and cups.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You're taken with an awful clean fit, seems to me," Kitty
+      said, as she stood watching him while he hunted for a cloth,
+      then carefully wiped off the plates.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," answered Tip good-naturedly; "I'm going to try it for
+      a spell, and find out how things look after they are washed."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Altogether it was a queer morning to both of them; and each
+      felt a touch of triumph when at last the toast lay brown and
+      nice, a slice on each plate, and the hot tea, poured into the
+      cups, smelled fresh and fragrant. The two children went
+      softly to the bedroom door in time to hear their father
+      say,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What makes you try to get up, if your head is so bad?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, what makes me! What else is there for <i>me</i> to do?
+      The young ones are both up, and if I find the roof left on
+      the house I'll be thankful. I never knew them to stay
+      together five minutes without having a battle."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At almost any other time in her life these words would have
+      made Kitty very angry; but this morning she was intent on not
+      letting her tea spill over on the toast, and so paid very
+      little attention to them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip marched boldly in with his dish, Kitty following.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Lie still, mother, till you get some of our tea and toast,
+      and I reckon it will cure you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis raised herself on one elbow, saw the beautiful
+      brown slices, caught a whiff of the fragrant tea, then asked
+      wonderingly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Who's here?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty and me," Tip made answer, proudly and promptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Something very like a smile gathered on Mrs. Lewis's worn,
+      fretful face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now," she said, "if I ain't beat! It's the last thing
+      on earth I ever expected you to do."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What spell had come over Tip? Breakfast was a great success.
+      After it was over he found a great many things to do; the
+      rusty old axe was hunted up, and some hard knots made to
+      become very respectable-looking sticks of wood, which he
+      piled in the wood-box. Kitty, under the influence of his
+      strange behaviour, washed the dishes, and even got out the
+      broom and swept a little.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Altogether, that was a day long to be remembered by Tip, a
+      day in which he began his life afresh. He made some mistakes;
+      for he fancied, in his ignorance, that the struggle was
+      over,&mdash;that he had only to go forward joyfully over a
+      pleasant road.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He found out his mistake: he discovered that Satan had not by
+      any means given him up; that he must yet fight many hard,
+      hard battles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH7"><!-- CH7 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "They must have had an earthquake down at Lewis's this
+      morning," Howard Minturn said to the boys who were gathered
+      around the schoolroom door. "The first bell has not rung yet,
+      and there comes Tip up the hill."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Up the hill came Tip, sure enough, with a firm, resolute
+      step. The summer vacation was over. The fall term was to
+      commence this morning, and among the things which Tip had
+      resolved to do was this one, to come steadily and promptly to
+      school during the term, which was something that he had never
+      done in his life. The public school was the best one in the
+      village, so he had the best boys in town for school
+      companions, as well as some of the worst.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hallo, Tip!" said Bob Turner, coming partly down the hill to
+      meet him. "How are you, old fellow?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob had been away during most of the vacation, and knew
+      nothing of the changes which there had been in his absence.
+      Tip winced a little at his greeting; shivered a little at the
+      thought of the temptation which Bob would be to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The two had been linked together all their lives in every
+      form of mischief and wrong; they seemed almost a part of each
+      other,&mdash;at least, they <i>had</i> seemed so until within
+      these few weeks. Now, Tip <i>felt</i> rather than knew how
+      far separated they must be.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The bell rang, and the boys jostled and tumbled against each
+      other to their seats.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob Turner, as usual, seated himself beside Tip; but then Bob
+      only came to school about two forenoons in a week, so perhaps
+      they might get along.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the Bible reading commenced, Tip hesitated, and his face
+      flushed; he had never owned a Bible to read from before, but
+      this morning his new one lay in his pocket. The question was,
+      Had he courage to take it out? What would the boys think?
+      What would they say? How should he answer them?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He began to think he would wait until tomorrow morning; then
+      he grew hot and ashamed as he saw that he was already trying
+      to hide his colours. Suddenly he drew out his Bible, and
+      began very hurriedly to turn the leaves.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob heard the rustling, and, glancing around, puckered his
+      lips as if he were going to whistle, and, snatching the book,
+      read the name which Mr. Holbrook had written therein; then he
+      whispered, "You don't say so! When did we steal a Bible, and
+      turn saint?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The blood growing hotter and redder in Tip's cheeks was his
+      only answer; but he felt that his temptation had begun. The
+      next thing was to read; when he had finally found the place,
+      even though there were more than fifty voices reading those
+      same words, yet poor Tip imagined that his would be louder
+      than all the rest, and he choked and coughed, and made more
+      than one trial before he forced his voice to join, even in a
+      whisper, at the words, "And they clothed Him with purple, and
+      plaited a crown of thorns and put it about His head."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It did not help him in his reading that Bob made his lips
+      move with the rest, but said, loud enough for him to
+      hear,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "The man in the moon
+  Came down too soon,"
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      and continued to repeat some senseless or wicked rhymes,
+      through the reading of the beautiful chapter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How thankfully Tip bowed his head that morning; his heart had
+      taken in some of the sweet words. That sacred head had been
+      crowned with thorns, indeed, but he knew it was crowned with
+      glory now,&mdash;and he knew that Christ had suffered and
+      died for him! He joined with his whole heart in Mr. Burrows's
+      prayer; and, though Bob pulled his hair and tickled his foot
+      and stepped on his toes, the bowed head was not lifted, and
+      his spirit gathered strength.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Tip never forgot the trials of that day, nor the hard
+      work which he had to endure them. Bob was, as usual,
+      overflowing with mischief, and, failing in finding the
+      willing helper which he had expected in his old companion,
+      took revenge in aiming a great many of his pranks at him.
+      Such senseless, silly things as he did to annoy! Tip spread
+      his slate over with a long row of figures which he earnestly
+      tried to add, and, having toiled slowly up the first two
+      columns, Bob's wet finger was slyly drawn across it, and no
+      trace of the answer so hardly earned appeared.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, too, he had his own heart to struggle against: he was
+      so used to whispering to this and that boy seated near him,
+      to eating apples when the teacher's back was turned, to
+      making an ugly-looking picture on a piece of paper and
+      pinning it on the back of a small boy before him. He was so
+      unused to sitting still, and trying to study.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What hard work it was to study, any way! It seemed to him
+      that he could never get that spelling-lesson in the world;
+      the harder he tried, the more bewildered he grew. A dozen
+      times he spelled the two words, receive and believe, standing
+      so closely together, each time sure he was right, and each
+      time discovering that the i's and e's must change places; he
+      grew utterly provoked and disheartened, and would have fairly
+      cried, had not Bob been beside him to see the tears, and grow
+      merry over them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Finally, he lost all patience with Bob, and, turning fiercely
+      to him, after he had for the third time pitched the greasy
+      old spelling-book upside down on the floor, said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Look here, now, if you come that thing again, I'll pitch you
+      out of the window quicker than wink!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward Lewis marked for whispering," said Mr. Burrows.
+      "Edward, you have commenced the term as usual, I
+      see,&mdash;the first one marked for bad conduct."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How Tip's ears burned! How untrue it was! He had not
+      commenced this term as usual; how differently he had tried to
+      commence it, only he and God knew. And now to fail thus early
+      in the day! His head seemed to spin and his brain reel; he
+      bowed himself on the seat again, but Bob's head went down
+      promptly, and he whispered,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep!"
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      How often Tip had thought such things as these so very funny
+      that he could not possibly help laughing; how silly and
+      meaningless&mdash;yes, and cruel&mdash;did they seem to him
+      now! Oh, Satan was struggling for Tip to-day: he was reaping
+      the fruits of long weeks spent in evil company and folly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He looked over to the back seats, where sat Howard Minturn
+      and Ellis Holbrook, hard at work on their algebra lesson,
+      nobody thinking of such a thing as disturbing them; and, as
+      he looked, sighed heavily. If he had only gained such a place
+      as they had in the school, how easily he could work to-day.
+      They were very little older than he, yet here he was trying
+      to do an example in addition, doing it over four times before
+      it was right,&mdash;and they were at the head of the class in
+      algebra. If he could only jump to where they were, and go on
+      with them! And the hopelessness of this thought made his
+      spelling-lesson seem harder; so it was no wonder, when the
+      class formed, and he took his old place at the foot, and he
+      stayed there, and spelled believe <i>ei</i> after all; nobody
+      was surprised, but nobody knew how very, <i>very</i> hard he
+      had tried.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The long day, crowded full of trouble and temptation to poor
+      Tip, wore away. At recess he wandered off by himself, trying
+      hard to get back some of the strong, firm hopes of the
+      morning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One more sharp trial was in store for him. Towards the close
+      of the afternoon Bob's fun took the form of paper balls,
+      which, at every turn of Mr. Burrows's back, spun through the
+      room in all directions; two or three of the smaller scholars
+      joined him, and a regular fire of balls was kept up. The boys
+      complained&mdash;Mr. Burrows scolded.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last he spoke this short, prompt sentence: "The next boy I
+      catch throwing paper, or anything else, in this room to-day,
+      I shall punish severely; and I shall expect any scholar who
+      sees anything of this kind going on to inform me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Not five minutes after that Mr. Burrows bent over his desk in
+      search of something within, when&mdash;whisk! went the
+      largest paper ball that had been thrown that day, and landed
+      on the teacher's forehead. Some of the scholars laughed, some
+      looked grave and startled, for Mr. Burrows was a man who
+      always meant what he said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Does any one know who threw that ball?" he asked, closing
+      his desk and speaking in a calm, steady tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No reply,&mdash;silence for a minute. Then, "Ellis Holbrook,
+      do you know who threw that ball of paper?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Very well; I am waiting to be told."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip Lewis threw it, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was a little too much for Tip. The first time in his
+      life that he had ever been in school all day without throwing
+      one, to be so accused! He sprang up in his seat with fire in
+      his eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I didn't!" he almost screamed. "He knows I didn't! It is a
+      mean, wicked lie!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Sit down," said Mr. Burrows. "Ellis, did you <i>see</i> him
+      throw it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir, I did."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows turned to Tip. "Edward, come here."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip was still standing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Say you won't," whispered Bob. "Say you won't stir a step
+      for the old fellow. If he goes to make you, we'll see who'll
+      beat."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But the command was repeated, and Tip went forward, fixing
+      his steady eyes on Mr. Burrows as he spoke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Burrows, as sure as I live, I <i>did</i> not throw that
+      paper ball."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And yet&mdash;poor Tip!&mdash;he knew he would not be
+      believed; he knew his word could not be trusted; he knew he
+      had often stood there and as boldly declared what was
+      <i>not</i> true, and what had been proved in a few minutes to
+      be false.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No, nobody believed Tip. He had earned, among other things in
+      the school, the name of hardly ever speaking the truth; and
+      now he must suffer for it. So he stood still and received the
+      swift, hard blows of the ruler on his hands; stood without a
+      tear or a promise. Mr. Burrows had not a doubt of his guilt,
+      for had not Ellis Holbrook, whose word was law in the school,
+      said he saw the mischief done? and did not Tip always deny
+      all knowledge of such matters until made to own them?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Still, this time the boy resolutely refused to confess that
+      he had thrown a bit of paper that day, and went back to his
+      seat with smarting hands and the stern words of his teacher
+      ringing in his ears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What a heavy, bitter heart the poor boy carried out from the
+      schoolroom that afternoon, he felt as though he almost hated
+      every scholar there,&mdash;<i>quite</i> hated Ellis Holbrook.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows, catching a glimpse of his face, said to one of
+      the other teachers, "That boy grows sullen; with all the
+      rest, his good-nature was the only good thing which he had
+      about him, and he is losing that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip heard him, and felt that it was true. He had been
+      punished many a time before, and taken it with the most
+      provoking good humour. But to-day it was different; to-day,
+      for the first time in his life, he had received a punishment
+      which he did not deserve; this day of all others, in which he
+      had tried with all his heart to do right!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why didn't you hold on, you simpleton?" Bob asked. "Never
+      saw you get up so much pluck in my life. What made you back
+      out, and be whipped like a baby?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why didn't <i>you</i> own that you threw that plaguy paper
+      ball, and not sit there like a coward, and see me take your
+      whipping?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "<i>I</i> own it! That's a good one! 'Pon honour, Tip, didn't
+      you throw that ball? I thought you did; I was aiming one at
+      Ellis Holbrook's head just then, and I didn't see what was
+      going on behind me. Didn't you throw it&mdash;honour bright?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, I didn't; and I'll throw <i>you</i> if you say so
+      again."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip turned suddenly in the opposite direction, but Satan
+      still walked with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's no use," said this evil spirit, speaking out
+      boldly,&mdash;"it's no use; don't you see it isn't? You might
+      as well give it up first as last; the boys, and the teacher,
+      and every one, think you're nothing in the world but a wicked
+      young scamp, and you never <i>can</i> be anything else.
+      You've been humbugging yourself these four weeks, making
+      believe you had a great Friend to help you: why hasn't He
+      helped you to-day? You've tried your best all day long, and
+      He knows you have; yet you never had such a hard day in your
+      life. If He cares anything at all about you, why didn't He
+      help you to-day? You asked Him to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip sat down on a log by the side of the road, and gave
+      himself up for a little to Satan's guidance, and the wicked
+      voice went on,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Now, you see, you've been cheated. You've tried hard for a
+      whole month to <i>be</i> somebody, and no one thinks any more
+      of you than they did before, and never will. Your mother
+      scolds just as much, and your home looks just as dismal, and
+      Kitty is just as hateful, and the respectable boys in the
+      village have nothing to do with you. You might just as well
+      lounge around and have a good time. Nobody expects you to be
+      good, or will let you, when you want to be."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Softly there came another voice knocking at Tip's heart. At
+      first he would not notice it, but it <i>would</i> be heard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What of all that?" it said; "suppose nobody cares for you,
+      or helps you here. Jesus died, you know, and He is your
+      friend. You <i>know</i> that is not a humbug; you <i>know</i>
+      He has heard you when you knelt down and prayed. He has
+      helped you. Then there's heaven, where all the beauty is, and
+      He has promised to take you&mdash;yes, <i>you</i>&mdash;there
+      by and by! Oh, you must not complain because people won't
+      believe that such a bad boy as you have been has grown good
+      so soon. Christ knows about it, so it's all right. Just keep
+      on trying, and one of these days folks will see that you mean
+      it; they <i>will</i>&mdash;God has promised. He has given you
+      a lamp to light you. Why have not you looked at it all this
+      day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh," said Tip, "I can't; I <i>can't</i> be a Christian! I
+      have not done right nor felt right to-day. I almost hate the
+      boys, and Mr. Burrows too. I don't know what to do."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Go on home," said Satan. "Let the lamp and these new notions
+      and all <i>go</i>! Christ don't care anything about
+      <i>you</i>; such a miserable, wicked, story-telling boy as
+      you have been, do you expect Him to notice <i>you</i>?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Tip's hand was in his pocket, resting on his lamp, as he
+      had learned to call it; and the low, sweet voice in his heart
+      was urging him to let its light shine. He drew it out, and
+      turned the leaves, and the same dear Helper stopped his eyes
+      at the words, "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have
+      called thee by thy name; thou art <i>Mine</i>."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then came hot, thankful tears. Oh, precious words, sinking
+      right into the torn, troubled heart. Christ the Redeemer had
+      called him by his name! He was&mdash;yes, he <i>would be
+      His</i>! He glanced around. Nobody was to be seen; he was
+      sitting in the hollow at the foot of the hill, and under the
+      shade of a low branching tree. And there he knelt down to
+      pray; and Satan drew himself away, for the spot around that
+      kneeling boy was holy ground. Tip's soul had gained the
+      victory.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH8"><!-- CH8 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VIII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Freely ye have received, freely give."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Whether Tip felt it or not, there were some changes in his
+      home. Mrs. Lewis, though worried and hurried and cross
+      enough, still was not so much so as she had been.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The house was quieter, there was no cradle to rock, there
+      were no baby footsteps to follow and keep out of danger; she
+      had more time for sewing. Yet this very thing, the missing of
+      the clinging arms about her neck, sometimes made her heavy
+      heart vent itself in short, sharp words.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Tip had astonished the family at home,&mdash;it didn't
+      require wonderful changes to do it,&mdash;rather the change
+      which they saw in him seemed wonderful.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The fire which she found ready made in the morning, the full
+      pail of fresh water, the box: filled with wood, were all so
+      many drops of honey to the tired mother's heart. The awkward
+      pat of his father's pillow, which Tip now and then gave as he
+      lingered to ask how he was, seemed so new and delightful to
+      that neglected father's heart, that he lay on his hard bed
+      and thought of it much all day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip got on better at home than anywhere else; he had not so
+      many temptations. He had been such a lawless, reckless boy,
+      that they had all learned to leave him very much to himself,
+      and, as not a great deal of his time was spent there, his
+      trials at home were not many. As for Kitty, she did not cease
+      to wonder what had happened to Tip; she perhaps felt the
+      difference more than any one else, for it had been the
+      delight of his life to tease her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now, from the time that he gathered his books, with the first
+      sound of the school-bell, and hurried up the hill, until he
+      returned at night, ready to split wood, hoe in the garden, or
+      do any of the dozen things that he had never been known to do
+      before, he was a never-failing subject of thought and
+      wonderment to her. Watching him closely, the only thing she
+      could finally settle on as the cause of the change which she
+      found in him was, that he now went every Sabbath morning to
+      the Sabbath school. The mystery must be hidden there. Having
+      decided that matter, Kitty speedily resolved that she would
+      go there herself, and see what they did. Many were the kind
+      hearts that had tried to coax her into that same Sabbath
+      school, and had failed. But this Saturday afternoon's gazing
+      out of the window, with a wonderfully sober face, had ended
+      in her exclaiming,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I say, mother, I want a needle and thread."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What do you want with a needle and thread?" asked Mrs.
+      Lewis, stirring away at some gruel in a tin basin, and not
+      even glancing up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want to mend my dress; it's torn this way and that, and
+      looks awful. I want some green thread, the colour of this
+      wide stripe."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now for a minute the gruel was forgotten, and Mrs. Lewis
+      looked at Kitty in amazement.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Dear me!" she said at last; "I don't know what will happen
+      next. It can't be possible that you are going to work to mend
+      your own dress without being scolded about it for a week, and
+      then made to do it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, I am, too; I ain't going to look like a rag-bag another
+      hour. And I'm going to wash out my sun-bonnet and iron it;
+      then I mean to go over to that Sunday school to-morrow. I
+      ain't heard any singing since I was born, as I know of, and I
+      mean to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gruel began to burn, and Mrs. Lewis turned to it again,
+      saying nothing, but thinking a great deal. Once she used to
+      go to Sabbath school herself, when she was Kitty's age; and
+      she didn't have to mend her dress first, either; she used to
+      be dressed freshly and neatly, every Sabbath morning, by her
+      mother's own careful hands.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She poured the gruel into a bowl, and then went over to her
+      workbox.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Here's a needle and thread," she said at last, drawing out a
+      snarl of green thread from the many snarls in her box. "Mend
+      your dress if you want to, and I'll wash out your bonnet for
+      you towards night, when I get that vest done."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was Kitty's turn to be astonished now. She had not
+      expected help from her mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip lingered in the kitchen on Sabbath morning. He looked
+      neat and clean; he had a fresh, clean shirt, thanks to the
+      washing which his mother had done "towards night." He was all
+      ready for school, yet he waited.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty clattered around, making rather more noise even than
+      usual, as she washed up the few poor dishes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Evidently Tip was thinking about her. The truth was, his lamp
+      had shown him a lesson that morning like this: "Freely ye
+      have received, freely give." He stopped at that verse,
+      reading no further. What did it mean I Surely it spoke to
+      him. Had not God given, oh, <i>so</i> many things to him? Had
+      He not promised to give him heaven for his home? Now, here
+      was the direction: "Freely give." What, and to whom? To God?
+      Surely not. Tip was certain that he had nothing to give to
+      God; nothing but his poor, sinful heart, which he believed
+      the Saviour had taken and made clean.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What could he give to any one? He leaned out of his little
+      window, busy with this thought. Kitty came out to the door,
+      and pumped her pan full of water. He looked down on her.
+      There was Kitty; had he anything which he could give her? He
+      shook his head mournfully; not a thing. But wouldn't it be
+      the same if he could help her to get something? What if he
+      could coax her to go to Sunday school; perhaps it would do
+      for her all that it had done for him. And at this moment the
+      unwearied Satan came with his wicked thoughts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty would be a pretty-looking object to go to Sabbath
+      school,&mdash;not a decent thing to wear! Everybody would
+      laugh at her and at you. Besides, I don't believe she would
+      go, if you <i>did</i> ask her; she would only make fun of
+      you. Better not try it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Tip Lewis," said his conscience, "what a miserable
+      coward you are! After all you have promised, you won't risk a
+      laugh for the sake of getting Kitty into the Sabbath school!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, I will," said Tip, and he ran downstairs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And this was why he lingered in the kitchen,&mdash;not
+      knowing just what to say. Kitty helped him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip," said she, "I suppose they sing over at that Sunday
+      school, don't they?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I guess they do;" and Tip's eyes brightened. "Ever so many
+      of them sing at once, and it sounds grand, I tell you. They
+      play the melodeon, too: don't you want to go and hear it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph! I don't know. I don't suppose it will be any stupider
+      than staying at home. I get awful sick of that. If I knew the
+      way, maybe I would go."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, I'll take you!" said Tip, in a quick, eager way. He
+      wanted to speak before his courage failed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Kitty, in her stiff blue sunbonnet and green calico dress,
+      went to Sabbath school. There was no mission class for girls,
+      so Mr. Parker sent her among the gaily-dressed little girls
+      in Miss Haley's class; but Mr. Holbrook detained Tip.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, you intend to come to Sabbath school regularly,
+      don't you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then I think we must leave your place in the mission seat to
+      be filled by some other boy, and you may come forward to my
+      class."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      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 <i>own</i> class. But when he saw the
+      seat full of boys, his face grew crimson. At the end of the
+      seat was Ellis Holbrook, the minister's son,&mdash;the boy
+      who but a few days before had, he believed in his heart, told
+      a wicked story about himself, and gained him a severe
+      punishment. He did not feel as though he could sit beside
+      that boy, even in Sabbath school. But Mr. Holbrook waited,
+      and sit down he <i>must</i>. Ellis moved along to give him
+      room, and disturbed him neither by word nor look during the
+      lesson. But Tip's heart was full of bitterness, and he
+      thought the pleasure of that morning gone. The lesson was of
+      Christ and His death on the cross, and, as he listened, hard
+      thoughts began to die out. The story was too new; it touched
+      too near his heart not to calm the angry feelings and to
+      interest him wonderfully.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As soon as school was dismissed, Mr. Holbrook turned to him.
+      "What disturbs you to-day, Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's face grew red again. "I&mdash;I&mdash;nothing much,
+      sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Have you and Ellis been having trouble in school?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He has been getting <i>me</i> into trouble," spoke Tip
+      boldly, finding himself caught.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Holbrook sat down again. "Can you tell me about it,
+      Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He said I threw paper balls, and Mr. Burrows whipped me; and
+      I didn't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you sure you didn't?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Did you say so at the time?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Over and over again, but he said he <i>saw</i> me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, have you always spoken the truth? Is your word to be
+      believed?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's eyes fell and his lip quivered. "I've told a great many
+      stories," he said at last, in a low, humble tone; "but this
+      <i>truly</i> isn't one. I'm trying to tell the truth after
+      this, and Jesus believes what I have said this time."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "So do I, Edward," answered Mr. Holbrook gently, even
+      tenderly. "Ellis was mistaken. But I see you are angry with
+      him; can't you get over that?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip shook his head. "He got me whipped for nothing, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Suppose Christ should follow that rule, Edward, and forgive
+      only those who had treated Him well; would you be forgiven
+      to-day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was a new thought to Tip, and made him silent. Mr.
+      Holbrook held out his hand for the little red Bible.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me show you what this lamp of yours says about the
+      matter."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip's eyes presently read where the minister's finger
+      pointed: "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither
+      will your Father forgive your trespasses."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Trespasses mean sins," explained Mr. Holbrook; then he
+      turned away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All this time Kitty had been standing waiting,&mdash;not for
+      Tip, she didn't expect his company,&mdash;but for the stylish
+      little girls to get fairly started on their way to church, so
+      she could go home without having any of them look at or make
+      fun of her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty had not been having a very good time: she had the
+      misfortune to fall into the hands of a teacher who thought if
+      she asked the questions in the question-book, and if one
+      scholar could not answer, passed on to the next, she had done
+      her duty. So the singing was pretty nearly all Kitty had
+      cared for. God was leaving most of the work for Tip to do,
+      after all. He went over to her now, and walked down the road
+      with her. The boys had all gone, as well as the girls, so
+      there was nothing to hinder their walking on quietly
+      together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How did you like it, Kitty?" he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, I didn't think much of it. I sat by the ugliest girl in
+      town, and she made fun of my bonnet and my shoes. I
+      <i>hate</i> her."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had a faint notion in his heart that Kitty also needed
+      the verse which had just been given him; but he had other
+      thoughts about her. God's Spirit was at work. Having taken
+      her to Sabbath school, having begun a good work, he wanted it
+      to go on. It was very hard to speak to Kitty; he didn't know
+      what to say; but all the way down the hill there seemed to
+      ring in his ears the message, "Freely ye have received,
+      freely give."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty," he said at last, "don't you want to be a Christian?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know what a Christian is."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But wouldn't you like to love Jesus?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How do I know?" replied Kitty shortly. "I don't know
+      anything about Jesus."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, didn't you hear, in the lesson to-day, about how He
+      loves everybody, and wants everybody to love Him, and how He
+      died so we could?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know a thing about the lesson. I counted the buttons
+      on Miss Harley's dress most all the time; they went up and
+      down the front, and up and down the sides, and everywhere."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, but, Kitty, you surely heard the hymn,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  'Jesus loves me, this I know,
+  For the Bible tells me so.'"
