'Yes, ma'am,' answered Stephen; 'my chapter says, "Whosoever shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach
them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."'

'Stephen, you know your chapter well,' said Miss Anne.

'I don't know anything else,' he answered; 'so I am always studying at
that in my head, up here and down in the pit.'

'He's always mighty solid over his work, ma'am,' said Tim, pulling the
front lock of his red hair, as he spoke to the young lady.

'Stephen, do you know that you have a namesake in the Bible?' asked Miss
Anne.

'No, sure!' exclaimed Stephen eagerly.

'It was the name of a man who had many enemies, only because he loved the
Lord Jesus; and at last they hated him so much as to kill him. He was the
very first person who ever suffered death for the Lord's sake. Give me
your Bible, and I will read to you how he died.'

Miss Anne's voice was very low and soft, like sweet music, as she read
these verses: 'And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud
voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this,
he fell asleep.'

Stephen listened breathlessly, and his face glowed with intense interest;