"You can, and be back in your old place, owning your own boat, too."

"Yes," said Aunt Stanshy, eagerly, "and fishing from the barn, just the
same as before."

"You are all kind, very kind. It does me good," and poor Tim actually
smiled at the prospect. "What would my sister, who has clung to me, say?
Wouldn't she be taken aback?"

The tears were again in the drunkard's eyes.

"Good deal of the man there yet," thought Will. "Your sister might be
taken aback, but in that kind of way that would help you forward. Come,"
he said, aloud, "I will go into my room and write a pledge for you, and be
back in a moment."

Tim looked intently at the pledge of total abstinence that Will brought.

"If--if--I had some one to sign with me, some one to stand with me," he
murmured.

"I will," said the fisherman, stepping forward, and now recognized as a
previous acquaintance.

"You, John Fisher, will you?"

"Yes, I have taken a drop now and then, but I'll sign and stand with you.
I don't want to get into the--"