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," Kitty said; "the hymn was pretty enough, only nobody
+      gave me a book, and I could just hear a word now and then."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Altogether, Tip didn't feel that he had done Kitty a bit of
+      good. But he knew this much, that, since he had begun to
+      think about and talk to her, he longed&mdash;yes,
+      <i>longed</i>&mdash;with all his heart to have her come to
+      Christ.
+    </p>
+    <hr>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis, come here a moment," said Mr. Holbrook, turning
+      towards his study door, as the family came in from church.
+      "What is it about this trouble in school with Edward Lewis?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No trouble, father; only Tip threw a paper ball, just as he
+      always <i>is</i> doing, and, as Mr. Burrows asked me if I
+      knew who threw it, of course I had to tell him, and that made
+      Tip mad. Why? Has he been complaining to you, father?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis, did you see Edward throw paper?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you positive?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes&mdash;why&mdash;that is&mdash;I glanced up from my book
+      just in time to see it whiz, and it came from Tip's
+      direction, and his hand was raised, so I supposed of course
+      he threw it. I thought a minute ago that I knew he did."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But now you would not say positively that some boy near him
+      might not have done it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, no, sir. Alex Palmer might have thrown it; but I didn't
+      think of such a thing."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Ellis, my verdict is that you were mistaken; I don't
+      think Edward told a falsehood this time. I'll tell you why:
+      he is trying to take the Saviour for his pattern. I believe
+      he is a Christian. Now, there is one thing which I want you
+      to think of. Edward Lewis, who has never been taught anything
+      good, who has never had any one to help him, has given his
+      heart to Christ; and my boy, for whom I have prayed with, all
+      my soul every day since he was born, has not."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH9"><!-- CH9 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IX.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Boys," said Mr. Burrows, one Monday afternoon, "you may lay
+      aside your books; I want to have a talk with you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Books were hurriedly gathered and piled in their places, and
+      the boys sat up with folded arms, ready for whatever their
+      teacher had to offer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows drew out his arm-chair from behind the desk, and
+      sat down for a chat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Who will tell me what an acrostic is?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Several hands were raised.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Howard, let us hear what you think about it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's a piece of poetry, sir, where the first letter of every
+      line spells another word."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you mean the first letter alone spells a word?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys laughed, and Howard explained promptly. "No, sir; I
+      mean the first letters of each line taken together form a
+      name."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Must an acrostic always be written in poetry?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This question called forth several answers, and made a good
+      deal of talk; but it was finally decided that there could be
+      acrostics in prose as well as in rhyme; and Mr. Burrows
+      asked,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How many understand now what an acrostic is?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A few more hands were raised, but many of the boys did not
+      understand yet; it must be made plainer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Howard," said Mr. Burrows, "come to the board and give us an
+      acrostic on the word boy."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard sprang up. "Must it be a sensible one, sir?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Sense or nonsense, just as you please, so as it shows us
+      what an acrostic is."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I can take my parsing-book and give you one, I think, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Howard came forward and wrote rapidly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "B But you shall hear an odd affair, indeed,
+   O Of which all Europe rings from side to side"&mdash;
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Then he paused, turning the leaves of his parsing-book
+      eagerly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I can't find anything in Y to finish this up with," he said
+      at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Can't you give us a line from your own brain?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And at this Howard's eye brightened with fun, and, turning to
+      the board after a moment of thought, he dashed off the
+      closing line,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "Y You who can finish this may have the job;"&mdash;
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      then took his seat amid bursts of laughter from the boys, who
+      all began to understand what an acrostic was.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook's hand was up, and his eyes were full of
+      questions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Burrows, why is that called by such a queer name as
+      acrostic?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His teacher smiled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You must study Greek, Ellis. We get it from two words in the
+      Greek, or from one word made up of two others, which mean
+      <i>extreme</i>, or <i>beginning</i> and <i>order</i>. In an
+      acrostic the beginnings of the lines are arranged in order.
+      Do you understand how we get that word now?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now, you would all like to know what this talk is for.
+      I want every boy in school who can write, to bring an
+      acrostic on his own name for his next composition."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys groaned, and exclaimed, "They couldn't do it, they
+      were sure; they couldn't <i>begin</i> to do it!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, you can," said Mr. Burrows; "I don't give my scholars
+      any work that they <i>can't</i> do. You may quote it, or make
+      it original, as you please; but I want every one of you to
+      <i>try</i>."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Johnny Thorpe, the smallest boy in school who could write,
+      now seemed in trouble, and stretched up his arm to its full
+      length.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Johnny, what will you have?" asked his teacher.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "If you please, sir, I don't know what you mean by quote."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows laughed pleasantly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I must remember, I see, to speak plain English; I mean you
+      may borrow your essay from a book, or a dozen books, if you
+      like, so that you don't try to make us believe the thoughts
+      are your own. You may write in poetry or not, as you please;
+      but I want each to choose a subject, and stick to it better
+      than Howard did just now. I have given you something to do
+      that will keep you hard at work, but you will succeed at
+      last."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip went home in a tumult. What could he do? He had never
+      written a composition in his life, having made it a point to
+      run away from school on composition-day; but running away was
+      done with now. It didn't seem possible that he could write
+      anything: certainly not in such a new, queer way as Mr.
+      Burrows wished them to.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Supper and wood-splitting were hurried over for that evening,
+      and Tip took his way very early to the seat under the
+      elm-tree down by the pond. He wanted to think, to see how he
+      should meet this new trouble; it was a real trouble to him,
+      for he had set out to do just right, and he saw no way of
+      getting out of this duty, and thought he saw no way of doing
+      it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There is no place on the road so dark but this lamp will
+      light you through, if you give it a chance."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This is what Mr. Holbrook had said when he gave Tip his
+      Bible. And Tip had thought of his words very often, had
+      already proved them true more than once; but he didn't see
+      how it could help him now.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He took it out, and slowly turned the leaves; it couldn't
+      write his composition for him, that was certain. But oh, the
+      bright thought that came to Tip just then! Why not find his
+      acrostic in the Bible, and write it out? among so many,
+      <i>many</i> verses, he would be sure to find what he wanted.
+      But then, how very queer it would be for <i>him</i>, Tip
+      Lewis, to copy anything from the Bible! What would the boys
+      think? What would Bob Turner say? Still, what else could he
+      do? Besides his spelling-book and a worn arithmetic, it was
+      the only book that he had in the world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't care," he said suddenly, after a few moments of
+      troubled thought. "I guess I ain't ashamed of my
+      Bible,&mdash;it's the only thing I've got that I needn't be
+      ashamed of. I'll <i>do</i> it. The boys have got to know that
+      I've turned over a new leaf. I wish they did; the sooner they
+      know it the better. I say, my lamp shall help me out of this
+      scrape, that's as true as can be; it helps me whenever I give
+      it a chance."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He fumbled in his pocket and drew out an old stump of a
+      pencil. The next thing was a piece of paper; he dived his
+      hand down into another pocket, producing a rusty knife,
+      pieces of string, a chestnut or two, and, finally, a crumpled
+      piece of paper on which Bob Turner had scrawled what he
+      called a likeness of Mr. Burrows, and given to Tip for a
+      keepsake. He spread it out on a flat stone which lay near
+      him, and began his work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A long, slow work it was for Tip. Hours of that day, and the
+      next, and the next, every day, until the fading light drove
+      him home, did he sit under the elm-tree turning the leaves of
+      his Bible, poring over its contents, writing words carefully
+      now and then on his bit of paper. Remember it was new work to
+      him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last, one evening, the sun went down in the bright red
+      west, the stars shone out in all their twinkling, sparkling
+      glory, the shadows began to fall thick and fast around the
+      old tree, when Tip, with a little sigh of relief, folded the
+      precious piece of paper, laid it carefully away in his Bible,
+      and turned his steps homeward. His acrostic was finished, and
+      into his heart had crept some of the beauty of those precious
+      words, which he had found for the first time. Words they were
+      which would go with him through all his life, and sweetly
+      comfort some dark and weary hours.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The school-books were all piled neatly on the desks that
+      Friday afternoon; the shades were dropped to shut out the low
+      afternoon sun; and forty boys were still and expectant. The
+      acrostics lay in a great white heap on Mr. Burrows' desk, not
+      a name written on any of them. Mr. Burrows was to read, and
+      the boys were to have the pleasure of spelling out the names
+      of the owners as he read.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A merry time they had of it that afternoon. Some wonderful
+      acrostics were read. Ellis Holbrook had a very clever one,
+      arranged from his lesson in Virgil. Howard Minturn had
+      borrowed from his father's library a copy of Shakespeare, and
+      worked hard over his; the boys and their teacher thought it a
+      success.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Even Bob Turner had written; the idea had happened to strike
+      him as a very funny one, and Bob always did everything that
+      he thought funny. He had found three lines in rhyme which
+      just suited him, and by the time the eager boys had spelled
+      out B O B,&mdash;which was the only name the boy saw fit to
+      own,&mdash;the schoolroom fairly shook with their laughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Next to his lay a paper which Tip knew, and his heart beat so
+      loudly when Mr. Burrows took it up, that he thought every one
+      in the room must notice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The room had now grown quiet, and Mr. Burrows, after opening
+      the paper, announced the title,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <center>
+      "WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS."
+    </center>
+    <p>
+      Then read slowly and reverently, while the wondering scholars
+      spelled out the name.
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "E Even the night shall lie light about thee.
+   D Depart from evil and do good.
+   W Whosoever cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.
+   A A new heart will I give you.
+   R Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
+   D Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to thee.
+
+  "L Lo, I am with you always.
+   E Ever follow that which is good.
+   W Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not.
+   I I will go before thee, and make the crooked paths straight.
+   S So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper."
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      What a silent and astonished company listened to this
+      reading, and spelled the name "Edward Lewis!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward," Mr. Burrows said at last, "who found those verses
+      for you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I found them, sir, in my Bible. I've got them all marked!"
+      speaking eagerly, willing this time to bring proof that he
+      was telling the truth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows' voice almost trembled as he answered,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is a beautiful collection of some of the most precious
+      verses in the Bible. It was a fine idea; I am very much
+      surprised and pleased. I wish that you, and every scholar of
+      mine, could feel in your hearts the full meaning of those
+      words of Jesus."
+    </p>
+    <hr>
+    <p>
+      "I can't to-night, Howard," said Ellis Holbrook, in answer to
+      his friend's coaxings to accompany him home; "I've got
+      something else to attend to. Hallo, Tip! Tip Lewis! Hold on a
+      bit! I'm going your way. No, Howard, I'll come up in the
+      morning; I really <i>can't</i> to-night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip waited in wondering silence, while the boy, whom he
+      counted an enemy, hurried towards him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis was a bold, prompt boy: when he had anything to say, he
+      <i>said</i> it; so he came to the point at once.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "See here, Tip, did I blunder the other day when I told Mr.
+      Burrows you threw paper? I thought I saw you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Tip, "you did. I didn't throw a bit of paper that
+      day."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, father said he thought I was mistaken. I'm sure I
+      supposed I was telling the truth. I'm sorry. I'll say so to
+      Mr. Burrows and the boys, if you like, and let him find out
+      who did it, and then was mean enough to see you whipped for
+      it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip struggled a little. "No," he said at last, "let it go.
+      The whipping is done, and can't be undone; I don't want to
+      make any more bother about it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis eyed him curiously.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You're a queer fellow," he said at last. "I expect you had
+      about the best acrostic, this afternoon, that can be
+      written."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's heart was throbbing with pleasure as he walked on home
+      after Ellis had left him. For the first time in his life he
+      had earnest, warm, hearty praise from his teacher. Ellis had
+      said, "Father told me he thought I was mistaken." Mr.
+      Holbrook, then, did believe and trust him. Besides, there was
+      another thought which seemed delightful to him. Tip Lewis,
+      the worthless, yes, wicked boy that everybody thought him,
+      had walked down the main street side by side, and talking
+      earnestly with Ellis Holbrook, the minister's son.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH10"><!-- CH10 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER X.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Enter not into the path of the wicked."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Kitty hung on the gate and watched them pass by,&mdash;the
+      long train of high waggons with grated windows, out of which
+      strange animals peered with their great, fierce eyes; the two
+      elephants in their scarlet and gold blankets; the tiny ponies
+      tossing their shaggy manes; the splendid carriage drawn by
+      eight gaily blanketed, gaily plumed, dancing horses, and
+      every seat filled with splendidly dressed men and women; the
+      bright red band-waggon, with the sun glittering over the
+      wonderful brass instruments and turning them into gold. Kitty
+      watched all this,&mdash;watched, and listened to the loud,
+      full bursts of music, until her heart swelled and bounded.
+      She sprang from the gate, and stamped her foot on the ground.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wish&mdash;oh, I wish I could go!" she almost screamed at
+      last. "I want to&mdash;I <i>want</i> to! Oh, I never wanted
+      to go anywhere so bad in my life!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I reckon you'll take it out in wanting," said her mother,
+      who had also leaned on the fence and watched the show pass
+      by. "Folks who have to dig as I do, from morning to night,
+      just to get something to eat, don't have any money to spend
+      on circuses."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty shook her head with rage. "I don't go anywhere," she
+      screamed. "Never! I never went to a circus in my life, and
+      all the boys and girls around here go every year. Tip always
+      goes&mdash;always; he manages to slip in. Oh, Tip'" and she
+      opened the gate and went out to him on the sidewalk, a new
+      thought having come to her, "can't you do something to get
+      some money, and let me go to the circus with you? Can't you
+      manage some way? Oh, Tip, do! I'll do anything for you, if
+      you only will. I never wanted anything so bad before."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip's face, as he walked towards the village ten minutes
+      after that, was a study, it looked so full of trouble.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty wanted to go to that circus,&mdash;wanted to go so very
+      much that she had coaxed and begged him in a way that she had
+      never done before. Besides, if the truth be told, Tip wanted
+      to go himself; every time the wind wafted back to him a swell
+      of the distant music, it made his heart fairly jump. It was
+      true, as Kitty had said, he always managed to slip in some
+      way; and the oftener he went, the oftener he wanted to go.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Well, then, what was the matter with Tip? What he had done so
+      many times before, he could surely find a way to do again. Oh
+      yes! But Tip Lewis to-day was different from any Tip Lewis
+      there had ever been before on circus day. Wasn't he trying to
+      do right? But then, what had circuses to do with that? He
+      tried to think what were his reasons for being troubled! Why
+      did a small voice down in his heart keep telling him that the
+      circus was no place for him now?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Looking at the matter steadily, the only reason Tip knew was,
+      that Ellis Holbrook and Howard Minturn never went; their
+      fathers had taught them differently. Ellis, he knew, rather
+      looked down on people who did go,&mdash;called them low. This
+      had never troubled Tip before, because he had always known
+      himself to be low; but now, wasn't he trying to climb? Didn't
+      respectable people generally think that circuses were bad
+      things?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No, poor Tip, they didn't; there was Mr. Bailey, a rich
+      man,&mdash;so rich and so respectable that his son wouldn't
+      stoop to lend Tip his spelling-book at school,&mdash;yet Mr.
+      Bailey went to the circus last year and took all his
+      children. So did Mr. Anderson and Mr. Stone, and oh! dozens
+      of others, rich, great men. Well, did good people go? and
+      Tip's thoughts strayed back to Mr. Holbrook, and Mr. Parker,
+      and Mr. Minturn, yea, and others, whose voices he had heard
+      on the streets and in stores, condemning the circus.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But then, after all, where was the harm? There was Kitty, how
+      much she wanted to go; if he could manage to take her, how
+      glad she would be! At this point Satan thought there was a
+      chance for him to speak; so he walked along with Tip, talking
+      like this:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty has never asked you to do anything for her before. You
+      want to help her; you want to get her to go to Sunday school
+      and to read the Bible. Now's your time: if you take her to
+      the circus, very likely she will do what you want her to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was a little too absurd, even for Tip, who wanted to
+      believe it all so badly; but who ever heard of taking any one
+      to a circus in order to get them to love Jesus? Tip knew
+      altogether too well for his comfort, that day, that Mr.
+      Holbrook's example was the safe one. At last he drew a little
+      sigh of relief; he needn't think about it any more, for he
+      had no money: he had never owned fifty cents at one time in
+      his life; so the question, after all, would settle itself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No, it wouldn't. Mr. Dewey stood in the door of his market,
+      looking up and down the street.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hallo, Tip!" he called, as Tip turned the corner; "you're
+      the boy I must have been looking for, I guess. If you'll
+      carry home packages for me for an hour, and not steal one of
+      them, I'll give you two tickets for the circus."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's cheeks glowed at the word steal, and he came near
+      telling Mr. Dewey to carry his own packages, if he were
+      afraid to trust him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But then, those two tickets! Here was a chance for Kitty. The
+      conflict commenced again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A whole hour in which to decide it, for Tip meant to do the
+      work any way. Up and down the streets, stopping at this house
+      and that with his parcels, back again to the market for more,
+      all the time in a whirl of thought. The question was almost
+      decided when the two green tickets were placed in his hand;
+      it closed over them eagerly. He hurried towards home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Towards home led him past the brick hotel. In the bar-room
+      sat some of the circus men; he knew them by their heavy
+      beards, which almost covered their faces; knew them also
+      because he knew every man in town, just who were strangers
+      and who were not. Well, these circus men were very busy
+      drinking brandy and playing cards. Tip stopped and looked in
+      at them; and, ignorant boy as he was, the thought that good,
+      respectable people would go to see and hear such men as
+      these, seemed very strange. It couldn't be right, could it?
+      How was it? A great many nice people must have blundered
+      terribly if it were wrong; and, on the other hand, if it were
+      not wrong, how did the minister happen to be so afraid of
+      these things? Why did he himself have so many queer feelings
+      about the matter?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What a trouble he was in! If only he could find somebody or
+      something that would decide it for him! Long before this he
+      had walked away from the hotel; now he had crossed the
+      bridge, gone around behind the mill, and was very near his
+      seat under the elm. Down he sat when he came to it, still
+      holding fast the two green tickets, but with the other hand
+      diving down in his pocket for the little Bible. That was
+      getting to be a habit with him, to hunt for this lamp of his
+      whenever he was in darkness. He turned the leaves now with a
+      perplexed face. If he only knew where to turn for help!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me see," he said. "Where was that verse that I learned
+      for the Sunday school concert? I liked the sound of that; it
+      was somewhere in this book full of short, queer verses. I can
+      find it; yes, I see it. 'For the Lord shall be thy
+      confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It didn't seem to help him; he shook his head slowly, still
+      glancing on over the verses, until suddenly his listless look
+      vanished, and he read aloud;&mdash;"Enter not into the path
+      of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it,
+      pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That means them," said Tip, "and me. They're wicked men,
+      that's certain: they were drinking and
+      gambling,&mdash;swearing too, I guess; and this verse reads
+      about them just as plain as day. It says, 'Don't go near
+      them,'&mdash;says it over and over again; and I'll mind it, I
+      will. I'll take these tickets right back to Mr. Dewey, so
+      they won't be here to put me in mind of going."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No sooner said than done; he turned around and fairly
+      galloped up the hill, around the corner, and landed nearly
+      breathless at the market.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Here, Mr. Dewey," he said promptly, "I've brought back your
+      tickets; I don't want 'em this time."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's up now?" asked Mr. Dewey, coming out from behind his
+      desk, and eyeing the panting boy curiously. "Won't the
+      tickets pass?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Not if they wait till I pass 'em," answered Tip in his
+      prompt, saucy way. "I ain't going to the circus, not an
+      <i>inch</i>," he added, as if to assure himself that he meant
+      it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But why not?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, I've got reasons."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now, Tip," said Mr. Dewey, "that's really astonishing!
+      Suppose you give us a few of your reasons. We don't know what
+      to make of this."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip didn't know what to say; he hesitated and thought, and
+      finally did the best thing he <i>could</i>,&mdash;spoke out
+      boldly. "I've made up my mind that I won't go to any more
+      circuses, <i>ever</i>! I don't believe in 'em as much as I
+      did."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That wasn't it yet,&mdash;he had not owned his Master in the
+      answer. Neither was Mr. Dewey satisfied.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But, Tip, give us the <i>reasons</i>; this is such a sudden
+      change, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Tip, "I've been reading about them just now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "About whom?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, them circus fellows. They're up here at the tavern;
+      they're drinking and fighting, and I don't know what; and I
+      guess, by the looks of things, they're pretty wicked. The
+      book I was reading said, Don't go near wicked men, turn
+      around and go the other way; and I <i>mean</i> to." And with
+      this Tip whisked out of the house and around the corner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Dewey shrugged his shoulders.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The world turns around, sure enough," he said at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How do you know that?" and Mr. Minturn set his market basket
+      on the step, and fanned himself with his hat. "I'm my own boy
+      to-day, you see; give me something for my dinner. How did you
+      find out that the world turned around?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, Tip Lewis has taken to preaching against circuses. Will
+      you have a roast to-day, Mr. Minturn? I gave him a ticket,
+      and he just rushed in with it and informed us he wasn't going
+      to circuses any more, because the Bible says they are wicked
+      fellows. What do you think of that?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph!" said Mr. Minturn. "The Bible says it would be better
+      for a man, sometimes, if a millstone were about his neck, and
+      he were in the bottom of the sea. I'd look out for that, if I
+      were you. Hurry up with your meat; I ought to be at the
+      store."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip went home to Kitty. She still swung on the gate; at least
+      she was there when he came up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Tip," she said, "are you going to take me? Oh, Tip,
+      <i>do</i>! I never asked you for anything before."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip walked slowly up the yard, with his hands in his pockets,
+      troubled,&mdash;not knowing what to say, or how to say it. At
+      last he stopped and wheeled about. "Kitty, I can't; I can't
+      go. I could get tickets if I dared, but I don't mean to go
+      any more. They're bad, wicked men, and I'm trying to
+      be"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Kitty twitched herself away from him, and wouldn't hear
+      any more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do go off!" she said. "You're a mean, ugly, hateful boy! I'm
+      sorry you got so awful good, if you can't do that little much
+      for me. Go away and let me alone."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Even in his sore trouble a little flash of joy shot through
+      Tip's heart. He <i>was</i> different, then. Kitty had noticed
+      it; she knew he was trying to be different. There <i>must</i>
+      be a little bit of change in him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH11"><!-- CH11 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XI.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Over and over in his mind did Tip repeat this verse; it
+      seemed to sound all around him, and mixed up with everything
+      he did. And yet he went out of the house that evening, and
+      turned straight down the street in the direction leading to
+      the tented circus grounds, walking along slowly, talking to
+      himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It won't do any harm just to listen to the music. I don't
+      mean to go in&mdash;of course I don't! Suppose I'd do
+      <i>that</i>, after all I said to Kitty! Besides, I couldn't
+      if I would; I haven't got any ticket. I'm just going to walk
+      down that way, and see if there's lots of folks going, and if
+      the music sounds nice."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Avoid it, pass not by it." Oh yes, Tip knew; he heard the
+      voice, yet on he went; beginning to walk swiftly, only saying
+      in answer, "I ain't going in; I couldn't if I wanted to; and
+      I don't want to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By and by he came within sight of the tents and within sound
+      of the music, which, to his untaught ears, was wonderfully
+      beautiful; came up even to the very door of the large tent,
+      bewitched to go just a step nearer, though he didn't mean to
+      go in, not he.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Yes, the people were crowding in. Mr. Douglass stood by the
+      door. Tip knew him very well; that is, he knew he lived in a
+      large house and had plenty of money; and he knew, when the
+      men were trying to raise any money, some one was sure to say,
+      "Go to Mr. Douglass; he's always ready to give."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Everybody liked Mr. Douglass. He turned around now from
+      looking down the road, and looked down at Tip.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Tip," he said, "going to the circus?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip shook his head.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's the matter?&mdash;no money? Pity to get so near and
+      not go in; isn't it, pet?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This last to the dainty little girl whose hand he held.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," she answered, with a happy smile. "Papa, why don't
+      mamma come?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, she'll be along soon. Here, sir," to the doorkeeper,
+      handing him twenty-five cents, "let this ragamuffin in. In
+      with you, Tip, and practise standing on your head for a month
+      to come."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was all done in a hurry; the doorkeeper stepped aside, the
+      crowd jostled and pushed against him, the music burst forth
+      in a new loud swell. A moment more, and Tip stood in the
+      brightly-lighted room, staring eagerly around him. There was
+      enough to see; the seats were filling rapidly with
+      gaily&mdash;dressed ladies and gentlemen. He knew them, many
+      of them, had seen them on the streets often and often; had
+      seen some of them in Sabbath school, seated before their
+      classes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip was speedily giving himself up to enjoyment, hushing the
+      small voice in his heart. One of the nicest men in town had
+      let him in; yes, and there he was now with his wife and
+      little girl; Mrs. Douglas was not only a teacher in the
+      Sabbath school, but a member of the church. If she could go
+      to the circus, why couldn't he? So Tip reasoned, and nobody
+      told him that his lamp said, "Every one of us shall give
+      account of <i>himself</i> to God."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Presently the wonderful little shaggy ponies trotted out; and
+      back behind the curtains was one of the riders; he got a peep
+      of her every now and then in her splendid dress; he knew she
+      would be out pretty soon, and then she would ride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, that music! how it rolled around the ring! Tip was too
+      busy looking and listening to keep out of people's way; he
+      stepped back, still jostled by the crowd who were pouring in,
+      and stepped directly in front of a man who was trying to make
+      his way through the crowd around the entrance. Tip knew him
+      in an instant; he was one of the circus men,&mdash;the one
+      with the ugly face that he had noticed in the morning; it was
+      ugly still, and red with liquor. He turned a pair of fiery
+      eyes on Tip, and a dreadful oath fell from his lips as he
+      swung him angrily out of his way.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, Tip Lewis! No wonder your heart fairly stops its beating
+      for an instant, then bounds on with rapid throbs. Only a few
+      days ago you listened to the story of a bleeding, dying
+      Saviour, bleeding and dying for you; and you promised, with
+      honest tears, that for this you would love and serve and
+      honour Him for ever. And yet, to-night, here you are,
+      watching the tricks of men who can speak that sacred name in
+      such a way that it will make even you, who are used to this,
+      shudder and turn cold. "In the name of the Saviour whom you
+      love, what do you here?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was to Tip as if Christ Himself had asked that question.
