Not that I reasoned about it that way then; I only felt no interest in the affair; and my conscience said nothing about it.

But after my father and mother were gone, and I was at work away from all my old friends--well, I needn't trouble you with what it was that set me a-thinking--it was only a great disappointment, such as I suppose most young fellows have to go through--I shouldn't wonder," he added with a smile, "if that was what you ladies are sent into this world for--to take the conceit out of the likes of us, and give us something to think about.

What came of it was, that I began to read my mother's big Testament in earnest, and then my conscience began to speak.

Here was a man that said he was God's son, and sent by him to look after us, and we must do what he told us or we should never be able to see our Father in heaven! That's what I made out of it, miss.

And my conscience said to me, that I must do as he said, seeing he had taken all that trouble, and come down to look after us.