CHAPTER XII.
TAFFY'S CHILDHOOD COMES TO AN END.
The summer passed.

There was a talk in the early part of it that the Bishop would be coming, next spring, to consecrate the restored church and hold a confirmation service.

Taffy and Honoria were to be confirmed, and early in August Mr.Raymond began to set apart an hour each day for preparing them.

In a week or two the boy's head was full of religion.

He spent much of his time in the church, watching the carpenter at work upon the new seats; his mind ran on the story of Samuel, and he wished his mother had followed Hannah's example and dedicated him to God; he had a suspicion that God would be angry with her for not doing so.
He did not observe that, as the autumn crept on, a shadow gathered on Humility's face.