+      He turned suddenly, and, with both hands pressed to his ears,
+      fairly fought his way through the crowd.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me out! let me go!" He fairly shrieked the words at the
+      astonished doorkeeper, who stood aside to let him pass. Up
+      the hill with swift, eager steps he ran, trying still to shut
+      out the ring of that awful oath, the sound of that hateful
+      voice, speaking the name which had so lately become to him
+      the one dear and precious name in earth or heaven. On, on, up
+      the hill, and then down on the other side, stopping finally
+      at the great tree under the hill, just across the pond.
+      Stopping and sitting down, he tried to think. What had he
+      done? He had been warned, he had been tempted, and he had
+      <i>fallen</i>. It didn't help him now to think that good men
+      and women were there. Perhaps God had not so plainly shown
+      them the wrong. Perhaps they had never found that verse:
+      "Avoid it, pass not by it." Perhaps&mdash;oh,
+      <i>anything</i>&mdash;it was nothing to him now. This much
+      was certain: he had done wrong. Such a heavy, <i>heavy</i>
+      heart as Tip had to-night. "What <i>should</i> he do? What
+      would Kitty say, if she found it out? Oh, what would Mr.
+      Dewey think, or Mr. Holbrook? and then, above all else, came
+      the thought, What could Jesus, looking down on him now from
+      heaven, what could <i>He</i> think of him? This thought
+      brought the bitter tears, but it brought him also on his
+      knees; and he said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Jesus Christ, in spite of it all, you <i>know</i> I love
+      you. Won't you forgive me and let me try again?" Long he
+      knelt there, trying to get close to Christ, and his Saviour
+      did not leave him alone. It was only yesterday he had learned
+      the verse, and it came to him softly now: "Thou art a God
+      ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, of
+      great kindness."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In his sore trouble, Tip's lamp had not failed him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH12"><!-- CH12 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "He honoureth them that fear the Lord."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Slowly, but surely, as the late autumn days came on, Tip was
+      growing into a better place in the schoolroom, in the opinion
+      of his teachers and his schoolmates. In Mr. Burrows' school,
+      ten was the perfect mark, and <i>x</i> was the very lowest
+      grade a boy could reach. It had once been an everyday joke
+      with Tip, that, being <i>x</i>, he must be perfect, because
+      it said in the spelling-book that <i>x</i> was ten.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But it had been a good many days since Tip had said
+      "<i>x</i>;" the boys had ceased to be amazed when he answered
+      "ten" in prompt, proud tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They were growing, many of them, to be surprised and sorry
+      for him, when, in his days of failures, he answered, with
+      drooped eyes and very red, ashamed face, "seven," or, it
+      might be, "six."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Though he was still anything but a good reader, no one could
+      fail to see that he blundered less and less every day, and
+      Mr. Burrows was growing patient with his blunders, growing
+      helpful in his troubles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys saw him working hard over his spelling-book, and few
+      of them now had the meanness to laugh when a word passed him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows' tones were not so harsh to him as they used to
+      be; and now-a-days, when he was accused of breaking rules,
+      instead of being called up and unhesitatingly punished, his
+      teacher, who grew every day less and less sure that he was at
+      the bottom of all the mischief done, always gave him a chance
+      to speak for himself, and was learning to believe him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh yes! things were different, and were all the time growing
+      more so. Bob Turner saw this plainly: he began to find Tip a
+      very stupid companion, and stayed away from school more
+      afternoons than ever.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But poor Tip noticed the change less,&mdash;yes, much less
+      than any of the others. You don't know how hard it was for
+      him. Do you think Satan was willing to leave him, and let him
+      grow quietly into a good boy? Not a bit of it. You see he had
+      been born bubbling over with fun and frolic; he had never
+      learned to have them come in at the right place or the right
+      time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sometimes he felt willing to give up all trying to do right,
+      for the sake of having a grand frolic just when and where he
+      wanted it,&mdash;no matter what might be going on just then.
+      Sometimes, when he failed, he felt fierce and sullen, and
+      told himself it was all humbug, this trying to be good.
+      Sometimes he felt so utterly sad and discouraged, that it
+      seemed to him he never could try again; yet through it all he
+      <i>did</i> try heartily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His arithmetic was the hardest. He was still in the dunce
+      class,&mdash;so the boys called it, because it was made up of
+      the drones from several classes, and was constantly being put
+      back to addition.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was a sharp winter's morning. No more make-believe winter
+      for a while,&mdash;the snow lay white and crisp on the
+      ground, and the frosty air stung every nose and every finger
+      it could reach.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's study, at the foot of the hill under the elm, had been
+      quite broken up, and he found it very hard to study at
+      home,&mdash;especially this morning. His father's cough had
+      been bad all night, and this made his mother troubled and
+      cross.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty, these days, seemed trying to see just how cross and
+      disagreeable she could be; and the kitchen&mdash;at best a
+      dismal place&mdash;was just now at the worst. The wet wood in
+      the stove sizzled and stewed and made a smoke; and in the
+      midst of Tip's fifth trial on an example which was puzzling
+      him terribly, he was called on to split some kindlings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "This instant!&mdash;I won't wait a minute!" Kitty said in a
+      provokingly commanding tone; and Tip went at it sullenly,
+      saying, with every spiteful drive of his axe through the pine
+      board which he had picked up, "It's no use; I <i>cant</i> do
+      that sum, and I ain't going to try. I don't know anything,
+      and never will. I've done it over fifty times, and twisted it
+      every way I can think of. There's no sense to it, any
+      way,&mdash;sixteen sheep <i>stood him in</i> two dollars
+      apiece. What does that mean, I'd like to know? He had forty
+      sheep and twenty-five cows. I know it all by heart; but I
+      can't do it, and that's the whole of it. I wish his sheep had
+      choked to death, and his old cows run away, before I ever
+      heard of them. I'll go over it just once more." (Tip was back
+      by the kitchen window now, with his slate and book.) "Let's
+      see: twenty-five cows at thirty-four dollars apiece;" and he
+      worked away in nervous haste, until he came to "stood him
+      in." If he only <i>could</i> find out what that meant, he
+      felt sure he could do it. If he had somebody to help him; but
+      he hadn't. There would be no time after he went to school
+      before the class was called.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just then he thought of his father; he used to be a carpenter
+      before he was sick, and he used to make a great many figures
+      sometimes on smooth boards. Tip remembered it was just
+      possible that he might know something about the sum. Suppose
+      he should ask him?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He started up suddenly, and went towards the bedroom door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father," he said softly, "can't you tell me what 'stood him
+      in' means?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The sick man turned himself on his pillow, and looked
+      wonderingly at Tip.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What do you mean?" he asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why," said Tip, in a despairing tone, "it says 'stood him
+      in' in the arithmetic,&mdash;the sheep stood him in two
+      dollars apiece,&mdash;and I don't see any sense to it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh!" said Mr. Lewis; "I see what you mean;" then he went
+      back to his long-ago deserted carpenter's shop.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, Tip, if I had ten pounds of nails, and they were worth
+      eight cents a pound, they would stand me just so
+      much,&mdash;that is, they would be worth that to me; and if I
+      should sell them I'd get so much for them. Don't you see?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Light began to dawn on Tip's mind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then it means," he said, "that the man didn't sell his
+      sixteen sheep; he just counted them worth two dollars apiece.
+      Yes, I see; if that's it, I'll try it." And he rushed to his
+      work again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip will never forget the eagerness with which he
+      presently turned to the answer in his arithmetic, and from
+      that back to the one on the slate, nor the way in which the
+      blood bounded through his veins when he found that they
+      agreed perfectly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's exactly it," he called out to his father, in a hearty,
+      grateful voice. "I've got it, and I've been at work on it
+      this whole morning."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook, about that time, conquered a most puzzling
+      example in algebra; but he felt not prouder than did Tip.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Thomas," said Mr. Burrows to the head boy in Tip's
+      arithmetic class, "you may take the twenty-third example to
+      the board."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Can't do it," answered Thomas promptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Henry may do it, then."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I couldn't get it either," was Henry's answer. So on down
+      the class; Tip's heart meantime beating eagerly, for the
+      twenty-third example was about his troublesome, but by this
+      time very much-beloved sheep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Robert?" said Mr. Burrows, more for form's sake than because
+      he had the slightest doubt about Robert's reply.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My!" said Bob Turner good-naturedly; "I can't do it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip sat next, and something in his face made Mr. Burrows put
+      the question to him, though he had nearly resolved to waste
+      no more time in the matter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Can you do this, Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir," said Tip promptly and proudly, "I can."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And no nobler figures or firmer lines did chalk ever make on
+      a blackboard than was made while that troublesome example was
+      being done.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was roused from his flutter of satisfaction by hearing Mr.
+      Burrows' voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you know anything about the lesson, <i>any</i> of you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm sure <i>I</i> don't," answered Bob, still
+      good-naturedly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows was growing utterly out of patience; this same
+      scene had been acted too often to be endured longer. He
+      turned back to the first pages in the book.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Very well," he said at last; "you may take the first page in
+      addition to-morrow morning, and we'll see if you can be made
+      to know anything about that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's hopes fell; his heart was as heavy as lead. Not one of
+      the others cared; they were used to it; so indeed was he,
+      only now he was trying, he did so long to go on; just when he
+      was working <i>so</i> hard, to be put away back to the
+      beginning again made him feel utterly disgraced.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Wait a minute, Tip." Mr. Burrows' eye fell first on him,
+      then on the neatly and correctly worked example; then he
+      turned, and asked, "Charlie Wilcox, on what page is your
+      arithmetic lesson for to-morrow?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "We commence multiplication, sir," answered Charlie, a bright
+      little boy, who belonged to a bright class, that did not idle
+      over any pages in their work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward," said Mr. Burrows, turning back to Tip, "you have
+      done well to-day. You mean to study, after this, I think; I
+      have been watching you for some time. The third arithmetic
+      class take the first page in multiplication for their next
+      lesson to-morrow; you may take your place in that class, and
+      remain there as long as you can keep up with it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now Tip was too much astonished to speak or move; his wildest
+      dreams had not taken in promotion, at least not for a long,
+      <i>long</i> time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob Turner leaned over and looked at him in actual sober
+      wonder, that Tip was to be in a higher class.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Not a word did Tip say. He did not even raise his eyes to his
+      teacher's face; and that teacher had not the least idea how
+      the boy before him felt. He did not know how Tip's heart was
+      throbbing, nor how he was saying over and over to himself,
+      "Things are different; they're surely different." He did not
+      know how those few words of his, spoken that winter morning,
+      were going to help to make the boy a man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was that very morning, standing in that room before the
+      blackboard, with his toe on the third crack from the wall,
+      that Tip resolved to have an education.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH13"><!-- CH13 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of
+      them all."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The boys gathered around the stove before school, and talked.
+      The boys,&mdash;not all of them, by any means. Only that
+      small, select number who were above, and led all the rest.
+      Tip wandered outside of the circle, feeling very forlorn; he
+      didn't belong anywhere these days. Bob and his friends had
+      very nearly deserted him; there was scarcely any of their fun
+      in which he had time or desire to join, and the other cliques
+      in school had never noticed him; so he stood outside, and
+      wondered what he should do with himself. Howard Minturn
+      wheeled suddenly away from the boys, and called to
+      him,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip, see here."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip went there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What do you want?" he asked crossly; for some way he felt
+      out of sorts with that company of finely-dressed boys around
+      the stove.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Want you to come over to-night. It's my birthday, you know,
+      and some of the boys are coming to take tea, and spend the
+      evening. Can you come?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's wide-open eyes spoke his astonishment. "What do you
+      want of me?" he asked at last, speaking boldly just what he
+      thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, I want you to come and help have a nice time," returned
+      Howard, with great kindness, but just a little condescension
+      in his tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip heard it, and his bitterness showed itself a little.
+      "It's a new streak you've got, ain't it?" he said, still
+      speaking crossly. "You've had lots of birthdays, and this is
+      the first one <i>I've</i> heard of."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, well!" said Howard proudly, flushing as he spoke; "if
+      you don't want to come, why"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows' hand was laid on Howard's arm. "Don't spoil a
+      good, noble thing, my boy. It is all new to Edward;
+      <i>urge</i> him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows spoke low, so no one else could hear him, and
+      turned away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At recess Howard sought out Tip.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I honestly hope you'll come to-night, Tip, for you're a good
+      fellow to play games with, and the boys would all like to
+      have you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had quarrelled with his ill-humour, and it had vanished.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll come," he said, in a cheery tone; "only I'll look like
+      a big rag-bag by the side of <i>you</i> fellows."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Never mind," said Howard, turning to join the boys,
+      "<i>you</i> come."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Why had Howard Minturn invited him to the grand birthday
+      party? This was the question that puzzled Tip. Had he known
+      the reason, it would have been like this: Mr. Minturn had
+      never quite lost sight of Tip since the circus. He wanted to
+      help him,&mdash;wanted to do it through his son; only he
+      wanted the son to think that he did it himself. Knowing
+      Howard pretty well, he said, when they were seated at
+      breakfast that morning,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I've just been reading about a real hero."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard longed to be a hero; he looked up eagerly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Who was he, father? What did he do?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He was a rich young man, and he had the courage to take for
+      his friend a poor fellow who hadn't two cents to his name. To
+      pay him, the time came when he was proud to be noticed by the
+      great man who was once so low."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This thought was still in Howard's mind when he walked with
+      Ellis to school. So, when Ellis said, "There goes Tip Lewis;
+      father thinks we boys ought to notice him; he is trying real
+      hard now-a-days to behave himself, you know," it was easy for
+      Howard to mingle Tip in with his thoughts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis," he said, after a moment's silence, "suppose I invite
+      him to come to our house to-night? He's a splendid good
+      fellow to have a game; never gets mad, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "S'pose he'd come?" asked Ellis.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, of course; jump at the chance. <i>I'll do it</i>. Our
+      boys will think it odd, I suppose; but I guess I have courage
+      enough to do as I please."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Howard drew himself up proudly, and thought of his
+      father's hero.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So this was why Tip was invited to the birthday gathering at
+      the grand house on the hill.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis sewed, that afternoon, on his jacket, mending it
+      up more neatly than ever before. She had said very little
+      about this invitation, but she couldn't help feeling proud
+      and gratified over it. It was certainly a wonderful jump for
+      Tip, from mingling with the worst and lowest boys in town, to
+      find himself taking a long stride, and reaching the very top.
+      So Mrs. Lewis sewed, and Kitty, as she sat watching the
+      needle fly back and forth, spoke her thoughts:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "All of the boys down to Mr. Burrows' school wear white
+      collars on their jackets."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," answered her mother snappishly, "what's that to me?
+      S'posing they wear white <i>cats</i> on their jackets, I
+      could get him one just as easy as t'other."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was a sore subject with Mrs. Lewis. From her very heart
+      she wished she could dress Tip in broadcloth to-day, just as
+      fine as that which Howard Minturn himself wore, and a collar
+      so white and shiny that it would fairly dazzle the eyes of
+      the others to look upon it; but, since she was so powerless
+      to do what she would, it made her cross.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The bedroom door was open, and Tip's father heard. By and by,
+      when his cough was quieter, he called, "Kitty!" and the
+      little girl went in to him. "Is the jacket fixed, Kitty?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Does it look nice?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Some."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Would you like to find a collar for Tip to wear?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well enough," said Kitty wonderingly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now, I've got two or three that I don't wear any more,
+      and never shall, I guess" (this last spoken sadly); "s'pose
+      you take one of 'em&mdash;they're in that square box under
+      the table&mdash;and see if you can't sew it on the jacket,
+      and make it look like what the other boys wear? Now, you try
+      what you can do, just to see what Tip will say."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty went slowly over to the box. This was new work for her,
+      but her father was very pale to-day, and those sadly-spoken
+      words, "and never shall, I guess," had quieted her; so she
+      made no answer, but drew out one of the collars. It looked
+      nice and white, and shone, too. Mrs. Lewis had done it up
+      late one night, with tears in her eyes, because she could not
+      hope that it would be worn again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What are you doing with that?" she asked sharply, as Kitty
+      appeared from the bedroom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father wants Tip to wear it," answered Kitty.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll lend it to him," spoke the sick man; "we want him to
+      look as decent as we can to-day, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis said no more, but it seemed to her like giving up
+      one more hope of her husband's life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip came down from the garret, with neatly-brushed hair, and
+      dressed in his clean shirt, nicely mended jacket, and the
+      shiny collar. It was wonderful what a difference that collar
+      made; he didn't look like the same boy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty," he said, his face all aglow with pleasure, "where
+      <i>did</i> I get a collar?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's father's; he said wear it," answered Kitty.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And how did it get on my jacket?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Jumped on, likely."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty spoke in a short, half provoked tone; she was so unused
+      to doing a kind thing, that she really felt half ashamed of
+      it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Tip, smiling all over his face, "if that's so,
+      it's the best jump it ever took, and I thank it from the
+      bottom of my heart." Then he carried his bright, good-natured
+      face out of the little house in the hollow, and went towards
+      the great house on the hill.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH14"><!-- CH14 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIV.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
+      account thereof in the day of judgment."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Howard Minturn was a king among the schoolboys; so, though
+      some of them nudged each other and laughed a little when Tip
+      swung open the iron gate and appeared in Mr. Minturn's
+      grounds, the most of them, seeing how quickly Howard sprang
+      forward, and how heartily he greeted the newcomer, did the
+      same. Howard was his father over again; if he did a thing at
+      all, he did it well. Every moment of that afternoon was
+      enjoyed as only boys know how to enjoy holidays: the whole
+      round of winter fun was gone through with,&mdash;coasting,
+      snowballing, building forts, rolling in the snow, each had
+      their turn.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip was not one whit behind the rest in all these matters,
+      and if ever boy enjoyed an afternoon, he did that one. The
+      sun had set in its clear, cold beauty, and the sharp winter
+      night was coming down; the boys stood at the foot of the hill
+      waiting for Ellis and his sled, which were at the top; they
+      came at last, shooting down the glassy surface.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hurry up," called out Howard, as he spun along. "What the
+      mischief became of you? We thought you had gone to hunt up
+      Sir John Franklin and crew."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hurry down, I should say you meant," answered Ellis, guiding
+      his sled skilfully around the curve, and springing to his
+      feet. "I waited for the rest of you; thought you were coming
+      back."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Howard, "we just <i>ain't</i>. We appointed a
+      committee to find out how many were frozen up altogether
+      entirely, and found that every single one of us were; so
+      we're going in to the library fire to get thawed out by
+      tea-time."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "All right," said Ellis, shouldering his sled; "Howard,
+      where's your skates?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, bother! they're at the top of that awful hill. Never
+      mind; you walk on slowly, and I'll run back and get them."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys obeyed, and Ellis Holbrook was just swinging open
+      the little gate that led to Mr. Minturn's grounds, when
+      Howard called, as he ran down the hill, "Hold on! Don't go
+      that way, it will lead you right through the deepest snow
+      there is; take the big gate." And by the time he reached
+      them, panting and breathless, they were at the big gate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "This is jolly," said Will Bailey, throwing himself into a
+      great arm-chair before the glowing fire. "My! I believe I'm a
+      snowball."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You'd have been an icicle if you had gone the way Ellis was
+      leading you; why, the snow is so high," said Howard, raising
+      his hand almost on a level with his head.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis laughed. "I'm sure I thought I was going right," he
+      said. "I must have been thinking of yesterday's lesson in
+      Sunday school,&mdash;'Enter ye in at the strait gate.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ho!" said Will Bailey; "for that matter, one gate is as
+      straight as the other."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You don't understand the Bible, my boy," said Howard, laying
+      his hand on Will's shoulder with a provoking little pat, "or
+      you'd know that strait means narrow."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll bet a dollar that you were no wiser yourself until
+      father explained the verse yesterday," said Ellis, laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip, meantime, stood apart flushed and silent; he knew about
+      the Sunday lesson, and remembered the solemn talk which Mr.
+      Holbrook gave them; and remembered how he urged them, while
+      they were young, to enter into that strait gate; he felt
+      shocked and troubled at the sound of Ellis's careless words.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I know one thing," he said abruptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you?" said Will Bailey in a mocking tone. "That's very
+      strange!" Will felt above Tip, and took care to let him know
+      it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis turned a quick, indignant glance on him; then spoke to
+      Tip in a kind and interested tone: "What were you going to
+      say, Tip."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That, if I were the minister's son, I wouldn't make fun of
+      the Bible."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis's face was crimson in an instant. "What do you mean by
+      that?" he asked haughtily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Just what I say," was Tip's cool reply.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you pretend to say that <i>I</i> make fun of the Bible?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph! Didn't I hear you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Ellis, in a heat, "you <i>didn't</i>! and I'd
+      thank you not to say so neither."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now," said Tip, "I'll leave it to any boy here if you
+      didn't. When a fellow takes a thing in the Bible and twists
+      it around, and makes believe it means some little silly thing
+      that it don't mean at all, I call that making fun."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Poh!" said Howard, coming to the rescue of his friend. "What
+      a fuss you're making about nothing. You're getting wise,
+      aren't you, Tip? Ellis was only saying that verse in fun,
+      just as lots of people do. I've heard good men quote the
+      Bible and laugh over it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Can't help that," said Tip boldly; "I say it's wicked, and
+      Ellis Holbrook's father says so too. I heard him tell Will
+      Bailey once that folks ought to be very careful how they said
+      things that were in the Bible.'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Did he tell you to go around preaching for him through the
+      week? How much does he pay you for your services? Come, let's
+      hear."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was said in Will Bailey's most disagreeable tone. Before
+      Tip had time to answer, Ellis spoke again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, I don't pretend to be as good as some people are, but
+      I really can't see any awful wickedness in anything that I've
+      said to-night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Neither can anybody else, except Tip," said Will, "and he's
+      good, you know; he never does anything wrong, except to tell
+      lies and swear, or some little matters."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis was an honest boy. "No," he said gravely, "there is no
+      use in saying what isn't true, for the sake of helping my
+      side along. Tip don't do either of those things now-a-days, I
+      believe; but I'm sure I don't thank him for his good opinion
+      of me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard was glad at this moment to hear the tea-bell peal
+      through the house, for the boys were growing cross. Most of
+      them had been so astonished at the bold stand which Tip had
+      taken, that they said nothing, only gathered round, and
+      waited to see what would come next.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard sprang up. "There's something I, for one, am ready
+      for. Come, boys;" and he led the way to the dining-room. Oh,
+      that dining-room, with its bright lights and splendid table,
+      was such a wonderful sight to Tip! It was a very nice
+      birthday supper,&mdash;plates of warm biscuit, platters of
+      cold chicken, dishes of beautiful honey, silver cake-baskets,
+      filled with heavily-frosted cake. Tip, for one, had never
+      seen such a sight in his life before, and he was so
+      bewildered with the dazzle and glitter that he didn't know
+      which way to turn.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Howard," said Mrs. Minturn, turning to her son, after she
+      had welcomed his friends, "do you want your father to take
+      the head of the table, or would you and the boys prefer
+      having the room to yourselves?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, ma'am," answered Howard, with energy; "we want you and
+      father <i>both</i>. I guess I want <i>you</i> to my party,
+      whoever else I have."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip watched the bright light on Howard's face with surprise.
