MODEST MERIT. 89 



his business at this place. He'd corne of a 

 good stock, but it seemed to my friend and 

 his wife that it was running a great risk to 

 have him lodge in the town, and pick up 

 with one and another acquaintance ; and so, 

 though they were so happy together, rather 

 than see him do badly, or run a risk of it, 

 they'd made a home for him with them for 

 a while, till he'd seen more, and been shown 

 a little of what's what. Now what could be 

 kinder than that ? and it may be, and I hope 

 it will be, that some day he'll make such a 

 man as shall repay their goodness by being 

 what they 'd like to see him ; and perhaps 

 he may do some such kind thing for some- 

 body else, as a token of his not forgetting 

 what he owes them. While I was there, my 

 friend gave a lecture to the mechanics in the 

 town, and to any body else that chose to go 

 and pay for a seat. His wife was obliged to 

 stop at home ; but how her heart was with 

 him, for he'd never been so public before. I 

 went ; but said I to her, " Now don't you fret. 

 It's to be only an hour, and I'll sit near the 

 door, and directly it's over I'll run off, and 

 tell you all about how he's got through." It 

 was a great meeting, and a good many big- 



