age, the very dread of the parents who live near you."

'They had not a word to say, not a syllable beyond the objection
which I had already met, that other children were bad too. I did not
say what I might have said with truth, because it is only from
Gardiner's report, not from my own knowledge--viz., that neither
father nor mother ever come to church, and that their house is the
centre of evil to the young people of the village.

'"Now," I said, in conclusion, "I fully meant to send back your boy,
and tell you I would examine him six months hence, to see if he was
fit to be brought into the school, but as I do trust he may behave
better, and that this may be the means of recovering him from this
sad state, I shall take him still, unless he behaves again very
badly. But remember this--this is the turning point in the boy's
life, and all, humanly speaking, depends on the example you set him.
What an awful thing it would be, if it pleased God to take him away
from you now, and a fit of measles, scarlatina, or any such illness,
may do it any day! Remember that you are responsible to a very great
extent for your child; that unless it sees you watchful over your
thoughts, words, and actions; unless it sees you regular and devout
in prayer at home (I don't believe they ever think of such a thing--
God forgive me, if I am wrong); unless it sees you habitually in your
place in God's house, you are not doing your duty to yourselves or
your child, you are not laying up any hope or comfort whatever for
the day of your sickness and death. Now I hope you clearly
understand me. I have spoken plainly--exactly what I think, and what
I mean to act upon. You know now the sort of person you have to deal
with. Good morning,"--and thereupon I marched out, amazed at my own
pluck, and heartily glad that I had said what I wished, and felt I