+      How much he seemed to love his mother, and how much she loved
+      him! how queer it was! The supper was a great success; the
+      boys forgot their excitement and ill-humour, and enjoyed
+      everything.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was almost nine o'clock, the hour when it was generally
+      understood that the party was to break up. The boys had been
+      very merry all the evening; the discussion which had taken
+      place just before tea seemed to have been forgotten, save by
+      Ellis, who, genial and hearty enough with the others, was
+      cold and haughty to Tip. Still, they kept apart, and the fun
+      had gone on famously. There was a sudden lull in the uproar
+      when Mr. Minturn opened the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are the walls left?" he asked, coming forward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The <i>walls</i>?" said Ellis inquiringly; "why, sir, did
+      you expect to miss them?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, I had some such fears, but I see they're all right.
+      What are you up to?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis was telling a story, that's what we were laughing at
+      when you came in," said Howard. "Go on, El&mdash;never mind
+      father, he likes to hear stories."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Ellis, blushing crimson; "I think I'll be
+      excused."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn; "I'm very fond of stories."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I was only telling, sir, how Joe Barnes talked to his father
+      when I was down there this morning."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, and, father, you'd be perfectly astonished to hear
+      him," chimed in Howard. "I never heard a fellow go on so in
+      my life; he makes fun of every single thing his father says."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you think there is anything very surprising in that?"
+      asked Mr. Minturn coolly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Surprising! I guess you'd think so. Why, when his father is
+      talking to him real soberly, he mimics him, and laughs right
+      in his face."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But I shouldn't suppose you would think there was anything
+      strange about that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys looked puzzled. "Why, Mr. Minturn!" said Ellis;
+      "wouldn't you think it strange if Howard should do so?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, no; I don't know that I should have any reason to be
+      astonished."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard looked not only surprised, but very much hurt. "I'm
+      sure, father," he said, in a voice which trembled a little,
+      "I didn't know I was so rude to you as all that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Mr. Minturn, "you never have been, but I rather
+      expect you to commence. I shall have no reason to be
+      surprised if you and Ellis and Will Bailey, and a host of
+      others, all go to making fun of what your fathers say to you
+      after this."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys seemed perfectly astonished. "<i>I</i>, for one,"
+      said Ellis Holbrook proudly, "think too much of <i>my</i>
+      father, to be in any such danger."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You <i>do</i>?" said Mr. Minturn; "well, now, I <i>am</i>
+      amazed. I supposed you would be the very worst one."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard left the table and came over to where his father had
+      seated himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father, what <i>do</i> you mean?" he asked, in an earnest,
+      anxious tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, I mean," said his father, "that I was in that room over
+      there just before tea, and I heard the discussion which came
+      up between you boys, 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 them, need not be expected to
+      show much respect for what their father or anybody else
+      said."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A perfect stillness settled over the boys at these words, and
+      not only Ellis Holbrook's cheeks, but his whole face glowed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard came to the rescue at last, very stammeringly: "But,
+      father&mdash;I don't think&mdash;do you think&mdash;I
+      mean&mdash;well, sir, you know Ellis and the rest of us
+      didn't mean to make fun of what God said. Don't you think
+      that makes a difference?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know, I'm sure. How do you know that Joe Barnes
+      means to make fun of what his father says?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He acts like it," Howard said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Exactly; and so do you, every one of you, except Tip. I
+      don't say, boys, that you are all going to be disrespectful
+      to your elders after this; I only say I don't see why your
+      earthly friends should expect more reverence from you than
+      you give to God."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Boys and man were all silent for a little after that, until
+      Mr. Minturn broke the stillness by repeating reverently,
+      "'Enter ye in at the strait gate.' I guess you all know what
+      that means. I would like to know whether there is a boy here
+      who thinks he has entered in at that gate."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How still the room was while he waited for his answer! Tip
+      could feel his heart throb&mdash;throb&mdash;with loud,
+      distinct beats; twice he tried to break the silence, and
+      couldn't. At last he found voice: "I do, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn turned quickly. "What makes you think so, Tip?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because I love Jesus, and I'm trying to do what He says."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn's voice trembled a little: "God bless you, my
+      boy; try to get all the rest to go through the same gate."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The town clock struck the hour, nine o'clock. The boys made a
+      move to separate. Tip took his cap and walked out alone in
+      the cold, clear starlight. He felt quiet and strong. It was
+      done at last: he had taken his stand before the
+      boys&mdash;had "shown his colours."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They all knew now that he was trying hard, and who was
+      helping him. Things must surely be different after this, for
+      ever.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH15"><!-- CH15 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XV.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in player,
+      believing, ye shall receive."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Meantime, was Kitty forgotten? Not a bit of it. If ever boy
+      prayed for any one, Tip prayed for her. His very soul was in
+      it; yet thus far his prayers seemed to have been in vain. The
+      lesson, one Sabbath morning, was on "God's answers to
+      prayer." Tip listened closely, yet with an unsatisfied
+      longing in his eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Holbrook," he said, waiting after the rest had gone, "is
+      there time for just one question?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, for two, if you like," said Mr. Holbrook, sitting down
+      again; "what is it, Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want to know why God don't answer folks' prayers right
+      away?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Holbrook smiled. "If your questions are all as hard as
+      that, Edward, I don't think there will be time for another
+      to-day. But there may be several reasons: we will try to find
+      them. Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers at once,
+      simply to try our faith, to see whether we are willing to
+      take Him at His word, and keep on asking, until He is ready
+      to give; or whether we will grow tired in a little while, and
+      give it up. And sometimes we spend all our strength in
+      praying, and don't work; then, often, we don't believe we
+      shall get what we are praying for. Do you understand me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir," answered Tip promptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, let me see if I can make it plainer. For whom are you
+      praying, Edward, that you are troubled this morning, because
+      you have not been heard?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "For Kitty; I have been, this long time. Kitty's my sister,
+      and I want her to love Jesus; but it don't seem to do any
+      good for me to pray for her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is <i>possible</i> that God may be trying your patience,
+      but not probable; I think we can find a better reason. Do you
+      work while you pray? I mean, do you talk with
+      Kitty,&mdash;tell her what you are praying for,&mdash;urge
+      her to come to Christ,&mdash;try to show her how?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip looked grave. "I did talk a little to her once, but it
+      didn't seem to do her any good, and I haven't said a word
+      since."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Did you ever read in the Bible what is said about such
+      praying, about saying, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
+      filled,' and not <i>doing</i> anything?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip shook his head, and Mr. Holbrook held out his hand for
+      the little Bible.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me find it for you, and when you go home you may read
+      it, and see if you, in praying for Kitty and never saying a
+      word to her, are not a little like that man. Then there's
+      another thing. Do you really believe that God will do what
+      you ask Him? You say every day in your prayer, 'O God, make
+      Kitty a Christian;' and yet, wouldn't you be very much
+      astonished if Kitty should come to you to-day, and say, 'I
+      want to be a Christian!' Are you looking out for any such
+      thing?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip generally spoke his honest thoughts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," he said gravely, "I ain't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The church bell began to ring, and Mr. Holbrook arose. "I
+      think, if you begin to work and pray together, and then ask
+      God to help you to believe, that He will surely do as He has
+      promised; that you will soon find your prayers answered."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This he said while gathering up his books and papers ready to
+      start, and then,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, why don't you come to our Thursday evening
+      prayer-meetings?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's eyes were full of astonishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I never once thought of it," he said. "Why, Mr. Holbrook,
+      boys don't go, do they?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said the minister sadly, "they don't; because I don't
+      know of another boy of your age in this whole town who loves
+      the Saviour. Only think what a work there is for you to do!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip went home with his brain full of new thoughts. No, he
+      didn't go home; he only went as far as the elm-tree, and
+      there he sat down and read what Mr. Holbrook had marked in
+      his Bible. Yes, that was just the way in which he had been
+      praying for Kitty; and it was certainly true, as Mr. Holbrook
+      had said, nothing could surprise him more than that Kitty
+      should really and truly come to Jesus.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Before he went from under the tree that day, he prayed this
+      prayer: "O God, teach me to believe that you will make Kitty
+      love Jesus, and show me how to help her."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After this, of course he looked out for his chances in which
+      to work, and of course he found them,&mdash;found one that
+      very day. After dinner Kitty wandered off by herself. Tip
+      watched her, and she took the road leading to the cemetery.
+      God put it into his heart to hurry after her; so, when he
+      came up to her, where she sat, on a large stone which she had
+      rolled very near to Johnny's grave, his heart was beating at
+      the thought of the great work which he had to do.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What did <i>you</i> come for?" said Kitty, looking up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip hesitated a minute, then told the plain truth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I came after you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I suppose I know that: you didn't come before me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I mean I came to <i>see</i> you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, look at me, then, and go off; I don't want you here."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Clearly, whatever was to be said must be said quickly, and
+      Tip's heart was very full of its message, so his voice was
+      tender:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Kitty, I came to ask you if you <i>wouldn't</i> be a
+      Christian. I <i>do</i> want it so, it seems as if I couldn't
+      wait."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty looked steadily and gravely at her brother. "What do
+      you mean by 'be a Christian?'" she asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I mean love Jesus, and do as He says."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What'll I love Him for?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "'Cause you can't help it, when you find out how much He
+      loves you, and all the things He does for you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What does He say do?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He says be good; try to do right things all the time."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty's eyes flashed. "Now, ain't you mean," she said
+      angrily, "to come and tell me such things, when you know I
+      ain't good, and <i>can't</i> be good? Isn't mother ugly and
+      cross and scolding to me all the time? and don't I have to
+      work and work, <i>always</i>, and never have anything? And
+      I'm cross and get mad, and I <i>will</i>, too. I can't help
+      it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, but, Kitty," Tip interrupted eagerly, "you don't know
+      about it! He helps you, Jesus does. When anything is the
+      matter, when you feel cross and bad, you just go and kneel
+      down and tell Him all about it, and He helps you every time.
+      And up in heaven, where you can go when you die, nobody ever
+      gets cross and scolds. And it's beautiful there: they sing,
+      and have fountains, and wear gold crowns; and&mdash;and
+      Johnny is there, you know; and I'm going, and I <i>do</i>
+      want you to come along."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty's face had been growing graver and graver with every
+      word her brother spoke, and when at last he stopped, with his
+      eyes turned towards Johnny's little grave, Kitty's shawl was
+      crumpled up in her two hands and held tightly to her face;
+      and she was crying, not softly and quietly, but rocking
+      herself back and forth, and giving way to great sobs which
+      shook her little form.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip looked distressed; he didn't know what to say next; he
+      stooped down to her at last, and spoke softly: "Oh, Kitty,
+      I'm sorry for you! if you only <i>would</i> love Jesus, it
+      would make you happy."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want to&mdash;I want to!" sobbed Kitty; "I would if I knew
+      how."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's heart gave a bound of joy&mdash;a surprised bound, too;
+      he had not expected it so soon.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It's easy, Kitty, it is, truly, if you only just ask God to
+      do it. You see He can hear every word you say; He hears you
+      now, but He wants you to ask Him about it. Say, Kitty, I'll
+      go off and leave you,&mdash;I'll go where I can't see nor
+      hear you,&mdash;then you kneel down and tell Jesus about it,
+      and He'll help you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Stop!" said Kitty, as Tip was turning away; "wait! I don't
+      know what to say."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, just <i>tell</i> Him, just as you did me, and ask Him
+      to help you. You see, Kitty, you can't do a thing without
+      that; He's got to look after you every single minute, or it's
+      nothing at all."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip went away, and Kitty was left alone,&mdash;alone in the
+      spot where her brother had first found the Saviour. She felt
+      very strangely; she had been left there alone to offer her
+      first prayer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty had never been taught to kneel down by her bedside
+      every evening, and repeat "Our Father;" it was all new and
+      strange to her. She sat still a long time, with the sober
+      look deepening on her face. At last she got down on her knees
+      and rested her little hard hands on the hard snow which
+      covered Johnny's bed, and she said, "Jesus, I want to be what
+      Tip says. I want to love you if you'll let me. Nobody loves
+      me, I guess. Tip says you'll help me all the time. If you
+      will, I'll try."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After she had said this, slowly and thoughtfully, stopping
+      long between each sentence, she didn't feel like rising up;
+      she wanted to say more, so she repeated it, adding, "Tip says
+      I must be good. I can't be good, but I'll try."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Over and over was the simple, earnest prayer repeated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip did not go back to Johnny's grave; he took a side road
+      down through the edge of the grove, and so went home; and
+      when he reached home, he went up to his attic room, and knelt
+      down and prayed for Kitty as only those <i>can</i> pray who
+      have been working as well as asking for what they want.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty was stirring the pudding for supper when he saw her
+      again,&mdash;stirring away hard at the heavy mass, which grew
+      thicker and harder to stir every moment. He went over to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, let me do this;" and she gave up the pudding-stick.
+      Tip stirred away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By and by she leaned over the kettle to put in some salt, and
+      as she sprinkled it around she caught his eager, longing
+      look. She nodded her head. "I guess He heard," she said
+      softly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I <i>know</i> He did," Tip answered, his eyes very blight;
+      in his heart he sang "<i>Glory!</i>" And the angels in heaven
+      sang for joy; for that night there had been laid aside a
+      white robe and a crown of gold for Kitty Lewis.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH16"><!-- CH16 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVI.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I
+      confess also before My Father which is in heaven."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Tip was very undecided what to do. He went out on the steps
+      and looked about him in the moonlight; then he came in and
+      took a long look out of the window. At last the question,
+      whatever it was, seemed to be settled. He turned with a
+      resolute air to Kitty who was washing the tea-dishes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, don't you want to go to prayer-meeting up at the
+      church?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty dropped her cup back into the dish-pan and stood
+      looking at him, a good deal surprised. At last she
+      said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'd like to, Tip, but I don't look decent to go anywhere.
+      I've only this dress and my old hood."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wouldn't mind that," said Tip. "I've only this awful old
+      jacket either, but I mean to go. Hurry up the dishes, and
+      let's go."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Kitty at last, "I <i>will</i>; but what will
+      mother say?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll fix that." And Tip stepped softly into the bedroom.
+      "Are you better to-night, father?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Not much better, I guess. How's arithmetic to-day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "First-rate; Mr. Burrows said I was getting ahead fast.
+      Mother, may Kitty go out with me to-night? I'm going up to
+      the church to prayer-meeting."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis turned from the basket where she had been hunting
+      long, and as yet in vain, for a piece of flannel, and bent a
+      searching bewildered look on her son.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't care," she said at last; "she can go if she likes;
+      but I doubt if she will."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She <i>did</i>, however; in ten minutes more the two were
+      walking along the snowy path. Kitty was sober. "Tip," she
+      said presently, "don't you never get real awful <i>mad</i>,
+      so mad that you feel as if you'd choke if you couldn't speak
+      right out at somebody?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, no," said Tip, "not often. Yes, I do too; I get mad at
+      Bob Turner sometimes, mad enough to pitch him into a
+      snow-bank; but it don't last long."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, mine does," said Kitty. "I begin in the morning;
+      something makes me cross, and I keep on getting crosser and
+      crosser every minute, till it seems as if I should fly. Do
+      you suppose I'll always do just so?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," answered Tip positively, "I <i>don't</i>. You keep on
+      trying a little bit harder every day, and by and by you'll
+      find that you don't get cross more than half as easy as you
+      used to. I know it will be so, because I've tried it in other
+      things: when I first began to behave myself in school, it was
+      the <i>hardest</i> work&mdash;my! You can think how I wanted
+      to whisper, and things kept happening all the time to make me
+      laugh, but I just kept trying, and now I hardly ever think of
+      whispering. Kitty, does mother know?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Kitty, "she don't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "If I were you, I'd tell her."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, Tip, I can't! She never looks at me without scolding me;
+      I can't talk to her about this."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, you can; I'd surely do it if I were you. It will be a
+      great deal easier to try hard if mother knows you are
+      trying."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They were almost at the church door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty," said Tip suddenly, "let's pray for father to-night.
+      I've been praying for him this long time; you help me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Step by step, God was leading Tip Lewis in the narrow way. No
+      sooner was he seated in the bright, warm little room, and had
+      listened to Mr. Holbrook's earnest prayer, that every
+      Christian there might do something for Christ that night,
+      than the struggle began: what ought he to do for Christ?
+      People all around him were, one after another, offering
+      prayer or saying a few words. Ought he to? Could he? Oh, he
+      couldn't! Who would want to listen to him? It wouldn't do any
+      good. There was Mr. Burrows right in front of him; he would
+      be ashamed of him, perhaps. Yes, but then, ought he not to
+      own his Saviour? Mr. Holbrook had spoken of the verse,
+      "Whosoever will deny me before men," and had made the meaning
+      very plain. Mr. Minturn had just prayed that no one there
+      might be ashamed of Christ. The end of it all was, that Tip
+      slipped off his seat down on his knees, and said, "Our Father
+      which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Show me how to
+      pray. I don't want to deny Christ. I want to love Him. I want
+      the boys in our school, and my father, and everybody to love
+      Him. I'll try to work for Jesus. I'll try to work for Him.
+      Help me every day, and forgive my sins for Jesus' sake.
+      Amen."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had never felt so near to God as he did when he arose
+      from his knees. Mr. Holbrook's voice trembled with feeling,
+      when, soon after, he prayed for the young disciple who had
+      early taken up his cross.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the close of the meeting, the minister pressed his way
+      through the little company of people who were waiting to
+      speak with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Good evening, all," he said hurriedly. "Excuse me to-night,
+      brother," to Mr. Minturn, who would have stopped him any way;
+      "I want to speak to some people before they get away from
+      me;" and those who watched, saw him hurry on until he
+      overtook Tip Lewis and his sister.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Good evening, Edward. This is Kitty, I think. How do you do,
+      my little girl? Edward, do you know such a Bible verse as
+      this: 'I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my
+      supplication'?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir," answered Tip eagerly; "<i>is</i> there such a
+      verse?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, somewhere in the Psalms you will find it. I don't
+      remember just where. Can you feel the truth of it when you
+      think of your sister?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir, I <i>can</i>. God <i>did</i> hear me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And you think you love Jesus to-night, Kitty?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty felt a great awe for the minister, and her "Yes, sir,"
+      was low, and spoken in a timid voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What makes you think so?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I&mdash;I don't know; only I pray, and He hears me, and I
+      like to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now, Kitty, almost the first thing which people think
+      of after they have found Jesus, is something to do for Him;
+      they begin to look around to see what they can find. What are
+      you going to do?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know, sir; I haven't got anything I can do."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ah, that's a mistake! you can find plenty of work if you
+      look for it; only don't look too far, because it is the
+      little bits of things which come right in your way that Jesus
+      wants you to do. When you brush up the room, and set the
+      table neatly, and brighten the fire, and do little thoughtful
+      things that help your mother, then you are pleasing Jesus,
+      doing work for Him. Isn't it pleasant to think that in all
+      those little things He is watching over you, and that you
+      make Him glad when you do them well? Do you know that one of
+      God's commands is, 'Honour thy father and thy mother'?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Kitty softly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is; those are the very words; Edward can find them for
+      you in the Bible; and honour means more than obey; it means,
+      try to please them in the very smallest things."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They were very near the corner where Mr. Holbrook must leave
+      them. He laid his hand gently on Tip's shoulder, as he said,
+      "Speaking of Bible verses, Edward, I have one for you this
+      evening, in the Saviour's own words: 'Whosoever shall confess
+      Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which
+      is in heaven.' Good-night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip understood him, and there was a bright look in his eyes.
+      The two walked on in silence for a little. Presently Kitty
+      said, "I guess Mr. Holbrook don't know just how mother is, or
+      he wouldn't talk so."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, but," said Tip quickly, "God knew all about it always,
+      you know; and yet He said that verse."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "So He did," answered Kitty gravely.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH17"><!-- CH17 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Bah," said Will Bailey, "you're fooling, Howard Minturn!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "As true as I live, I'm not," answered Howard earnestly; "you
+      can ask Mr. Burrows."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's up?" inquired Ellis Holbrook, joining the two.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, Howard is telling the biggest yarn you ever heard: he
+      says Tip Lewis went to prayer-meeting last night and made a
+      prayer."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip Lewis!" and Ellis Holbrook's voice was full, not only of
+      surprise, but scorn; "I should like to hear him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, it's true," repeated Howard. "My father told us about
+      it this morning, and he said it was a good prayer too; he
+      said, Ellis, that your father couldn't keep the tears out of
+      his eyes when he heard him; and Mr. Burrows walked up town
+      with father, and told him that Tip had changed wonderfully,
+      that he was one of the best boys in school."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Will Bailey, "if Tip Lewis has turned saint,
+      I'll give up. Why, he's the meanest scamp in town; my father
+      says he's had enough for anything."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, well now," answered Ellis, "there's no use in being
+      stupid enough not to see that what Mr. Burrows says is true.
+      I never saw any one change as he has in my life, but I'll be
+      hanged if I like him as well as I did before he was so awful
+      good; he's too nice for anything now-a-days."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Especially when he trips <i>you</i>, the minister's son, up,
+      about twisting the Bible."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis's face glowed, but he was an honest boy. "He was right
+      enough about that," he said promptly; "my father says it's
+      wrong. But, if it will do you any good to know it, I haven't
+      liked Tip so well since."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Say, Tip," said Will Bailey, hailing him at recess, "come
+      here and give an account of yourself. They say you turned
+      parson last night; did you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Tip, with the greatest good humour, "I didn't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Didn't you speak in meeting?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A quiet gravity spread itself over Tip's face. "I prayed in
+      meeting," he answered soberly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, well, what did you pray for? Come, let's know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I prayed for <i>you</i>." Tip spoke with quiet dignity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph! Now, that's clever, certainly. Much obliged."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Will said no more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Certainly the boys had never talked so much about any
+      prayer-meeting in their lives as they did about this one. So
+      that was the way it commenced; such a little fire kindled it.
+      Tip didn't know it; he never found it out; probably he never
+      will, until he takes his crown in heaven. From the humble
+      little prayer which Tip had offered sprang the first buddings
+      of the great revival which God sent down to them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Say," said Howard Minturn to Ellis on the next Thursday
+      evening, "let's go over to prayer-meeting to-night. I really
+      am dreadfully anxious to hear Tip speak."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," answered Ellis, speaking hastily, more hastily than he
+      often did to Howard. "I'm sure I don't care in the least to
+      hear him, and I have enough to do without going there."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard was <i>determined</i> to go, and to find company.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Will, let's go to meeting to-night," he said, the next time
+      he came across Will Bailey.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Will looked at him in amazement. "What for?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "To hear Tip."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh!" said Will; "good! I'll go. Let's get a lot of the boys
+      and go over; just to encourage him, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And they went. Tip and Kitty were there again; and again,
+      with Tip, the struggle had to be gone through; his coward
+      spirit whispered to him that the boys would only make fun of
+      him if he said a word, and it would do more harm than good.
+      His conscience answered, "Whosoever will deny Me on earth,
+      him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven."
+      The solemn words conquered, and again Tip knelt down and
+      prayed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My!" said Mr. Minturn, talking with his wife after they
+      reached home; "when I thought of the bringing up which that
+      boy has had,&mdash;no bringing up about it, he has just
+      <i>come</i> up, the easiest way he could,&mdash;but when I
+      heard him pray to-night, and then thought of our boy, who has
+      been prayed for and watched over every day since he was born,
+      I declare I felt as though I would give all I'm worth to have
+      Howard stand where Tip Lewis does now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard heard this, as he waited in the sitting-room for his
+      father and mother; heard it in great amazement, and at first
+      it made him indignant. The idea of comparing <i>him</i> with
+      Tip Lewis! Then it made him sorrowful: his father's tones
+      were <i>so</i> sad; after all that had been done for him, it
+      <i>was</i> hard that he should disappoint his parents.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He listened to his father's prayer that night very closely,
+      and its earnestness brought the tears to his eyes.
