day passed in review through his memory; at last he recollected that he
was to give Mr. Martin an answer as to Mr. Laurie. "Well," thought he, "I
suppose I must go to the farm, but I would much rather stay with the
Minister and Miss Helen; for it was very pleasant walking with them
yesterday, and I liked very much to hear them converse and Miss Helen
sing; she surely has a pleasing voice. I wonder whether Marion can sing. I
am not sure whether I shall much like going to the hill every day, for it
is a tiresome life to be so many hours alone; but then," continued he, "I
cannot stay with Mr. Martin, for he has a herd-boy that has lived with him
some time; and I am sure I should not wish to make him lose his place, for
he, poor fellow, has no father any more than I have; and besides," added
he, "I am to have leave to come home every night to learn to read. I shall
take the place, if it be only for that; and again," continued he, after
thinking a little, "if my poor father were alive, he would think it such
an honour for the Minister himself to take the trouble of teaching his
son, and, now that he is dead, I am determined never to do any thing, that
he would have disapproved. However, I am glad that I have got summer
weather to begin with: I shall understand the business better before the
winter comes on, and, perhaps, be more reconciled to it."

After coming to this wise determination, John sprang out of bed and
dressed himself as quickly as he could. When he came down stairs he was
surprised to find that all the family were up and at work. The study bell
rang, just as he got to the kitchen-door, and the maid said, "it is well,
my man, you are down before the bell has rung for prayers. See what the
Minister would have said, if you had been in your bed then? but come away
now, for we must not keep our master waiting."--Accordingly he followed
her into the study, where all the family were assembled, once more, to
render thanks to their Creator for the blessings of a new day.