+      Altogether, Howard went to school the next morning with a
+      somewhat sober face, and took no part whatever in the boys'
+      fun over the meeting.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows' heart had been warmed by the voice of prayer
+      from one of his scholars, and he began to pray and long for
+      others of them to work also; and the great God, who knows the
+      beginning and the end, led his first words of anxiety to
+      Howard Minturn. They stood at the desk, teacher and scholar,
+      Howard bending over his slate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Can't you get it?" Mr. Burrows asked,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Howard, are you working with all your thoughts to-day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir." And a bright flush mounted to his forehead.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What is it, Howard?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know, sir; not much of anything, I guess."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you not quite satisfied with yourself to-day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Satisfied! I&mdash;why&mdash;I don't know what you mean,
+      sir; I have tried to do the best I could, I believe."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you really think so, Howard?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Did you think so last evening, in the prayer-meeting? Can a
+      boy, who is as well taught as you have been, feel that he is
+      doing as well as he can, when he knows that he is every day
+      cheating God?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard's face fairly burned.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't understand you, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Don't you?" and Mr. Burrows' voice was very kind. "I wish
+      that God's own Spirit might help you to understand it. Didn't
+      your father and mother promise God, when you were born, to
+      try to train you up for Him, because you belonged to Him, and
+      they knew it? Now, haven't they done their duty? is it their
+      fault that you are not a Christian?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then it comes back to you. You belong to God, body and soul:
+      He made you; He has kept you; He would save you, only you
+      will not let Him. You can't help the fact that you belong to
+      Him; all you can do is to refuse to give Him your love, and
+      let Him lead you to heaven, and this you are doing. Is it
+      right?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard was growing haughty.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't feel the need of any such things, Mr. Burrows," he
+      answered coldly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Suppose you don't, does that help the matter any? Does it
+      change the fact that you belong to God; that you are cheating
+      Him out of His own property? The question I ask is, Are you
+      doing right?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard stood, with eyes fixed on his slate, saying nothing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Won't you answer me, Howard?" Mr. Burrows asked gently; "is
+      it right?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And, after a long, long silence, the boy's honest, earnest
+      eyes were raised to his teacher's face, and he spoke
+      steadily:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you willing to go on doing wrong?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Will you turn <i>now</i>, Howard, and start right?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now came another long silence. Howard Minturn, the honest,
+      faithful boy, always getting a little nearer right than any
+      of the others, had been condemned by his own words, and knew
+      not what to say. At last he spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I can't promise, Mr. Burrows."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Howard! such an answer from <i>you</i>, to whom I have only
+      needed to point out what was right, in order to have it
+      done!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But I can't trust myself, sir; I shall not feel to-morrow as
+      I do now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That is, you feel like doing your duty today, but you
+      expect, if you wait until to-morrow, that you will feel less
+      like it; so you mean to wait. Is that right?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The silence was much longer this time,&mdash;so long, that
+      the boys began to look curiously at the two figures over by
+      the desk, and wonder why the bell was not rung. But at last
+      he raised those clear, truthful eyes once more:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Burrows, I'll try."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And the next Thursday evening, when in the house of prayer it
+      was very still, because Mr. Holbrook had just said, "Is there
+      not <i>one</i> here to-night who wants us to pray for him,
+      and if there is, will he not let us know it <i>now</i>?"
+      suddenly there was a row of astonished faces in the seat
+      where the schoolboys were sitting, because from among them
+      arose Howard Minturn, and his face was pale and grave, and
+      his voice was steady; they all heard his words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want to be a Christian: will you pray for me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, wouldn't they! Was there ever such another prayer as that
+      which Mr. Minturn offered for his son? Did any one who heard
+      it wonder that such prayer was answered, and that in the next
+      meeting, Howard, speaking with a little ring of joy in his
+      voice, said, "I love Jesus to-night. I want every one to love
+      Him. I am very happy"?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      From this the work went on. The little lecture-room grew full
+      and overflowed, and the crowd now filled the church; and
+      every night Some new voice was heard, asking for prayer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Will Bailey seemed filled with the spirit of torment; teased
+      the boys unmercifully; went to the meeting every evening, and
+      made fun of it all day: but the boys were praying for him,
+      and God's pitying eye was on him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One evening there were two who arose to ask the prayers of
+      Christians: one was Will Bailey, the most hopeless, so the
+      boys thought, of all the boys in town; the other was Will
+      Bailey's grey-haired father, the most hopeless, so the good
+      men feared, of all the strong, self-satisfied men in town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Yet there were two for whom daily earnest prayer was offered,
+      who, in this blessed time, held themselves aloof,&mdash;two
+      boys so far separated, that it seems strange and sad that
+      their names should be coupled just here. Bob Turner and Ellis
+      Holbrook, the lowest and the highest; the worst boy in school
+      and the best! Yet they were united in this one thing, that
+      they would have nothing to do with Christ. Tip had prayed for
+      both, worked for both; but this was his success one
+      afternoon.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Say, Bob, won't you go to meeting to-night, just to please
+      me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Couldn't, Tip, no way in the world. I'd do most anything to
+      please you, too, for the sake of old times when we used to
+      steal apples together; but I've promised to go with Nick Hunt
+      tonight, and tie old Barlow's cat fast to his frontdoor knob,
+      and that's got to be done while the old man is at meeting,
+      you know. 'Tain't no matter, either, about my going; you just
+      do the praying for you and me too; then it will be all
+      right."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip turned away with a sigh and a shudder. Could it be
+      possible that <i>that</i> boy had ever been his only
+      companion? Ellis was round by the ball-ground, and he went
+      thither.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis, won't you go down to-night with the boys? it's almost
+      the last meeting, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis wheeled around, and spoke in his coldest tone:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip Lewis, you seem to take a wonderful interest in me, and
+      I'm sure I'm much obliged to you; but I'll be a great deal
+      more so if you'll attend to your own affairs after this, and
+      let mine alone."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Poor Tip! how discouraged he felt! Yet that very evening,
+      going home from school, he met Mr. Holbrook; the minister
+      turned and walked up town with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward," he said, "are you praying for my boy?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Will you never stop praying for him while you live, until he
+      comes to Christ?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I never <i>will</i>, sir," answered Tip, with energy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH18"><!-- CH18 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVIII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bore
+      thee shall rejoice."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      How did Mr. Holbrook know so well what Kitty needed to help
+      her? His words had given her such new thoughts; some way it
+      was all new to her, the idea that she had any duty to perform
+      towards her mother. She stood thinking of it that bright
+      winter day,&mdash;stood before the little fire, and wondered
+      how it was that she ought to commence. She was to be alone
+      all day. Mrs. Stebbens, their next neighbour, had fallen down
+      and sprained her ankle, and sent to know if Mrs. Lewis could
+      do her promised day's work in the village. Kitty was left in
+      charge of the house and her sick father. She looked around
+      the room: what an ugly, dreary little room it
+      was!&mdash;dust, dirt, and cobwebs everywhere; her hood and
+      shawl lying in one corner; her mother's apron on the floor in
+      the middle of the room; the breakfast dishes not yet washed;
+      the stove all spattered with grease from the pork gravy; the
+      hearth thickly covered with ashes; the paper window-curtain
+      hanging by one tack; and on the mantelpiece, behind the
+      stove, such an array of half-eaten apples, matches, forks,
+      sticky spoons, broken teacups, and dirty candlesticks, as
+      would have frightened any one less used to it than was Kitty.
+      As she looked around her, a forlorn smile came over her face,
+      for she thought of Mr. Holbrook's words: "When you brush up
+      the floor, or brighten the fire to please your mother"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He don't know," she said to herself, "that mother don't care
+      for sweeping and such things; he don't know how we live. I
+      wonder if mother <i>would</i> notice now if things were
+      different. What if we did live like other folks,&mdash;had
+      nice tilings, and kept them put up, and the room swept.
+      Suppose I try it. What could I do? I might sweep and wash off
+      the stove, and&mdash;and clean off the mantelpiece. I'll just
+      do it, and see if anybody in this house will care."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No sooner thought than commenced. Kitty went to work. The
+      dishes were washed until they shone; those clean dishes
+      shouldn't go in such a disorderly cupboard. There was no help
+      for it, the shelves must be washed; down came the bottles and
+      bundles, papers of this and boxes of that, which had been
+      gathering, Kitty didn't know how long, and the astonished
+      shelves felt soap and water once more. How they were
+      scrubbed!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty," called her father from his bedroom, hearing the
+      racket, "what are you doing?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm cleaning house," answered Kitty promptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And her father, because he did not know what else to do, let
+      her work. From the cupboard she went to the mantelpiece,
+      bundled the things all off in a heap, washed it thoroughly,
+      and put everything in order. What a day it was to Kitty! One
+      improvement led to another, and as things began to grow clean
+      in her hands, she grew wonderfully interested, and only
+      stopped at noon to warm her father's gruel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was Saturday, and Tip had gone to pile wood for Mr.
+      Bailey. He was to get his dinner and a grammar for his pay.
+      He had wanted a grammar all winter, so he worked with a will;
+      and Kitty saw neither him nor her mother through all the busy
+      day. The early sun had set long before. Kitty thought he
+      certainly would not know that room the next morning, it was
+      all so changed. The paper curtain was mended and tacked up in
+      its place; the old lounge cover was mended and fastened on
+      smoothly; the mantelpiece shone and glowed in the firelight;
+      the two shiny candlesticks, and beside them the little box of
+      matches, were all that remained there of the rubbish of the
+      morning; the floor was just as smooth and clean as soap and
+      ashes, with plenty of hot water and an old broom, could make
+      it; hoods and shawls and aprons and old shoes had all
+      disappeared,&mdash;nothing was lying around: the table was
+      drawn out, the clean, smooth plates arranged so as to hide
+      the soiled spots on the tablecloth, the pudding was bubbling
+      away in the astonished kettle, and Kitty's joy had been
+      complete, when, only a few minutes before, after a great deal
+      of stamping and pounding, she had opened the door to Howard
+      Minturn, who said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mother sent you some milk for your supper.&mdash;Where's
+      Tip?&mdash;<i>Isn't</i> it cold, though?&mdash;There'll be
+      prime skating to-night.&mdash;Give me the pitcher right away,
+      please." All this in one breath.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now they would have beautiful fresh milk for supper; and if
+      there was anything which Tip liked, it was pudding and milk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Kitty set the old arm-chair in the warmest corner for her
+      mother, fastened her father's door wide open, so that he
+      could see the new room, then stirred her pudding, and watched
+      and waited. Her mother came first. Kitty's heart had never
+      beat more anxiously than when she heard the slow, tired step
+      on the hard snow. Would she notice anything different? In she
+      came, tired, cross, and cold, expecting to find disorder,
+      discomfort, and cold inside. Could anybody, having eyes, fail
+      to notice the changes which had been wrought in that little
+      room since she went out from it in the early morning? She
+      shut the door with a little slam, and then the flush of the
+      firelight seemed to blind her a little; she brushed her hand
+      over her face, and looked around her with a bewildered air.
+      Kitty went over to her; some way she felt a great kindness in
+      her heart for her mother, a great longing to do something for
+      her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Is it cold, mother?" she asked brightly. "Take that chair,"
+      pointing to the seat in the warm corner. "Supper's all ready,
+      and I've made a cup of tea for you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lewis took off her hood and shawl in silence, untied her
+      wet shoes, and placed her cold feet on the clean, warm
+      stove-hearth; took in the brightness of the room, the shiny
+      candlesticks, the neatly-spread tea-table; took whiffs of the
+      steaming tea,&mdash;all in utter silence; only, when Kitty's
+      father, looking out, said, "There's been business done here
+      since you went away," something in her mother's voice, as she
+      answered, "I should think there had," made the blood rush
+      warmly into Kitty's cheeks, and made her whisper to herself,
+      as she stooped to place the wet shoes under the stove to dry,
+      "Mr. Holbrook told me true, I do believe. I guess I have
+      pleased Jesus to-day; I feel so."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While she was taking up the pudding, there was a merry
+      whistle outside, a brisk, crushing step on the snow, and Tip
+      whizzed into the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, there was no mistaking the look of delight on his face,
+      nor the glad ring in his voice, as he said, "Oh, Kitty! why,
+      Kitty Lewis! what <i>have</i> you been doing? Why, it looks
+      almost as nice here as it does at Howard Minturn's."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All that evening there seemed a spell upon the Lewis family.
+      Mrs. Lewis didn't say one cross or fretful word; indeed, she
+      had no cause, for in Kitty's heart there was a strange, new
+      feeling of love for her mother, of longing to please and give
+      her comfort; and never was mother waited on with a more quiet
+      care than Mrs. Lewis received that night.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was the first coming of home-comfort to the family. Tip
+      had apples in his pocket, which Howard Minturn had given him;
+      he roasted them before the fire, and his father ate very
+      little pieces of them; and his mother darned stockings by the
+      light of the candle in the clean little candlestick set on
+      the clean little stand; and they were happy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By and by Tip brought out his grammar, and, finding Kitty
+      very much interested in examining it, said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What if you should begin and study grammar with me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What if I should?" answered Kitty. So that evening she
+      commenced her education, and, though grammar was a queer
+      study to <i>begin</i> with, still it was a beginning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The pleasant evening wore away; the town clock had struck
+      nine; Kitty's father had gone quietly to sleep, and the
+      bedroom door was shut to keep all sounds from disturbing him.
+      Tip had taken his candle and gone. Mrs. Lewis sat toasting
+      her feet before the dying fire. Yet still Kitty lingered. She
+      wanted to take Tip's advice, and tell her mother about her
+      dear, new Friend, and this evening, of such wonderful peace,
+      seemed the good time for doing so; but she didn't know how.
+      If her mother would only say something to help her! and
+      presently she did.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, what fit came over you, to go to work and clear up at
+      such rate?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wanted to please <i>you</i>, I guess."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty knew that this answer would surprise her mother, and it
+      did, into utter silence; but, after what seemed to Kitty a
+      long, <i>long</i> time, she spoke again:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What did you want to do that for?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now for it! This was the best chance she could ever hope to
+      have, and her voice trembled a little:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wanted to please Jesus too, mother, and Mr. Holbrook said
+      if I did things to help you, and that you would like,
+      <i>He</i> would be glad&mdash;-Jesus would, you know." A
+      little silence, and then: "I want to please Jesus all the
+      time now, because I love Him, and I'm going to try to do
+      right."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was all out now, and her heart was beating so that it
+      almost stopped her voice. Her mother shaded her face with her
+      hand, and neither spoke nor moved. Kitty waited a little,
+      then moved slowly towards the door of her bit of a bedroom;
+      it was moonlight, so she needed no candle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Good-night, mother," she found courage to say at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Good-night;" and her mother's voice sounded strangely,
+      coming from behind the closely-held hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was something like a great sob in Kitty's throat as she
+      went to her room that night; in her heart was a great longing
+      for mother-love. She would have liked to kiss her mother
+      good-night, but she felt how queerly that would look; even to
+      <i>say</i> good-night was something very unusual. So she
+      knelt down beside her bed, and prayed for her mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I don't think Mr. Holbrook knew that the few kind words which
+      he spoke to Kitty Lewis, on her way home from prayer-meeting,
+      were seeds which were going to spring up and bear fruit unto
+      everlasting life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH19"><!-- CH19 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIX.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Father," said Tip, as, after having carefully measured out
+      and given him some cough-drops, he sat down for a chat with
+      him before school,&mdash;"father, didn't you and Mr. Bailey
+      go to school together when you were boys?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Mr. Lewis. "Our fathers lived side by side, and
+      we used to walk more than a mile to school together every
+      morning; we were in the same class, too, and the best
+      scholars in school. My! times are changed since that day. My
+      father was considerably better off than his was, and now he's
+      a rich man, and I'm nobody."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Was he such a boy as Will Bailey is&mdash;or, I mean, as
+      Will used to be?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know much about Will; but I know his father was a
+      sorry scamp, and many's the scrape he got me into. He took a
+      notion to me. We lived near by, and were always together, and
+      then I was as full of pranks as he was, I suppose. But he was
+      a regular tyrant over the rest of the boys; they were more
+      than half afraid of him; I don't know but what I was myself.
+      Anyhow, I know I've thought I'd have been different, maybe,
+      if I hadn't followed him so close in all his scrapes."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father, did you know Mr. Bailey was different now?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Different&mdash;how? What do you mean?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, he comes to prayer-meeting, and speaks and prays, and
+      seems to love to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The mischief he does!" said Mr. Lewis, surprised out of his
+      usual quiet tone. "I should think he <i>was</i> different.
+      Why, he used to make great fun of all such things."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, that's what he says; but I tell you he don't make fun
+      now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "When did all that happen?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "A few weeks ago, when the revival was, you know. He got up
+      one night and asked them to pray for him, and now he almost
+      always speaks or prays in the meetings."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Mr. Lewis, after a pause, and with a little
+      sigh, "I'm sure I ain't sorry. I only hope it will last; he
+      needed it as bad as any one I know of."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It will last," Tip said, speaking positively. "God will look
+      out for that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he waited a little before he spoke again&mdash;but he
+      had been praying for his father long enough and earnestly
+      enough to feel bold:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I thought, last night, that you must have been pretty good
+      friends once," he said presently, "for he most broke down
+      when he was praying for you, and the tears just blinded him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Lewis turned himself on his pillow, and looked steadily
+      at his son. "Did Mr. Bailey pray for <i>me</i>?" he asked at
+      last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, he did; and he prayed as if he meant it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How came he to?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, I asked 'em to&mdash;all the folks in meeting, you
+      know. I wanted you to be a Christian, and prayed for you, and
+      then I asked them if they'd pray, and Mr. Bailey got right
+      up. You don't mind that, do you, father? All the folks down
+      there ask us to pray for their friends."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "<i>No</i>," answered Mr. Lewis at last, speaking slowly, "I
+      don't know that I do. I need praying for, I suppose, if
+      anybody does. I'm going where I can't be prayed for, pretty
+      fast, I guess."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip had no answer to make to that.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "So you prayed for me too, did you?" his father asked
+      presently.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, and I do every day, father; I <i>do</i> want you to
+      know Jesus."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A long silence followed, and then the sick man spoke again:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Tip, I'm glad that you've got right, gladder than I
+      can tell you. My father was a good man, and tried to make me
+      do what was right; but I went all wrong, wasted my whole
+      life, and brought up my children to do so too; but you're
+      getting on without my help, and I'm glad you'll grow up to be
+      a good man, and be a comfort to your mother when I'm gone.
+      But I don't know that you need ask folks to pray for me; it's
+      too late,&mdash;I've gone too far to get back."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's bold, prompt manner did not forsake him now; he
+      answered quickly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father, I don't believe any such thing. God doesn't say
+      anything about it's being too late; and He says if we want
+      anything very much, and pray for it, and it's good to have,
+      He'll give it to us; and I'm bound to believe Him. Once I
+      prayed for Kitty, and prayed and prayed, and it didn't do a
+      bit of good, until at last Mr. 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 to; and I found out that
+      was it. Just as soon as I began to think He would hear me, it
+      all came out straight; and now I'm bound to believe Him every
+      time. I've asked Him to make you a Christian, and I'm going
+      to keep on asking, and <i>He'll do it</i>.
+      Father,"&mdash;Tip's voice took a softer tone, for he knew
+      there was one very tender spot in his father's
+      heart,&mdash;"don't you want to see little Johnny up in
+      heaven?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The muscles around Mr. Lewis's mouth began to twitch
+      nervously, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm pretty near it," he said at last; "and I think sometimes
+      I'd give the world, if I had it, to be ready to go; but it's
+      all too late. I've known the right way all my life, and I've
+      gone the other way; now I must just take my pay."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The very Spirit of Christ must have shown Tip what to say
+      next. He spoke the words earnestly and solemnly; he meant no
+      disrespect:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Father, do you know more about it than God? Because, you
+      see, it don't say any such thing anywhere in the Bible; I
+      know it don't, for we talked about it in Sunday school once,
+      and Mr. Holbrook said, 'No matter how old a man was, nor what
+      he had done, he could be a Christian.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I always thought it looked mean and sneaking in a man to
+      have nothing to do with such things all his life, and then
+      turn around just because he was going to die, and pretend to
+      be very good. God can't be pleased with any such thing as
+      <i>that</i>. I've always said that I'd never do it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip couldn't answer this: it didn't sound true; he felt sure
+      it was not true; but he had no wisdom with which to meet it.
+      He went to school with those last words of his father's
+      ringing in his heart, and his thoughts took shape, and spoke
+      in the very first sentence that he addressed to Mr. Holbrook,
+      whom he overtook as he came out of the post office:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Holbrook, can I ask you a question?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And the minister, always ready to help any one out of
+      trouble, smiled and bowed, and walked on by the side of the
+      troubled boy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "If a man should tell you he thought it would be mean in him
+      to turn around and go to serving God, after he had found out
+      he had but a little while to live, when he had cheated Him
+      out of all the rest of his life, what would you say?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I think," said Mr. Holbrook, "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 life, simply because
+      he had been doing so all the other years. Because a man has
+      been doing wrong for forty years, I don't know why he should
+      add another year of wrong; I should think he might much
+      better turn around, and make all the amends he could."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh!" said Tip, drawing a long breath; "why couldn't I have
+      thought of that? I knew it was wrong,&mdash;I saw it plain
+      enough; but I couldn't think of a word to say."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Holbrook looked earnestly at the eager boy. "Edward," he
+      said at last, "do you think your father would see me this
+      morning?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Tip decidedly, "I know he would. If you would
+      only go and see him, Mr. Holbrook, and explain that to him, I
+      would be <i>so</i> glad."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And, looking back soon after, he had the satisfaction of
+      seeing Mr. Holbrook walk quickly down town in the direction
+      of his home. And now Tip felt hopeful for his father: he had
+      prayed for him, he had worked for him, and now Mr. Holbrook
+      had gone to him; surely he could leave the rest in God's
+      hands.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH20"><!-- CH20 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XX.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Here Tip!" said Howard Minturn; "hold this frame steady
+      while I try that nail. Will, don't put that one up so high,
+      it ain't even with the others. Hold on, Ellis,&mdash;catch
+      hold of this stool, it's tipping. There, now, it's all nice
+      and in order,&mdash;isn't it, Mr. Burrows?" And he sprang
+      from his stool, as their teacher entered the schoolroom door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Very likely," answered Mr. Burrows, smiling; "only I didn't
+      hear what you said."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I say we're ready for examination, room and all."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The room is, certainly; and I hope your brains are. Ellis,
+      I'd move that chair a little to the left; it will be in the
+      way of the classes as it stands now. Do you feel brave
+      to-day, Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir," answered Tip promptly; "pretty brave."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And he did, besides feeling eager and excited. The long
+      winter term was over; to-day and tomorrow were to be days of
+      examination. The boys had been working hard for
+      it,&mdash;none harder than had Tip. It was the first
+      examination which had ever come to him in this exciting way.
+      Always before he had been among the few inevitable dunces,
+      running away from examination altogether, or else laughing
+      good-naturedly over his own blundering ignorance. But to-day
+      it was different: he stood there on the stage among the
+      workers, proudly answering his teacher's questions, and
+      looking proudly over at the group of idlers,&mdash;Bob Turner
+      at their head,&mdash;who loitered near the windows, wondering
+      that he could ever have been of their number. This was going
+      to be a great day for Tip; it is true he was far behind some
+      others of his age, so far that not a single class of Howard
+      Minturn's and Ellis Holbrook's were to be examined that
+      day,&mdash;the advance classes being put for the next
+      day,&mdash;while all of his came that morning; but then Tip
+      knew there was change enough in him to call the attention of
+      every one present. He felt the change in himself; his mother
+      felt it, when she that morning brushed his hair for him, and
+      fastened a clean collar on his jacket; the boys in school
+      felt it. He had taken his place among the workers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The bell rang at last, and the scholars filed in and took
+      their places. There were visitors, even in the early morning;
+      the people liked to attend Mr. Burrows' examinations. Tip's
+      class in reading came first on the list, and never had his
+      eyes been so bright or his face so eager. Tip had learned to
+      read. Patiently, earnestly, he had plodded on through the
+      long winter; now his sad blunderings in that line were over
+      for ever; not a boy in school read more slowly, distinctly,
+      and correctly than Tip Lewis. The selections were to be made
+      by the committee, immediately after class, of those who were
+      considered ready to enter the history class on the following
+      term. This was the highest reading class in the school: and
+      Tip's eyes fairly danced when Mr. Holbrook, who was chairman
+      of the committee, out of a class of thirteen read but two
+      names,&mdash;"Thomas Jones" and "Edward Lewis."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hallo, Tip!" Howard Minturn had said to him at recess;
+      "let's shake hands. Welcome to history; it's awfully hard and
+      interesting."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip did shake hands, and laughed; and looked over at the
+      other clique&mdash;the dunces&mdash;with a half-patronizing
+      nod to Bob Turner; and wondered how he <i>could</i>, have
+      borne it to have been numbered with them that day; then he
+      felt that he was climbing into the first set, and climbing
+      <i>fast</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In spelling, too, he came off conqueror; spelled down the
+      class, spelled until Mr. Burrows closed his book with the
+      words, "I presume you are tired of this, gentlemen, and, as
+      our examinations are confined to the lessons, I think it will
+      hardly pay to go further, for Edward has not missed since the
+      second week in the term."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So again, flushed and excited, Tip went to his seat
+      victorious. Only arithmetic now, and he would be through with
+      the working part of the day. It was the last recitation in
+      the morning, and he was so eager and anxious to do well, that
+      he began to grow nervous.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The class was called at last. They had gone slowly and
+      carefully through long division, and would be ready for
+      fractions next term. The recitation passed off finely. Tip
+      had not studied day and night during the winter for nothing.
+      He was at the board, working an example in long division; it
+      was almost finished. The hand of the clock pointed to ten
+      minutes of twelve. In ten minutes he would be through, and
+      his name would stand on that honoured list, among those who
+      had not missed one word or made one mistake during the
+      examination. His hand began to tremble. What was the matter
+      with that example? Oh, what <i>was</i> the matter? The
+      remainder was too large; no&mdash;it was too small;
+      no&mdash;it was&mdash;he didn't know what! Everybody was
+      watching him; he heard a boy laugh softly. He had made a
+      mistake, then; what was it? where was it? Mr. Burrows' voice
+      came to him, calm and kind:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, don't get excited. Look at your remainder closely;
+      take the first figures of divisor and remainder&mdash;nine in
+      thirty-one, how many times? That will help you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook stood but a step from the blackboard, just
+      behind him. Tip heard his low whisper, "Seven," and, without
+      waiting to think,&mdash;indeed, he was too nervous to
+      think,&mdash;he caught at the number.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Seven times!" he said hurriedly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he heard bursts of laughter from the boys, and dashed
+      down his chalk in an agony of shame and pain. And the clock
+      struck twelve!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The honour was lost.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys gathered around him after school was closed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It was too bad, Tip," Howard Minturn said, in a tone of
+      honest sympathy. "You'd have had it in a minute more."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'd have had it if it had not been for Ellis Holbrook, and
+      he's a mean scamp!" Tip answered, in a rage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Whew!" said Will Bailey; "what did Ellis do?" and Ellis
+      turned, and proudly confronted the angry boy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He told me wrong just on purpose; that's what he did, and he
+      knows it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip broke away from them, and dashed out of the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Howard Minturn stood aghast! That Ellis Holbrook, his best
+      friend, and the very pink of honour among the boys, should do
+      so mean a thing, he could not think, and yet it was hard to
+      think that Tip had not told the truth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What does he mean, Ellis?" he asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You'll have to ask him if you want to find out," said Ellis
+      haughtily. "He knows better than anybody else what he means,
+      I guess."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys started homeward presently in a body. Bob Turner and
+      his friends surrounded Tip, and Bob, who never lost a good
+      opportunity for teasing, commenced at once:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Poor little fellow, missed his lesson, so he did. Don't him
+      cry; him shall have a penny to buy a multiplication-table
+      with."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hold your tongue!" answered Tip, too angry to see how
+      foolish it was to let such words, coming from a boy who
+      didn't know a single line of the multiplication-table,
+      provoke him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "<i>Such</i> a pity!" began Bob again; "when it had spelled
+      its lesson all so nice, and had its face washed and its hair
+      combed so pretty. Mustn't cry now, to spoil its face. Poor
+      little fellow!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip turned to his tormentor a face perfectly white with rage,
+      and the boys hardly knew his voice:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Bob Turner, if you say another word, I'll knock you down and
+      thrash you within an inch of your life. I will"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, Tip Lewis! God forgive you for the way in which you in
+      your blind rage have finished that sentence,&mdash;for the
+      use which you have made of that great Name, which above all
+      others you profess to reverence and fear! The awful word,
+      once spoken, recalled him to himself: he clapped both hands
+      over his face and ran wildly up the hill, then down out of
+      sight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The boys had all heard it. Howard, Ellis, Will Bailey, and a
+      half-dozen others, were just behind him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook's pride rose high.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There's your wonderful boy," he said, "who was so changed,
+      and has taken it upon himself to preach so many sermons to
+      <i>me</i>. I'm sure I never finished any of my angry speeches
+      with an oath, if I <i>am</i> so far below him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What an afternoon that was to Tip! he will <i>never</i>
+      forget it. He went no farther than the great tree, which was
+      budding out in spring green. Down he sat on a stone, and once
+      more covered his face with his hands, and such a storm of
+      rage and pain swept over him as he had never known before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How could he, how <i>could</i> he have said that word?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ever since he had learned to pray, he had been afraid of that
+      sin,&mdash;afraid he might forget, and go back to his old
+      habits, and he had watched and guarded his lips with such
+      care and prayer. But lately he had given up all fear; it had
+      been such a long time, and he had never once fallen, he felt
+      sure that he never would again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He had felt so sure and proud and strong, that he had asked
+      no help from God that day; he had been so eager to spend
+      every moment on his arithmetic, that he had found no time to
+      go to his Bible for strength. No wonder&mdash;oh, no wonder
+      that he fell! He had been standing too firmly, feeling no
+      need of help. Now, what should he do? How low he felt, how
+      mean! Could God forgive him? Yes, He <i>could</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip felt in his soul that there was nothing which God could
+      <i>not</i> do, and yet he felt too mean and fallen to dare to
+      ask Him for anything more; he forgot for the moment that
+      Jesus Christ died to save <i>sinners</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The sun went on over his head, and commenced his afternoon
+      work; then there came up the hill the sound of the
+      school-bell, but Tip took no notice of that; he didn't want
+      to <i>think</i> of school, much less even <i>go</i>. He began
+      to fumble presently for his Bible,&mdash;he <i>must</i> have
+      some help. It opened of itself at the Psalms, and he read the
+      first line which he saw: "Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks
+      "&mdash;No, not that, and he turned back a couple of leaves.
+      "Make a joyful noise "&mdash;No, no! he didn't want to hear
+      anything about joy; his heart was as heavy as lead. So he
+      turned over several leaves at once: he <i>must</i> find
+      something that would read as if it meant him. "O Lord, rebuke
+      me not in Thy wrath, neither chasten me in Thy sore
+      displeasure." Oh, that was it! God was very angry with
+      him,&mdash;-had a right to be,&mdash;this was just what he
+      ought to say. He read on through the psalm; almost every
+      verse seemed for him, and when he read the one next to the
+      last,&mdash;"Forsake me not, O Lord; O my God, be not far
+      from me,"&mdash;he said it over and over, and finally, in a
+      great burst of tears, got down and said it on his knees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The short spring day was over, and the chilly night was
+      setting in. Tip had reached home finally, had split the wood
+      for the next day, done whatever he could find to do about the
+      house, and then carried the vests which his mother had just
+      finished to the clothing-store,&mdash;going away around
+      behind the mill so as to avoid passing the schoolhouse, lest
+      he might chance to see some of the boys. Then he came home,
+      ate his supper in silence, and went up to his attic. He felt
+      better than he had at noon, but his heart was still heavy,
+      and he dreaded the next day, not knowing what he ought to do,
+      or how to do it. This was Thursday evening, but he didn't
+      mean to go to prayer-meeting. Kitty had asked him, had even
+      coaxed a little, but he said, "No, not to-night." He felt
+      stiff and sore from his long sitting under the great tree in
+      the early spring dampness. He told himself that this was the
+      reason why he was not going to prayer-meeting; but the real
+      one was, he felt as if he could not possibly face Mr. Burrows
+      that evening, and <i>certainly</i> not Mr. Holbrook,&mdash;of
+      course, Ellis had told him all about it. He felt very tired,
+      and his head and limbs ached; he was going to read a chapter
+      in his Bible and go to bed. He chose the same psalm which had
+      come to him with so much power that afternoon, read it slowly
+      and carefully, then knelt down to pray, and as he did so a
+      new trouble loomed up before him. What should he do? He had
+      prayed for Ellis Holbrook and Bob Turner ever since he began
+      to pray for himself, but he felt as though he could not
+      possibly pray for either of them to-night. Both had tried to
+      injure him; both had succeeded. He wished them no harm: he
+      didn't want to choke or drown them, as he had felt like doing
+      at noon, but clearly he didn't want to pray for them. He had
+      arisen from his knees, and was sitting on the edge of the box
+      which was his table and chair, with a very troubled face. The
+      more he thought about it, the more he felt that he could not
+      pray for those boys just then. At last he thought he had
+      found a way out of the difficulty. He said to himself that he
+      was very tired, almost sick; he would just repeat the Lord's
+      Prayer and go to bed. In the morning, very likely, he should
+      feel differently; he almost knew he should. So he knelt down
+      once more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Our Father which art in heaven," slowly reverently, through
+      the sweet petition, until he came to "forgive us our debts as
+      we"&mdash;There he stopped. He understood that prayer; they
+      had been taking it up in Sunday school, a sentence at a time,
+      and talking about it, and only the Sunday before last that
+      sentence had been explained. To-night Tip could not finish
+      it; there was no getting around the fact that he had not
+      forgiven either Ellis or Bob. Once more he got up, and took a
+      seat on the edge of his bed to think. He was never so
+      perplexed in his life. What ought he to do? Couldn't he pray
+      at all? Mr. Holbrook had said he must never mock God by
+      asking for what he did not mean, and to say those words, "as
+      we forgive our debtors," feeling as he did to-night, would be
+      mocking God. He ought not to feel so, but how could he help
+      it? Suddenly, with a little sigh of relief, he went down on
+      his knees again: he had thought of something which he could
+      say. "Oh, Jesus, make me feel like praying for Bob and Ellis;
+      make me want them to be Christians as hard as I did last
+      night; make me feel like forgiving them." Then there was
+      silence in the lonely attic, while Tip, still on his knees,
+      struggled with the evil spirit within him, and came off
+      conqueror, for presently he added, "Oh, dear Jesus, I'll
+      forgive them both!" and then he finished the
+      prayer&mdash;"forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
+      debtors." While he went around after that, making ready for
+      rest and sleep, the "peace of God which passeth
+      understanding" came down and settled in his heart. Presently
+      he seemed to come to another difficulty, for he sat down with
+      one boot in his hand and one still on his foot. This
+      question, however, was settled promptly: he pulled the boot
+      on again in a hurry, then picked up his jacket and put that
+      on, seized his hat, and ran down-stairs.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty," he said, putting his head in at the kitchen door,
+      "I'm going, after all; come on."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Kitty joyfully ran for her hood and shawl.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Tip did not open his lips in prayer-meeting that evening;
+      he felt bowed down to the very ground with shame; he did not
+      once raise his eyes to the seat where Howard Minturn, Will
+      Bailey, and others of the schoolboys were sitting; and, when
+      the short hour was gone, he made haste to get out from Mr.
+      Holbrook's sight and the sound of his voice. But he had much
+      reason, after that, to thank God that he did not succeed. He
+      had just got from under the gaze of the hall-lamp, and stood
+      a minute in the darkness waiting for Kitty, when he felt Mr.
+      Holbrook's hand on his arm, and heard his kind, quiet voice:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, Mrs. Holbrook has some little business to transact'
+      with Kitty to-night; shall I walk with you?" And, as Tip saw
+      there was no help for it, and walked by his side, he said, "I
+      didn't see you at school this afternoon: how was that?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Holbrook, didn't Ellis tell you about it this noon?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ellis has told me nothing. I heard, from one of the smaller
+      boys, a very sad story. Have you anything to tell me?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir, I have not; it's all true. I got awful mad, and I
+      said mad things. I&mdash;I did worse than that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's voice sank to a solemn whisper. Mr. Holbrook, too, was
+      silent and sad; at last he said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What, Edward! do you mean to give up, and go back to the old
+      life?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And he remembered, years after, just how painfully his heart
+      throbbed while he waited for Tip's answer; it was prompt and
+      plain: "No, sir; God wouldn't even let me do that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And then for a minute Mr. Holbrook did not speak for very
+      thankfulness, that, through all this maze of sin, God was
+      leading Tip into the light again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you feel that you have God's forgiveness?" he asked,
+      speaking gently.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir." Tip could not give very long answers that
+      evening.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why were you so quiet to-night in prayer-meeting?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because," said Tip, speaking low, "I was ashamed to say
+      anything before you or Mr. Burrows or the boys, after what
+      happened today."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "More ashamed with us than you were with God?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir, I was; because God knows all about it,&mdash;just
+      how sorry I am, and how He has forgiven me, and is going to
+      help me; and you didn't know that."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Again Mr. Holbrook was thankful.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How about to-morrow, Edward?" he asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And this time Tip's answer was very low: I don't know; I
+      don't know what to do."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "If you knew what was right to do, would you <i>do</i> it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm pretty sure I'd <i>try</i> to, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, did you honour or dishonour Christ to-day?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip's answer was in a more timid tone than he often spoke:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I dishonoured Him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do the boys know that you are very sorry, and have asked God
+      to forgive you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir; they don't know anything about it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Don't you think, for the honour of Christ, they ought to?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I suppose so."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Who ought to tell them?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No immediate answer came to this; then, after a
+      little,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Holbrook, how could I tell them&mdash;to each
+      one&mdash;about it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "See if you cannot answer your own question. Will not all the
+      boys be likely to hear about it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir; they'll be sure to."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And would they all be likely to hear what you have to say,
+      unless you spoke to all at once?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But, Mr. Holbrook, if I did that, it would have to be in
+      school."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But to-morrow is the last day, and it's examination."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That short word seemed to have a good deal of power over Tip,
+      for he only answered it by saying, after a long
+      silence,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Holbrook, I wonder if you can think how very hard that
+      would be?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, I wonder if you can think how very hard it was for
+      your Saviour to listen to your words this noon?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Mr. Holbrook heard no more from Tip, save, when they
+      reached the corner, a very low, very grave "Good-night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH21"><!-- CH21 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXI.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with
+      him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honour him."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      There were not many visitors in the next morning; it was too
+      early, as yet, for any but the examining committee, and a few
+      very fond, very anxious mothers. Mr. Burrows' hand was on the
+      bell; in a few moments the algebra class would be in full
+      tide of recitation. Ellis and Howard had their slates in
+      their hands, ready to start at the first sound, when Tip
+      Lewis left his seat and made his way towards the stage. Mr.
+      Burrows looked surprised; this was entirely out of order; but
+      a look at Tip's face made him change his mind about sending
+      him back to his seat, and bend his head to listen to the few
+      words that were hurriedly whispered in his ear. Then he
+      looked more surprised, hesitated a minute, then asked,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Hadn't you better wait until noon, and I can detain the
+      scholars a few moments?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Tip, shaking his head, and speaking earnestly;
+      "I'm afraid, if I wait till noon, I shan't do it at all."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Very well," Mr. Burrows answered finally. "Scholars, one of
+      your number tells me that he has something of importance to
+      say to you; we will wait and hear him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was well for Tip that he was a bold boy, that every day of
+      his life had been such as to teach him a lesson of boldness,
+      else his courage would surely have failed him, when he felt
+      the many curious eyes resting on him. As it was, his face was
+      scarlet, when he turned it away from the desk and towards the
+      boys. Yet he spoke promptly, as he always did when he spoke
+      at all:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want to tell the boys that I am sorry for yesterday. I
+      suppose they all know what I did. I got awful mad, and
+      I&mdash;I said a dreadful word. I didn't think I would ever
+      be so wicked again; I feel awful about it. But I don't want
+      the boys to think that I don't love Jesus any more, because I
+      do; and He is going to help me try Such a silence as was in
+      that schoolroom then, the boys had never felt before! Mr.
+      Burrows' face was shaded with his hand; he let the silence
+      rest upon them for a moment, after Tip had taken his seat;
+      then he spoke, low and solemnly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Boys, what God has forgiven, I feel sure that no scholar of
+      mine will be mean enough ever to mention again."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the bell sounded, and the business of the day went on.
+      Tip had laid his head down on the desk the minute he took his
+      seat, and he kept it there throughout the recitation. He had
+      been through a fearful struggle; it was hard work for a boy
+      like him to stand up before the school and tell them how he
+      had fallen. But it was over now, and from his very soul he
+      felt that he had done right.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob Turner, sitting beside him, was quiet and sober; and when
+      Tip raised his arm with such a sudden jerk that he knocked
+      his arithmetic to the floor, Bob leaned over and quietly
+      picked it up and laid it back in its place; which was a
+      wonderful thing for Bob Turner to do.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At noon the boys gathered around Tip, quiet and kind; no one
+      spoke of what had been <i>the</i> important event of the
+      morning; all were on good behaviour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook came into their midst.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip," he said, speaking gravely, yet very coldly, "perhaps
+      it would be as well for you to know that you made quite a
+      blunder yesterday, when you said I told you wrong; I hadn't
+      the slightest notion of telling you, right or wrong. But I
+      know how you came to think so. I was looking out a word in
+      Mr. Burrows' dictionary, and stood just behind you, when Mr.
+      Bailey leaned over and asked me how many there were in your
+      class when all were present, and I answered him, seven."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip looked perfectly astonished.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why didn't you say so yesterday?" he asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because you didn't give me a chance," Ellis answered coolly.
+      "I'm not in the habit of cheating, nor of being told that I
+      do, so I was not prepared with an answer."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That's true," said Tip, after a minute, answering the first
+      part of Ellis's sentence; "that's true, I didn't. I was mad,
+      and I just banged off before anybody could say anything. I
+      might have known you didn't do any such thing; it ain't like
+      you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip walked away, leaving Ellis to think that the boy who
+      was so far below him had shown much the better spirit of the
+      two.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The busy day was drawing to a close; the last recitation was
+      over, and the boys were in a state of grand excitement,
+      waiting to hear the report of the committee; waiting to know
+      whose names were to stand on the Roll of Honour, having
+      passed through the entire examination without a mistake. Poor
+      Tip was sad; yesterday morning he had felt so sure that his
+      name would have an honourable place, and to him it was so
+      much more exciting, because it would be for the first time.
+      How hard he had worked; and now it was all lost! Stupidly
+      lost, too, he said to himself, over an example that he had
+      done a dozen times; and he drew a heavy sigh, and roused
+      himself to listen to the report. Mr. Burrows had already
+      called for it, and Mr. Holbrook, as chairman of the
+      committee, had arisen; but, instead of reading the report,
+      said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Burrows, if there is time, I should like to say a few
+      words to the scholars. Boys, you were all listeners to Edward
+      Lewis's examination yesterday, and I presume you know better
+      than I do how hard he has worked. Now, I think any one who
+      watched him yesterday could not have failed to see that, had
+      he not grown excited and nervous, he could have worked that
+      example. Mr. Burrows, may I put a question to vote?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Mr. Burrows giving a hearty consent, he continued, "Very
+      well. Now I want every boy here, who is willing to allow
+      Edward Lewis to go to the board <i>now</i> and try that
+      example, and, if he succeeds, give him the place which would
+      have been his yesterday, to stand up."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellis Holbrook was the first to spring to his feet, and every
+      single boy in the room followed his example; Tip alone
+      sitting still, with burning cheeks.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well done," said Mr. Holbrook "Now it only remains to get
+      your teacher's consent to our plan."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Which Mr. Burrows gave by wheeling his table from before the
+      blackboard and picking up an arithmetic. "You may come
+      forward, Edward. I will dictate the example; which one is
+      it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The thirty-ninth, sir; fifty-first page."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By this time Tip was at the board. How they watched him! how
+      fearful his teacher was for him! how he longed to have him
+      succeed! Tip worked fast and boldly; his hand did not
+      tremble; chalk and fingers and brain did their duty; the
+      terrible "nine in thirty-one, how many times," as a test for
+      the larger number, was reached, and an unusually large and
+      bold figure <i>three</i> was placed in the quotient; a few
+      more rapid dashes, and, with a grand flourish after the
+      "seventeen remainder," Tip threw down the chalk, pushed back
+      the hair from his hot temples, and walked to his seat. The
+      boys could not keep quiet any longer: a very soft tapping was
+      heard at first, then, finding they were not silenced, it rose
+      to a loud, decided stamping of many feet. But Mr. Holbrook
+      was on <i>his</i> feet again, and they were quiet directly,
+      for the report was finally to be read.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My son," said Mr. Holbrook, not long after, laying his hand
+      kindly on Ellis's shoulder, as he was hurrying from the room,
+      "what do you think of Edward's religion to-night?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I think it is honest, sir," Ellis answered quickly. "Excuse
+      me, father, if you please; I must see Howard a minute before
+      he goes;" and so he ran away from his father's longing look.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As for Tip, he borrowed from Howard Minturn a copy of the
+      village paper, which came out a few days after, and read the
+      report of the examination; read this sentence: "And, among
+      all the pupils, perhaps no one of them has made more rapid or
+      astonishing progress than has Edward Lewis."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, while the twilight deepened, he turned eagerly to the
+      next column, which read in this way:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+  "ROLL OF HONOUR;
+
+  "Being an alphabetically arranged List of those
+  who passed the entire Examination without
+  making an error:
+
+  WILLARD BAILEY.
+  ELLIS HOLBROOK.
+  HARVEY JENNINGS.
+  EDWARD LEWIS."
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH22"><!-- CH22 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "I will lead them in paths that they have not known."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "See here, Tip," called Mr. Minturn, appearing in his store
+      door one morning not long after the examination; "I want to
+      talk to you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip swung his basket off his shoulder, and went into the
+      store. He was at work for Mr. Dewey, and every piece of meat
+      which he carried home took the form, in his eyes, of a Latin
+      grammar and a dictionary; for these two books were what he
+      was at present aiming after.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm in a great hurry, Mr. Minturn," he said; "I've got a
+      piece of meat for your folks in my basket, and I expect they
+      want it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "They'll have to wait till they get it," answered Mr.
+      Minturn; "but I never hinder folks long. What are you going
+      to do with yourself, now school's out?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, work; anything I can find to do while vacation lasts."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "So you're going to keep on at school, are you? I thought
+      likely, since your father was laid up, you'd he hunting for
+      steady work, so you could help the family along. There's a
+      hard winter coming, you know."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was no mistaking Mr. Minturn's tone. It said, as
+      plainly as words could have done, "That's what I think you
+      ought to do, anyhow."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip looked troubled. "There's nothing for me to do," he said
+      at last; "I don't know of a place in this town where I could
+      get steady work that I could do; and besides, if there was,
+      I'm after an education now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My brother is here from Albany," Mr. Minturn made answer to
+      this. "He is a merchant, has a large store there, and keeps a
+      great many clerks. He's been plagued to death lately with one
+      of his boys,&mdash;when he sent him home with bundles, he'd
+      open them and help himself; and my brother told me last
+      night, if I could warrant him a boy who was perfectly honest,
+      he'd take him home with him, pay his fare down, and do well
+      by him. I thought of you right away, and I told my brother
+      that you were just the boy for him,&mdash;you'd be as true as
+      steel; but then, if you're going to keep on at school, it's
+      all up."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minium did not add, that he had kept his brother until
+      eleven o'clock the night before, telling him Tip's
+      history,&mdash;what a boy he had been, how he had changed,
+      how he was struggling upward; and, finally, the whole story
+      of the examination,&mdash;the failure, the downfall, the
+      public confession; nor how his brother had listened eagerly,
+      and had said, with energy, after the story was
+      finished,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Such a boy as that ought to be helped; and I'm ready to help
+      him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      None of this did Tip hear, but he stooped down for his basket
+      when Mr. Minturn had finished speaking, with a bright blush
+      on his cheek. It was something for a boy like him to be
+      called "as true as steel."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," he said decidedly; "I'm going to keep on at school,
+      that's certain. Thank you all the same."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And out he went; yet all the way up and down the streets his
+      thoughts were busy over what he had just heard. It was
+      <i>time</i>, certainly, as poor as they were, that he began
+      to work; his mother's sewing supported the family now, and
+      hard and late into the nights she had to work to keep them
+      from hunger. Tip had thought of this question before, but had
+      always comforted himself with the thought that work was not
+      by any means an easy thing to get in the village; the odd
+      jobs which he could find, out of school hours, being really
+      the only things he could get to do. But no such comfort came
+      to him to-day: here was a chance, and a splendid one, for
+      getting steady work, and by and by good wages probably; why
+      wasn't he glad?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Oh, ever since he gave himself to Christ, there had been in
+      his heart a longing to get an education, and not only that,
+      but to become a minister. Very small, faint hopes he had, and
+      even those were frightened sometimes at their own boldness;
+      but every day the desire grew stronger, and it did not seem
+      as though he could possibly give up school now. It was out of
+      the question, he told himself, just as he was beginning to
+      enjoy his books so much, and was doing well. Mr. Burrows
+      would be disappointed in him; he had encouraged him to study.
+      No, it couldn't be done. He would consider the matter
+      settled. And yet there was his mother, working day and night,
+      and he, her only son, not helping. There was his father,
+      growing weaker every day, coughing harder every night; long
+      ago they had given up the hope that the cough would ever
+      leave him. There was Kitty, who ought to be in school, but
+      could not because her mother <i>must</i> have the little help
+      which she could give. Tip was half distracted with thinking
+      about it; he felt provoked at Mr. Minturn, and Mr. Minturn's
+      brother, and the store in Albany, and the boy who helped
+      himself out of other people's bundles; they were all trying
+      to cheat him out of his education. A dozen times he said it
+      was settled, and as many times began at the beginning to
+      think it all over again. He went home finally, after the meat
+      was carried around; but this didn't help him any. Home hadn't
+      gone back to its old state of dirt and disorder: Kitty's
+      first attempt had been too successful, and she had liked the
+      looks of things too well to give up; so there was a great
+      change for the better in the housekeeping, which both Kitty
+      and her mother enjoyed. Still, there was no denying that,
+      though a clean, it was a very forlorn little room, with very
+      few things for comfort or convenience. Tip had never seen
+      this with such wide-open eyes as he did today; so coming home
+      did not quiet the vexing thoughts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He split wood and pumped water without whistling a note,
+      growing more sober every minute. At last, after supper, when
+      the work was all done that he could do, he drew a sigh of
+      relief; it was so nice to have time for thought. He could go
+      up to his attic, and he would not come down, no, not if it
+      wasn't in three days, until this thing was decided finally
+      and for ever.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty sewed steadily on the seam which her mother had fixed
+      for her, and wondered why Tip didn't come down and hear her
+      lesson, which had been ready for him this hour. It was
+      another hour before he came; then his mother said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tip, if you've a cent in the world, do take it, and go and
+      get your father some of that cough-candy. I do believe he
+      hasn't stopped coughing since supper."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tip took his hat and started for the store; as he went he
+      whistled a little. The cough-candy was found at a store away
+      up town, and, getting a paper of it, Tip dashed on around the
+      corner and opened Mr. Minturn's store door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "When is your brother going home?" he asked, without
+      ceremony, seeing Mr. Minturn behind the counter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Next Monday."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, I'm going to talk to father, and I think likely I'll
+      want to go along with him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "All right."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Tip slammed to the door and ran away and Mr. Minturn never
+      knew what a downfall that decision had been to the boy's dear
+      hopes and plans.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was all settled in the course of a day or two. Mr. Minturn
+      from Albany was very kind. Tip was to have wages that seemed
+      a small fortune to him, and enough had been advanced to get
+      him a new suit of clothes, which his mother made.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One would have supposed that the future would look bright to
+      him; yet it was with a very sad heart that he took his seat
+      in prayer-meeting that Thursday evening, the last time he
+      expected to be in that room for&mdash;he didn't know how
+      long. He had a feeling that he ought to be very glad and
+      thankful, and wasn't at all.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Through the opening hymns and prayers his heart kept growing
+      heavier every moment, and it was not until Mr. Holbrook
+      arose, and repeated the text which he had chosen for the
+      evening, that Tip could arouse himself to listen. It was a
+      queer text, so he thought,&mdash;"Who shall roll away the
+      stone?" What could Mr. Holbrook be going to say on that? He
+      found out, and had reason to remember it for ever after. As
+      he went out from that meeting, his thoughts, had he spoken
+      them, would have been like these:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That's true,&mdash;I don't believe any man but Mr. Holbrook
+      would ever have thought of it: they worried at a great rate
+      about that stone, how they would get it rolled away, and when
+      they got there it was gone. I'll remember that. I'll do just
+      as he said: when I see a stone ahead of me, I won't stop and
+      fret about it; I'll walk straight up to it, and when I get
+      there maybe it will roll out of my way."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH23"><!-- CH23 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXIII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of
+      silver."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Behold Tip, now in Albany, far away from home and friends,
+      from every one that he had ever seen before, save Mr. Howard
+      Minturn, young Howard's uncle. But he had been there some
+      time, and was growing into a settled-at-home feeling. It had
+      been a wonderful change to him. Mr. Minturn did not board his
+      clerks; but for some reason, best known to himself, he had
+      taken Tip home with him. For a few days the boy felt as
+      though the roses on the carpets were made of glass, and would
+      smash if he stepped on them. But he was getting used to it
+      all; he could sit squarely on his chair at the table instead
+      of on the edge, spread his napkin over his lap as the others
+      did, and eat his pie with a silver fork under the light of
+      the sparkling gas.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mother," said little Alice Minturn, "why does father have
+      Edward board here, and sit at the table with us?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because, Alice, your father wants to help him in every way;
+      your uncle Minturn thinks he is an unusually good, smart
+      boy."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I think so too," said Alice, and was satisfied.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Tip Lewis was Tip no longer; no one knew him by that
+      name; every one there said "Edward," save the store clerks,
+      and they called him "Ed."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He had a queer feeling sometimes that he was somebody else,
+      and that Tip Lewis, whom he used to know so well, would be
+      very much astonished if he could see him now.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He went into Sabbath school, and became a member of Mr.
+      Minturn's Bible class; but teachers were scarce, and before
+      he had been there three weeks Mr. Minturn sent him to take
+      charge of a class of very little boys, who called him "Mr.
+      Lewis," and made him feel strange and tall. He began to
+      realize that he was almost sixteen years old, and growing
+      very fast.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was leading a very busy life now-a-days; at work all day,
+      in and for the store, and in the evening doing all he could
+      with his books. Those books and his love for them were a
+      great safeguard to him, kept him away from many a temptation
+      to go astray; and yet it was hard work to accomplish much in
+      the little time he had, and with no helper. Sometimes he
+      sighed wearily, and felt as though the road was full of
+      stones.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I pity you, old fellow," one of the younger clerks said to
+      him one evening, as they were leaving the store.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't know for what," was the good-natured answer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, Mr. Minturn's pink of a perfect and wonderful and
+      altogether amazing son Ray has just got home from the
+      University; saw him pass the store not an hour ago, leaning
+      back in the carriage like a prince."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's he?" asked Edward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He's a prig; that's what he is."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What's a prig?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ho! you're a greeney, if you don't know what a prig is. Wait
+      till he snubs you and lords it over you awhile; then I guess
+      you'll know. He'll have a good chance, seeing you're right
+      there at the house all the while. I wouldn't be in your shoes
+      for a penny."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Spite of its making him a great greeney, Edward did not know
+      what a prig was; but, judging from his companion's tone, he
+      decided that it must be something very disagreeable. He went
+      home feeling cross and uncomfortable, wishing that Ray were
+      anybody in the world rather than Mr. Minturn's son, or
+      anywhere else rather than at home. He was beginning to have
+      such a nice time there; they were all so kind to him, and
+      really seemed to like him. It was too bad to have it all
+      spoiled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I know what kind of a fellow he is," he muttered to himself;
+      "he's like that Mr. Symonds who comes to the store twice a
+      week or so after kid gloves, and acts as if he thought he was
+      a great deal too good to ask me a decent question. My! I wish
+      he was in Texas."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The dining-room was a blaze of light when he peeped in, soon
+      after the family were gathered waiting for Mr. Minturn. The
+      newcomer sat on the sofa, one arm a-round little Alice, and
+      the other resting gently on his mother's lap. Edward guessed,
+      by his mother's face, that she did <i>not</i> wish he was in
+      Texas. Mr. Minturn came in presently, and Edward stole into
+      the room just behind him; but Alice called him eagerly:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward, Ray has come! Come over here and see him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn, as Edward stood still, with
+      very red cheeks; and Ray sat up and held out his hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How do you do, Edward? Alice has been making me acquainted
+      with you this afternoon, so you're not a stranger."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How very clear and kind his tones were! Edward was
+      astonished. That same evening he was more astonished. He was
+      in the library, at work over his books; Mr. Minturn had to go
+      to a committee meeting, expecting to be detained late; as he
+      arose from the dinner-table, he said,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How am I to get in to-night? Here's my night-key in two
+      pieces."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'll be night-key, sir," said Edward promptly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, you may; you can take your books to the library, and
+      have a long evening to pore over them."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So he was there, poring over them with all his might, when
+      the door opened gently, and Ray Minturn came in.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you hard at work?" he asked kindly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir," said Edward, wishing he would go out again. But
+      he didn't seem in a hurry to do so; he took a book from the
+      case, and glanced over it a moment, then came towards Edward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What are you studying?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Fractions," answered Edward briefly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you have any trouble?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, lots," speaking a little crossly, for he wanted to go
+      on with his work; "I can't get this one I'm at, to save my
+      head."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Suppose I see what is the matter." And Bay drew a chair to
+      the table and sat down, glancing his eye over the slate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Rather, suppose you see for yourself," he said in a few
+      moments. "Just run over that multiplication at the top of the
+      slate."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, bother!" Edward said, after he had obeyed orders; "that
+      figure three has made me all this trouble."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Smaller things than figure threes make trouble. Have you
+      been to school lately?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Always, till I came here; but I might just as well have been
+      out until last winter."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What happened last winter?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Lots of things," answered Edward, with brightening eyes. But
+      he didn't seem disposed to state any of them; so, after
+      waiting a little, Ray asked,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Wouldn't you get on faster with your books if you had a
+      teacher?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Think likely I should; but I haven't got any, so I'll have
+      to get on as fast as I can."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How would it do if I should play teacher while I am at home,
+      and give you the hour from nine till ten?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward laid down his pencil, turned his eyes for the first
+      time full upon Kay, and looked at him in silent astonishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you mean it?" he asked at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Certainly I do; I shouldn't say so if I didn't. Don't you
+      think you would like it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Like it! I guess I would. But I don't know&mdash;What do you
+      do it for?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because I am glad to help a boy who seems to be trying to
+      help himself. We will consider it settled, then. It is ten
+      o'clock; will you come out to prayers now?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And at this the astonished look on Edward's face deepened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Is Mr. Minturn here?" he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No; but his son is. Are you so surprised that I should have
+      prayers in my father's absence?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Edward; "I didn't know&mdash;I mean I didn't
+      think"&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You didn't think I had learned to pray, perhaps. Thank God,
+      I have." Then he laid his hand kindly on Edward's shoulder.
+      "Have <i>you</i> learned that precious lesson yet, my
+      friend?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Edward softly; "a good while ago."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I am very glad; you will never learn anything else that is
+      quite so important. What is all the study for, by the way?
+      Have you any plans.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Edward, astonished at what he was about to tell
+      to a stranger; "I want to get an education, and then, if I
+      possibly <i>can</i> do that, I want to be a minister."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ray's hand fell from his shoulder, and when he answered this,
+      his voice was low and a little sad:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "God bless you, and help you. I hope you will never have to
+      give it up."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward made up his mind that night that a prig meant the best
+      and kindest,&mdash;yes, and the wisest young man in the
+      world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH24"><!-- CH24 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXIV.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so
+      to them."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      The long, bright summer days and the glowing autumn days were
+      gone; mid-winter was upon them. During all this time Edward
+      was hard at work; there was plenty of business to be done at
+      the store. He had been promoted; very rarely, now-a-days, was
+      he called on to carry home purchases, or to do errands. He
+      had his counter and his favourite customers. There had been
+      another change, too, which Edward felt sure Ray had had a
+      hand in; Ray had a hand in everything that was good and
+      thoughtful. He had long evenings for study now; he came up to
+      dinner with Mr. Minturn at six o'clock, and had no further
+      work to do until the next day. Oh, those long evenings! What
+      rapid progress he made! what a teacher Ray was! Could a boy
+      help getting on who was so carefully and kindly led?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What was <i>not</i> Ray to him?&mdash;teacher, friend,
+      brother; constant, unfailing, loving guide. Edward was
+      learning to love him with an almost worship.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meantime, every one saw better than did Edward himself how he
+      had changed. He had not been in constant intercourse with a
+      Christian family, who lived their religion every day and
+      every hour, for nothing; his improvement had been constant
+      and rapid.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He came home from the post office one evening with his hands
+      full of letters, among them a very queer-looking one for
+      himself. He carried the others to the library, and his own to
+      his room. Such an odd letter as it was! He was glad it was
+      his business to get the mail, and that none of the other
+      clerks had seen this, with his name written at the very top
+      of the envelope, and written "Tip" at that. How oddly it
+      looked, and how queerly it sounded when he said it over! It
+      was so long since he heard that name, he never wanted to
+      again. He was glad that Ray Minturn had never called him Tip,
+      nor heard him called so.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Who could it be from? Nobody wrote to him except Kitty, and
+      once in a long while his mother; but this was no home-letter.
+      At last he broke the seal, and read:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "DEER TIP,&mdash;Mother's dead, I feel bad, you kno that, so
+      what's the use? I've got to go to work. I like you better
+      than any of the other felows, always did. Can't I com out
+      there to your store and work, I'll behave myself reel wel; I
+      <i>will</i>, honour bright, if you'll git me a place. I've
+      got money enuff to get there. I dug potatoes for old Williams
+      and earned it. Rite to me rite off that's a good fellow. I
+      want to com awful. BOB TURNER."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward was thunderstruck! he dropped the letter on the floor
+      in disgust. What was to be done now? The idea of having Bob
+      Turner there was perfectly dreadful; besides, thank fortune!
+      it was impossible. They wanted more help, to be sure, had
+      been looking out for a boy that very day, but not such a one
+      as Bob,&mdash;that was out of the question; and
+      yet&mdash;Bob's mother was dead! In his rude, careless way,
+      Bob had loved his mother rather better than he had any one
+      else, and Edward did not doubt that he felt badly. He was
+      without friends now; surely he needed one if he ever did. But
+      it was <i>so</i> disagreeable to think of having him
+      there,&mdash;he was so different from any of the others, and
+      he would call <i>him</i> Tip, and be always around in his
+      way; would seem to lead him back to the old life from which
+      he thought he had escaped altogether. It was not to be
+      thought of for a moment. But then&mdash;and now came a
+      startling thought. How long he had been praying for Bob!
+      Perhaps this was the way in which God meant to answer, by
+      giving him a chance to work as well as pray. Perhaps he ought
+      to be <i>willing</i> to have him come. No matter how much the
+      clerks might make fun of him for having such a friend; no
+      matter how much pain and annoyance it might cause him; if
+      this was God speaking to him to help his brother, how
+      dreadful it would be to make no answer!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He sat down to think about it; his algebra lay open before
+      him; he was not quite ready for Kay, but he could not attend
+      to algebra now.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me see," he said; "if there <i>should</i> be such a
+      thing as that Bob could come, what would I do for him? One of
+      two things is certain, either he'll lead me or I shall him;
+      we always did when we were together much. Which will it be?
+      If he leads me, he'll lead me into mischief, just as sure as
+      the world; if I lead <i>him</i>, I'll try to keep him out of
+      mischief. It's clear that I ought to be the leader. Now, how
+      would I do it, I wonder? Bob ought to be a Christian; he
+      won't be safe two minutes at a time until he is. If God says
+      anything, He says He'll hear prayer. If I believe that, why
+      don't I pray for Bob, so that he'll be converted? I <i>do</i>
+      pray for him always, but it's kind of half-way
+      praying&mdash;kind of as if I thought it was a pretty hard
+      thing for God to do after all. That's wrong. God wants him
+      safe, and He knows he isn't safe now, and He's willing to
+      help him; it must be my fault that He don't. My business and
+      lessons, and all that sort of thing, are putting Bob and
+      Ellis, and even father, pretty much out of my thoughts.
+      That's wrong too, and must be stopped. Mr. Minturn says a
+      thing is never half done that hasn't a corner in the day
+      belonging to itself. I'll try that rule. After this, every
+      evening at half-past eight, I'll come up here to my room and
+      lock the door, and I'll pray for Bob; I'll pray as though I
+      expected an answer, and was going to be on the look-out for
+      it. I won't let anything hinder me from coming at just that
+      time, unless it's something that I can't help. Meantime, I'll
+      get him a place if I can."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward was as straightforward as Tip had been; this point
+      decided, he went down-stairs to the library door, and
+      knocked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn was alone, and busy; but he looked up as Edward
+      entered in answer to his "Come in."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, sir, what is it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Have you time for a little piece of business?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Always time for business; sit down. What is it about?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Have you found a boy yet?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No. Have you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir; there's a boy out home who wants to come; I've
+      just had a letter from him. His name is Turner&mdash;Bob
+      Turner."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Is he a good boy?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, that's plain! What are you talking about, then?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I want you to make him a good boy, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph! that's an idea. I can't make boys over new. Is he
+      honest?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, sir, I don't think he is very,&mdash;not what you mean
+      by honest; but his mother is dead, and he hasn't any friends;
+      he goes with a miserable set of fellows, and he'll get worse
+      than he is in no time if he stays there."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And the whole of it is, you think it's my duty to let him
+      come, and try to save, him! Suppose I should, what would you
+      do for your share?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'd try, too."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why, I'd try to get him to do right."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Suppose he should try to get you to do wrong?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "He couldn't!" said Edward positively.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How did you find that out?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because I should pray for myself every day, and for Bob too;
+      and God hears prayer."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, but God's people sometimes get very far away from Him;
+      if this Bob should lead <i>you</i> astray, I'd be sorry I
+      ever heard of him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I don't feel much afraid," Edward said, speaking this time
+      in a more quiet, less positive tone, "for I never go wrong
+      when I pray often; pray about everything that comes up, you
+      know, and mean what I pray for."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Humph!" said Mr. Minturn; "that's a good idea; I guess
+      you're pretty safe under <i>that</i> rule."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Besides," said Edward, reserving one of his best arguments
+      till the last, "I know somebody who would help Bob ever so
+      much,&mdash;Mr. Ray would find him out."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn's eyes grew bright, and he smiled a half sad
+      smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," he said, "that's true enough; Ray can't come near
+      anybody without helping him. Well, write to the boy to come
+      on; we'll try him. Has he anything to come with?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, sir, he says he has money enough to get here." And
+      Edward went away glad, for he had begun to be very willing to
+      have Bob there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH25"><!-- CH25 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXV.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "If ye abide in Me, and My word abide in you, ye shall ask
+      what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Edward got up one morning feeling years older than he had
+      only the morning before,&mdash;older and graver, feeling a
+      great responsibility resting on his shoulders; for he was The
+      weary frame, racked with so many pains, was at last at rest.
+      Kitty had written just a line, telling the sad story, but it
+      did not reach him until nearly a week after; and with it came
+      Mr. Holbrook's,&mdash;a long letter, full of tender sympathy,
+      telling all about how, in the afternoon of an early spring
+      day, they had laid his father by Johnny's side.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward read on eagerly, until he came to this sentence: "My
+      dear boy, I have a most precious message for you. I was with
+      him only an hour before he died, and at that time he said to
+      me, 'I want you to tell Tip that God has heard his prayer,
+      and saved his father; and that I shall watch for him to come
+      to heaven, and bring all the rest.' And, Edward, I haven't a
+      shade of doubt but that your father is with his Redeemer; you
+      must let me quote again a verse which I once gave you: 'I
+      love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my
+      supplications.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And at this point the letter dropped from his hand, and
+      Edward shed his first tears for his father.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was curious, the different ways that Mr. Minturn and his
+      son had of expressing sympathy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh," Mr. Minturn said, when he was told, "why in the world
+      didn't they send for you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Because, sir, my father died very suddenly, and my mother
+      thought I could not afford to come so far for the funeral."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Afford! as if that would have made any difference. Did they
+      think I would let it cost <i>you</i> anything?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward showed Mr. Holbrook's letter to Ray after that; and
+      when it had been read, expressed the feeling which had been
+      much in his heart ever since the news came, and which had
+      been strengthened by Mr. Monturn's words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I shall always be sorry that I could not have gone to the
+      funeral."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Bay answered, resting his arm, as he spoke, lightly on
+      Edward's shoulder, to express the tenderness which he felt,
+      "No you won't, my dear fellow; when you get up there, in the
+      glory of the Redeemer's presence, and meet your father face
+      to face, you will not remember to be sorry that you did not
+      see him <i>buried</i>."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meantime Bob had come, and been set at work. He did not board
+      at Mr. Minturn's. Edward had heard that matter arranged with
+      a little sigh of relief; his precious hour with Ray, then,
+      would be undisturbed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob was doing very much better than anybody who knew him
+      would have imagined he <i>could</i> do; he seemed to have
+      made up his mind to behave himself, sure enough. Yet his
+      being there was a trial to Edward in several ways: he had a
+      great horror of being called "Tip;" that name belonged to the
+      miserable, ragged, friendless, hopeless boy who used to
+      wander around the streets in search of mischief, not to the
+      young man who was a faithful clerk in one of the finest
+      stores in Albany, besides being a teacher in Sabbath school,
+      and a very fair scholar in Latin and algebra. But Bob Turner
+      could not be made to understand all this; and though he
+      stared at the neat black suit which Edward wore, and opened
+      his eyes wide when Mr. Minturn went and came in company with
+      his old companion, and honoured him in many ways, he still
+      called him "Tip," in clear, round tones, that rang through
+      the store a dozen times a day. But there was nothing which
+      Ray could not smooth over, so Edward thought, when one
+      evening he flounced into the library with a very much
+      disturbed face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wish that fellow knew anything," he said angrily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What is the matter now?" Bay asked, meeting the bright,
+      angry eyes with a quiet smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward laughed a little. "Well, I can't help feeling vexed;
+      Bob screeches that hateful little name after me wherever I
+      go. I despise that name, and I wish he could be made to
+      understand it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How did you happen to be called Tip at first?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why," said Edward, turning over the leaves of his
+      dictionary, "my little sister Kitty made it up before she
+      could talk plain. How she ever got that name out of Edward, I
+      don't know; I'm sure I wish she had been asleep when she did
+      it; but that's what she called me, and that's what I've been
+      ever since."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And did Johnny, the little boy that died, ever call you so?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward's eyes began to grow soft.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Often," he said gently; "and it was about the only name he
+      could speak; he was a little fellow."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Edward, I should not think it would be such a very
+      disagreeable name to you, when your father, who is gone,
+      always used it, and always in kindness, you told me; and it
+      is the only name by which little Johnny can remember you.
+      There are two things to be thought of in this matter," Ray
+      continued, after a moment, finding Edward not disposed to
+      speak: "one is, if you hope to do anything with this old
+      companion of yours, you must be ready to take worse things
+      from him than a quiet, inoffensive little name like that; he
+      will learn your right name, perhaps, in time. And the other
+      is&mdash;What is Bob Turner's right name, my friend?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward's face flushed, his lips quivered into a little smile,
+      then he laughed outright.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It would be ridiculous to call <i>him</i> Robert!" he said,
+      still laughing. "Ray, here's my exercise, if you want it
+      now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And Ray heard no more complaints about the offending little
+      name.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Say, Tip, just go home with me to-night," Bob coaxed one
+      evening, as Edward, having been detained late at the store,
+      was leaving just as Bob was closing the shutters. "Mr. Ray's
+      head is so bad you won't have any plaguy lessons to-night to
+      hinder you. Every single fellow in the store but me is going
+      to the theatre, and I am awful lonesome up there alone."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is a wonder you are not going too," said Edward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, it ain't. I can keep a promise once in a while, I
+      reckon. That Ray Minturn can do anything with a fellow, and I
+      was fool enough to promise him that I wouldn't go. Come, go
+      up home with me; do, that's a good fellow!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Edward decidedly, "I can't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Now, Tip Lewis, I think you're real mean; you don't never
+      come to see me no more than if I was in Guinea. You act as if
+      you were ashamed of me, and I keep my word and behave myself,
+      too; and you're a mean, chicken-hearted fellow, if you're
+      ashamed to notice me now-a-days, just because you board in a
+      big house and dress like a dandy."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Poh!" said Edward; "what nonsense that is! I'd look well
+      being ashamed of any one that Minturn talked with. But, Bob,
+      I can't go to-night, nor any other night just about this
+      time; because I made a promise that I'd do something else, at
+      exactly half-past eight, and that nothing in the world should
+      hinder me if I could help it; and it can't be far from
+      half-past eight now."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob eyed him curiously. "Tip, you're the oddest fellow born,
+      I do believe," he said at last "Is it lessons?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, it's nothing about lessons."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Couldn't I <i>help</i> you to do it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Edward, after a thoughtful silence; "you
+      <i>could</i> help me better than any one else, only you
+      won't."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, now," Bob answered earnestly, "as sure as I'm alive, I
+      will, if you'll tell me what it is; I'll help you this very
+      night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you promise?" asked Edward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, I do, out and out; and when I promise a thing through
+      and through, why, <i>you</i> know, Tip Lewis, that I do it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," said Edward, as he tried the door to see that all was
+      safe before leaving, "then I'll tell you. Every night, at
+      exactly half-past eight, I go to my room and ask God over and
+      over again to make you want to be a Christian."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Not a single word did Bob answer to this; he took long
+      strides up the street by the side of Edward in the direction
+      of Mr. Mintern's, never once speaking until they had reached
+      the door, and stood waiting to be let in; then he said, "Tip,
+      that's mean."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What is?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "To get a fellow to promise what he can't do."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I have not. Don't you want to be a Christian?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No; I can't say that I'm particular about it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But that's too silly to believe. You need a friend to help
+      you about as badly as any one I know of, and when you can
+      have one for the asking, why shouldn't you want Him? Besides,
+      I didn't say <i>make</i> you a Christian, anyhow; I said make
+      you <i>want</i> to be one. You can pray, that <i>I'm</i>
+      sure; any way, you promised, and I trusted you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob followed him through the hall, up the stairs, to his neat
+      little room, and whistled "Hail, Columbia," while he lighted
+      a match and turned on the gas.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "My! you have things in style here, don't you?" he said,
+      looking around, while the bright light gleamed over the
+      pretty carpet and shining furniture.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," said Edward; "everything in this house is in style.
+      Bob, it's half-past eight."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," Bob said good-naturedly, "I'd like to know what I'm
+      to do; this is new business to me, you see."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I'm going to kneel down here and pray for you, and you
+      promised to do the same."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward knelt at his bedside, and Bob, half laughing, followed
+      his example. But Christ must have been praying too, and
+      putting words into Edward's heart to say. By and by, in spite
+      of himself, Bob had to put up his hand and dash away a tear
+      or two. He had never heard himself prayed for before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That evening was one to be remembered by Bob Turner, for more
+      than one reason. Bay sent for both of the boys to come to his
+      room; he was sick, but not too sick to see and talk with Bob
+      whenever he could get a chance. He made the half-hour spent
+      with him so pleasant, that Bob gave an eager assent to the
+      request that he would come often. More than that, he kept his
+      word; and as often as he passed Edward's door, towards nine
+      o'clock, he stepped lightly, for he knew that he was being
+      prayed for, and there began to come into his heart a strange
+      longing to pray for himself. One evening he discovered that
+      Ray, too, prayed every night for him, and the vague notion
+      grew into a certainty, that what they two were so anxious
+      about for him, he ought to desire for himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward had taken this promise into his heart; he was trying
+      to live up to the condition to abide in Christ, and in due
+      season God made His promise sure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I wish," Bob said to Ray one evening when the weary head was
+      full of pain,&mdash;"I <i>do</i> wish I could do something
+      for you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "You can," Ray answered quickly,&mdash;"something that I
+      would like better than almost anything else in the world."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "What is it?" Bob's question was sincere and eager.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Give yourself to Christ."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob heard this in grave, earnest silence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I would," he said after a minute, "if I knew how."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you mean that?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, I do; I'm sick of waiting, and I'm sick of myself."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "If I should tell you how, would you do it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, I would," spoken evidently with honest meaning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kneel down, then, here beside me, and say to God that you
+      want to be a Christian; that you are willing to give yourself
+      up to Him now and for ever, to do just as He tells you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob hesitated, struggling a little, and at last knelt down.
+      There was silence in the room, while three sincere hearts
+      were lifted up in prayer; and surely Christ bent low to
+      listen. When Bob would have risen, Bay laid one hand on his
+      arm, and, steadying his throbbing head with the other, said
+      solemnly,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Blessed Redeemer, here is a soul given up to Thee. Do Thou
+      take it, and wash it in Thy precious blood, and make it fit
+      for heaven. We ask boldly, because Thou hast promised, and we
+      know that Thy promises are sure."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Edward," Ray said the next evening, as they sat alone, and
+      were silent for a little, after Bob had left them, and gone
+      home rejoicing in the hope of sins washed away, "what was
+      that verse that your minister at home quoted for you in his
+      letter?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my
+      supplication," Edward repeated it with brightening eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH26"><!-- CH26 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVI.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled
+      away."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Onward sped the busy days, until at last there came an
+      evening which made it exactly three years since Edward had
+      first set foot in Albany. They had been years of wonderful
+      progress to him. He had gone on steadily with his evening
+      studies; he had been an eager pupil, and Ray had been a
+      faithful teacher. This evening he sat in the library waiting
+      for Ray, but he had a very troubled face. Once more he took
+      Kitty's long letter out of his pocket. Kitty wrote long
+      letters once in two weeks, but it was a rare thing to have a
+      postscript added by his mother. He turned to this and read it
+      again; it was a very kind one. They were doing well now, so
+      she wrote. Her health was very good, now that she slept
+      quietly at night; and just here Edward knew there had come in
+      a heavy sigh, because there was no constant coughing to
+      disturb her rest. She had steady work, and could support
+      Kitty and herself nicely without his help; he must keep what
+      he earned for himself after this. "Kitty says you want to go
+      to school," so the letter ran; "if you do, save up your money
+      for that. Your poor father had a notion that you would make a
+      scholar; I think it would please him if you did."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Surely he could not wish for a kinder, more thoughtful letter
+      than this; coming from his <i>mother</i>, too! she must have
+      changed much, as well as himself. But this very letter had
+      greatly unsettled his quiet life; the old longing to give
+      himself up to study, to prepare for the ministry, had broken
+      loose, and well-nigh overwhelmed him with its power. He
+      wanted it, oh, so much! it had grown strong, instead of weak,
+      during these three years. But what to do, and how to do it?
+      That was the question. Certainly he was not prepared to
+      answer it. If he stayed where he was, led his busy life all
+      day in the store, how was he ever to go through with the
+      necessary course of study, which it was high time he
+      commenced in earnest? If he left them, these dear friends,
+      who had taken him into their home and hearts, and made him
+      feel like one of thorn, how was he to live while he studied?
+      How, indeed, could he study at all? The truth was, Edward,
+      calling to mind Mr. Holbrook's lecture that last evening in
+      the home prayer-meeting, and his resolution taken then,
+      thought that the stone was ahead of him no longer, but that
+      he had walked <i>close</i> up to it, and could not take
+      another step because of it, and very large and impossible to
+      move did it look to his shortsighted eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just as he was growing hopelessly moody, Lay came in, and
+      settled himself among the cushions, rather wearily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ray," said Edward anxiously, "you are not well enough for
+      lessons to-night."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," answered Ray, smiling, however, as he spoke; "I think I
+      am not, because I want to talk instead. I am full of a scheme
+      which needs your help; for once we'll let the lessons go. It
+      is an age since I have heard anything concerning your plans;
+      you have not given up your desire for the ministry, I hope?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No, Ray; I shall never give that up."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I thought not; it would not be like you. That being the
+      case, isn't it time to do something definite?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Time, certainly," Edward answered gloomily; "but what's to
+      do?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That brings me to the unfolding of my scheme. Edward, do you
+      know that it was my lifelong desire to reach the point
+      towards which you are looking?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "<i>No</i>," said Edward, with pitying interest; "I never
+      thought of it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well," and Ray smiled sadly, "it is so; and I hope you may
+      never know how hard it is to have to give up such a wish. I
+      cannot say that I did actually give it up entirely until very
+      lately. I gave up all study three years ago, and came home to
+      regain strength! <i>you</i> know how well I have succeeded in
+      that." And Ray pressed his thin, wasting hand across his damp
+      forehead. "It is all over now, <i>utterly</i>." The hand did
+      duty now for a moment, shading his eyes from the light.
+      Presently he spoke more cheerily. "All over for myself, but
+      not for you; so, Edward, what I want to say to-night, in
+      brief, is this: You have talents, perseverance, and health; I
+      have money,&mdash;the four combined cannot fail to speed you
+      in your work. What say you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I&mdash;I don't understand you," Edward spoke, in complete
+      bewilderment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me speak more plainly. I want you to go now,
+      <i>immediately</i>, to some good preparatory school, thence
+      to college, thence to the seminary, and the means wherewith
+      to do these three important things shall be at your disposal.
+      Isn't that plain?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Why," said Edward, "I don't know what to say; I am too much
+      astonished, and&mdash;and thankful."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Then you will do it?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Only,&mdash;Ray?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Isn't there a right kind of pride, about being helped in
+      these things?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There is a great deal of wrong kind of pride. Let me show
+      you;" and he sat up and spoke eagerly. "It is right and
+      honourable for people to help themselves in this world, but
+      very vain and foolish to refuse help which would greatly aid
+      the cause that they profess to have at heart. You see how it
+      is: God has given me money; I am ready and waiting to give it
+      back to Him. I would gladly give myself to Him in the
+      ministry; I have longed and prayed for this; but He has seen
+      fit not to answer as I wished. I have no strength to give;
+      you have, and are ready to give it. Do you think God would be
+      less pleased with the offering if we united it, thus giving
+      me a chance to do something?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Edward, speaking very slowly; "only, I had hoped
+      to accomplish my plans without help from any one but God."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ray leaned back again among the cushions, and spoke
+      wearily,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "That is, you prefer to be a great many years longer in
+      preparation than you need be, and have about half as much
+      strength finally as you would have, had you not overworked,
+      rather than give me a chance to do what I could, since I
+      cannot do what I would."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "But, Ray, there are plenty of people to help, even if you do
+      no more for me. The world is full of poor young men,
+      struggling to get an education."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, that is so; and I suppose you would enjoy helping some
+      young man out in Oregon, of whom you had never heard, quite
+      as well as you would me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward came quickly to the sofa where Ray was lying, and laid
+      his hand tenderly over the closed eyes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Ray, there is nothing in the world I would not do for you."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Will you let me help you into the ministry, as rapidly as
+      money <i>can</i> help?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I will be glad to; it is a great, noble offer, and I thank
+      you from my heart. You mustn't think that I don't; only I
+      thought&mdash;perhaps"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I know," said Ray, for Edward had stopped doubtfully; "I
+      understand just how you feel; but I <i>do</i> think the
+      feeling, in this case at least, is wrong; and, my dear
+      brother, you will be glad when you know how thankful you have
+      made me."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes; and after all you will not be doing any more for
+      me&mdash;you <i>can't</i>&mdash;than you have done. I think
+      money is very little, compared with that. Ray," and Edward
+      sank down among the cushions in front of him, "I do believe
+      you are more to me than any other human being ever will be."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ray smiled, quite as if he did not think so, but would not
+      unsay it for anything.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is all right," he said gently, after a little silence. "I
+      think you will do so much more than I ever <i>could</i> have
+      done. God bless you, my dear brother!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After that Edward went up to his room, got out his little red
+      Bible, his precious lamp, and, opening at the history of the
+      rock-bound grave, read on until he came to the verse, "And
+      when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away."
+      Around this he made heavy marks with his pencil, thinking,
+      meantime, that the angel of the Lord was still at work on
+      earth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Bob," said Edward, stopping before Bob's counter, two days
+      after this matter was settled, "I am going to start for home
+      in the morning."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Are you, though?" Bob answered eagerly, stopping his work to
+      take the sentence in fully. "My! I wish I was going along,
+      just to see what folks would say."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "About <i>you</i>, do you mean?" said Edward, laughing, and
+      thinking wonderingly, as well as joyfully, of the change
+      which there had been in Bob Turner.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bob had a counter too, and was no longer an errand-boy; there
+      had very rarely been known such a rapid promotion in that
+      store; but the truth was, Mr. Minturn had early learned that
+      Bob Turner was destined to be, not a minister, nor a lawyer,
+      not even a scholar, but a thorough, energetic, successful
+      merchant. He had no sooner made this discovery than he
+      determined to give the boy a chance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Bob had earned a name and a place in the store, and was a
+      general favourite with the other clerks, and was beginning to
+      have customers who sought him out, and liked to make
+      purchases of him. More than all, Bob was an earnest
+      Christian; his loving tenderness for, and almost worship of,
+      Ray Minturn, kept him from being much led into temptation,
+      and his influence over the younger clerks was growing to be
+      for good. He was destined to be more popular than Edward had
+      been; for Edward had risen too rapidly, and was too much at
+      home with the entire Minturn family, not to be looked upon
+      with some degree of envy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, Tip,"&mdash;Bob had never learned not to say Tip, and
+      probably never would, but Edward had long since forgotten to
+      care,&mdash;"tell every one at home that I'm well and happy,
+      and never want to see one of them again. I don't believe I
+      have a friend there: anyhow, I know I don't deserve to have."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH27"><!-- CH27 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking
+      heed thereto, according to Thy word."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Kitty Lewis shook out the folds of her new bright pink calico
+      dress, walked to the little looking-glass, for about the
+      tenth time, to see if the dainty white ruffle around her neck
+      was in order; then took a survey of the room, lest there
+      might possibly be something else to do which would improve
+      its appearance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was the same little room in which Kitty had spent her
+      childhood, from which Johnny first, and then long afterwards
+      the husband and father, had been carried out to return no
+      more. And yet it was not the same,&mdash;there was a neat rag
+      carpet on the floor, a Christmas gift from Mrs. Minturn; the
+      round table in the corner was covered with a bright red
+      cloth, and strewn with a few books and papers; the full white
+      curtain was looped away from the window, and the light of a
+      clear sunset glimmered in the room; everything was neat and
+      bright and cheery. The table was set for tea, the white cloth
+      showing just the folds in which it was ironed; there were
+      three plates and three cups and saucers, instead of two,
+      while Kitty, in her restless wanderings around the room, and
+      Mrs. Lewis, in her frequent glances out of the window, both
+      showed that somebody was being watched and waited for.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "The eastern train is in," Kitty said finally "Now, if he
+      comes to-night, he'll be here in three minutes." And it could
+      not have been much more than that when a quick, crushing step
+      was heard on the gravel outside, then on the plank before the
+      door, then the door swung open, and Edward Lewis walked into
+      the little room out of which he had gone three years before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty was all ready to spring forward, say, "Oh, Tip!" and
+      throw her arms right around his neck. Instead, she stood
+      still. Some way, in spite of the long letters which had
+      passed between them during these years, Kitty had fully
+      expected to see a stout, tanned boy, in a strong, coarse suit
+      of grey, with thick boots and a new straw hat. Of, at
+      least,&mdash;why, of course, she knew he must have changed
+      some; hadn't she? But then she did <i>not</i> think he would
+      be so tall, and have a face and hands without tan or freckle,
+      or that his clothes would be so <i>very</i> black and fine,
+      and fit as though they had grown on him, or that his collar
+      would be so white and glossy, or his boots so small and
+      shiny. So Kitty stood still in embarrassed silence. But the
+      mother,&mdash;oh, she saw in him the picture of the dear,
+      dead father, as he used to come to her long, long ago; the
+      husband who, through all change and poverty and pain, she had
+      <i>always</i> loved! And all the tenderness that had ever
+      been in her heart took form, and spoke in those words with
+      which she came forward to greet her son,&mdash;"Oh, my
+      <i>dear</i> boy!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was happiness in the little home that night; only the
+      bedroom door was closed, and Edward knew that his father's
+      bed was vacant.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Such a queer feeling as possessed him all the next day, while
+      he went around the village! He went <i>every</i>where. He
+      felt like walking through every street, and stepping on every
+      stone on which his feet had trod in the old life, now utterly
+      gone from him. He wandered down to the river-bank, where he
+      had lain that summer morning and envied the fishes; and,
+      standing there, thanked God for the mission class in Mr.
+      Holbrook's Sabbath school. Thence to the cemetery, where by
+      the side of little Johnny's grave the new life had been
+      commenced. There was a long grave beside the short one now;
+      and, standing there, he thanked God for the hope which he had
+      of meeting the father and the baby in heaven. Thence to the
+      great elm-tree at the foot of the hill; and, standing there,
+      he took out once more the little red Bible, and turned the
+      leaves lovingly; lingered over the name written by Mr.
+      Holbrook's hand, turned again to the first verse which he had
+      ever read from its pages: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
+      and a light unto my path." Time and again had he proved the
+      truth of that verse. There, under that very tree, it had
+      helped him to fight battles with Satan and come off
+      conqueror. And he thanked God for the Bible. After that he
+      went directly to the village; just looked in at the meat
+      market for the sake of the old days.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Somebody told Mr. Dewey who was coming, and he was just ready
+      to say, "Hallo, Tip!" but instead, he came around from behind
+      the counter, and, holding out his hand, said, "How do you do,
+      Lewis? Glad to see you." Something, either in the city-made
+      clothes or the quiet air of dignity with which they were
+      worn, made him dislike to say "Hallo, Tip!" to the tall young
+      man before him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn shook him heartily by the hand. "Never rejoiced
+      over any one's luck more in my life!" he said; then, in the
+      same breath, "How's Ray? Oh yes, I see how it is, poor
+      fellow! And you love him too; of course, every one does."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was still the schoolroom to visit, and as Edward went
+      up the familiar walk he wished Bob Turner could have been
+      with him to make this call. But Bob was probably rushing like
+      a top through the city store, without a thought of the old
+      schoolhouse or the miserable days which he had spent there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows himself answered the knock, and gave him a hearty
+      greeting. Three years had made changes there. Edward found
+      himself looking eagerly towards the back row of seats fur the
+      old faces,&mdash;Will, Howard, Ellis, and half a dozen
+      others,&mdash;before he remembered that they had long since
+      entered higher schools. The boys whom he hid left plodding
+      through long division were filling those back seats now, and
+      leading their classes in algebra and Latin. He sat down near
+      the blackboard to watch the progress of Joe Bartlett through
+      an example in division. And behold, he was doing that old
+      never-to-be-forgotten example about the cows and sheep! He
+      picked up an arithmetic eagerly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Burrows, do you remember that example?'
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I remember that it has puzzled some forty or more of my boys
+      in the course of time," said Mr. Burrows, laughing; "but
+      nothing very special about it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I do; it was the cause of my first promotion."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Was it, indeed! I'm afraid it will never be the cause of
+      poor Joseph's; it seems to be mastering him."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows was engaged with a grammar class, and Edward
+      offered to assist the bewildered Joseph.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I remember those sheep of old," he said kindly, as he turned
+      to the board. "Isn't it the 'stood him in' that troubles
+      you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes, it is," Joe answered grumbly. "I don't see no sense to
+      it."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Let me show you. Suppose"&mdash;And he went through with the
+      well&mdash;remembered explanation. It was successful, Joe
+      understood it, and went on briskly with the figures.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Edward turned towards Mr. Burrows. "It was the way my father
+      explained it to me," he said, with eyes that glistened a
+      little.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some one brought Mr. Burrows a note, and, as he read and laid
+      it down, he said, "Now, Edward, if you had continued at
+      school instead of running away from us, I should get you to
+      hear this recitation in algebra, and take leave of absence
+      for a few minutes. There is a friend in town whom I would
+      give much to see before the next train leaves."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Suppose you set me at it as it is."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Burrows looked surprised.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Have you been studying algebra, Edward?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Somewhat."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "How far have you been?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Through."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Do you feel <i>positive</i> that you could do examples over
+      here?" turning to "Evolution."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "<i>Entirely,"</i> Edward answered, smiling at Mr. Burrows'
+      doubts. Ray had been a thorough teacher.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Mr. Burrows went away, and Edward took his seat on the
+      stage and commenced the recitation. At first the boys were
+      disposed to be wise, and display their knowledge; when they
+      had known him last, he was in division. But he was in algebra
+      now, or rather through it, and they speedily discovered that
+      he seemed to have every example in the lesson committed to
+      memory.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meantime, Mr. Burrows returned, and listened with
+      astonishment and delight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Thank you heartily," he said afterwards. "You ought to fit
+      yourself for teaching. But, Edward, you did not get through
+      algebra alone?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "No," said Edward, flushing at the thought of Ray; "I had the
+      best and wisest teacher on earth."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Well, he sat down in what had been his seat, and tried to
+      imagine that it was his seat still; that Bob would be in
+      pretty soon, and plague him while he studied his
+      spelling-lesson. But he could not do it. "Things were
+      different,"&mdash;very different. First and foremost, there
+      was Ray: he had not known <i>him</i> in those days; if he
+      had, he said to himself, things would have been different
+      long before they were.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Going back up town he met Mr. Holbrook, who turned and walked
+      with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "And so," he said, after the long talk was concluded, "you go
+      next week, do you?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Next Tuesday, sir."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, God bless you, my friend, as He has, and will." Then,
+      after a minute, "Edward, my son is a wanderer yet: do you
+      still remember him?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Always, sir," Edward answered, in firm, steady tones; "and,
+      Mr. Holbrook, God <i>never</i> forgets!"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As he went on past Mr. Minturn's store, could he have heard
+      the remarks that were made there, very likely he might have
+      remembered a certain statement which he made to the little
+      fishes that summer morning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Minturn, looking out after him, said to Mr. Dewey,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "There goes one of the finest and most promising young men in
+      this town."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yes," answered Mr. Dewey, laughing a little; "I used to
+      notice that he improved every day after he brought back those
+      circus tickets."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p><a name="CH28"><!-- CH28 --></a>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XXVIII.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      "For them shalt find it after many days."
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      "Come in;" and the Rev. Edward Lewis laid down his book,
+      pushed back his study chair, and was ready to receive whoever
+      was knocking at his study door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Mr. Lewis," said the little girl who came in in answer to
+      his invitation, "father has just come from the post office,
+      and he brought you some letters, and here they are."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Lewis thanked his little next-door neighbour, took his
+      letters, and, when the room was quiet again, settled back in
+      his chair to enjoy them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The first one was from a brother minister, begging an
+      exchange. The next brought a look of surprise and delight to
+      his face, for he recognised Ellis Holbrook's handwriting. And
+      the delight spread and deepened as he read; especially when
+      he came to one sentence: "I asked father what message he had
+      for you, and he replied, Send him this verse, and tell him
+      that again it is peculiarly his, 'I love the Lord, because He
+      has heard my voice and my supplication.'" That, you see,
+      would have told me the whole story, without this long letter.
+      "I thank God that He put it into your heart to pray for me,
+      as also that He has heard your prayers. God bless you. By the
+      way, father wants you to assist him on the first Sabbath in
+      July. I earnestly hope you can do so; he thinks you will be
+      coming east about that time."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Was there ever a more thankful heart than was that minister's
+      as he laid down his old schoolfellow's letter? How
+      constantly, how sometimes almost hopelessly, had he prayed
+      for Ellis Holbrook! How many times had he been obliged to
+      reassure himself with the promise, "In due season we shall
+      reap, if we faint not." And now again had God's word been
+      verified to him. He took the letter up once more, to look
+      lovingly at that closing, never before written by
+      Ellis,&mdash;"Your brother in Christ."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was still another letter to read. That writing, too,
+      was familiar; he had received many reminders of it during the
+      past years. He laughed as he read, it sounded so like the
+      writer:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      ALBANY, <i>June</i>&mdash;, 18&mdash;.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "DEAR TIP,&mdash;Do you have Fourth of July out your way this
+      year? We do here in Albany; rather, I'm going to have one in
+      my yard. Perhaps you remember a Fourth of July which you took
+      me to once, when we were ragged little wretches at home? I
+      do, anyhow, and this is to be twin-brother to that time. All
+      the ugly, dingy little urchins that I know have been invited.
+      We're to have fine fireworks and fine singing and fine
+      <i>eating</i>. My wife added that last item,&mdash;thought it
+      a great improvement. I'm not sure but it is; most things are
+      that she has a hand in. Now, to come to the point of this
+      letter,&mdash;you're to make the speech on that occasion. No
+      getting out of it now! I planned this thing one day in the
+      old schoolhouse. Oh, did you know Mr. Burrows had given up
+      teaching? Grown too old. Queer, isn't it? Don't seem as if
+      anybody was growing old except me. At first I wasn't going to
+      have my feast on the Fourth, because, you remember, it was on
+      <i>that</i> day that our blessed Ray left us; but, talking
+      with Mr. Minturn about it, he said Ray would have been
+      delighted with it all,&mdash;and so he would, you know. Don't
+      think we are going to gather in all Albany; it's only the
+      younger scholars of the mission school, in which my wife and
+      I are interested.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Tell Howard and Kitty to be sure and come; they can put
+      their visit a few weeks earlier as well as not.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Oh, by the way, if you have heard from Ellis Holbrook
+      lately, you are singing 'Glory Hallelujah' by this time!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "I am writing this in the counting-room, and am in a great
+      hurry, though you wouldn't think it. Shall expect you by the
+      third, <i>certainly</i>.&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Yours, etc.,
+    </p>
+    <center>
+      "BOB TURNER."
+    </center>
+    <p>
+      These letters came on Saturday evening. The next morning, in
+      Sabbath school, when the superintendent's bell rang, the
+      minister left his class of mission scholars, and went up the
+      aisle towards the altar, pausing first to speak with a
+      bright-eyed little lady, who sat before her class of
+      bright-eyed little girls.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Kitty, where is Howard?"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "At home, coaxing a fit of sick headache."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Well, here are letters that will interest you
+      both,&mdash;came last evening; one contains an invitation.
+      Tell Howard I think we must try to go. Mother bade me tell
+      you she wanted to see you at the parsonage in the morning;
+      she is not out to-day."
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he went on. The scholars began to sit up straight, and
+      fold their arms; they knew they must listen if they wanted
+      Mr. Lewis to talk to them. When every eye was fixed on him,
+      he began,&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Children, I have a very short story to tell you to-day about
+      myself. Years ago, when I was a little boy, my Sabbath school
+      teacher told us a story, one morning, which was the means of
+      bringing me to Jesus. I have to thank that lady, next to God,
+      that I am standing here to-day a minister of Christ. She was
+      not our regular teacher, but was a stranger; I never saw her
+      after that Sabbath. Perhaps you can imagine how I have
+      longed, since I became a man and a minister, to find that
+      lady, and tell her what one hour of faithful teaching did for
+      me. I thought it would help her, encourage her. I thought she
+      would be likely to tell it to other teachers, and it would
+      help them. But though I had it always in mind, and made very
+      earnest efforts to find her, I never succeeded until last
+      week. You know, children, it is ten years since I came here
+      to be your pastor, 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 seeking. And what else do you think
+      I heard of her? Why, that two weeks ago she died. Scholars,
+      my first thought was a sad one, that I never could thank her
+      now. But you know I can; I expect to one of these days. Why,
+      when I get to heaven, one of the first things I shall do will
+      be to seek her out and tell her about it. So, you see, she
+      will know it, even if some of the watching angels up there
+      have not told her already.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Just here, I want to say one word to the teachers. This
+      incident should come with wonderful encouragement to your
+      hearts, reminding you that you may often speak words which
+      spring up and bear fruit that reaches up to God, though you
+      do not know it, and <i>will</i> not, until in heaven you take
+      your crowns, and question why there are so many stars.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "Children, next Sabbath I will tell you the story which led
+      me to Christ; and all this week I am going to pray that it
+      may have the same effect on some of my scholars.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      "It is time now for your verse. If any of you can find out
+      why what I have been telling you to-day made me think of this
+      verse, you may tell me next Sabbath. Now repeat,&mdash;'Cast
+      thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many
+      days.'"
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &nbsp;
+    </p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tip Lewis and His Lamp
+by Pansy (aka Isabella Alden)
+
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+  </body>
+</html>
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