not know that there was such a verse
in the Bible; but now he knew the fact, and it gave this boy, who had
come out of a cellar rum-hole, and had mingled during his entire life
with just such people as swarm around cellar rum-holes, a more distinct
idea of the total depravity of this world than he had ever dreamed of
before. It gave him a solemn old feeling. He felt less like whistling
and more like going very eagerly to work than he ever had before.

"There's work to do," he said to himself. "He's got a mansion ready for
me it seems. I won't ever want other folk's nice homes any more as long
as I live, 'cause it seems I've got a grander one after all than they
can even think of; but then there's other mansions, and he wants people
to come and fill them, and he let's us help." Then his voice took a more
joyful ring, like that of a strong brave boy ready for work. "There's
work to do, plenty of it, and I'll help--I'll help fill _some_ of them."

"The poor homeless boy," said the warm-hearted little mother down
stairs. "Deary me, my heart does just go out to him. And to think that
he owns one of them mansions, and never knew it! Well, now, he shan't
ever want for a home feeling on this earth if I can help it. I do
believe he's one of the Lord's own, and we must feel honored, Winny
dear, because we're called to help him. Don't you think he's a good
warm-hearted boy, deary?"

"Oh yes," Winny said, indifferently. "But, mother, he does use such
shocking grammar."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIV.

SIGNS AND WONDERS.

Tode bustled into the house half an hour earlier than usual. Before him
he carried a great sheet of pasteboard.

"Where's Winny?" he asked, sitting down on the nearest chair, out of
breath with his haste. "I've got an idea, and she must help me put it on
here."

"Winny's gone to the store, deary, for some tea. Whatever brought you
home so early? Isn't business brisk to-day?"

"It was until it came on to rain, and I had to put things under cover,
and then I had my idea, and I thought I'd run right home and tend to
it."

The door opened and Winny came in, tugging her big umbrella. Instinct,
it could not have been education, prompted Tode to take the dripping
thing from her and put it away.

"What on earth is that?" Winny said, pausing in the act of taking off
her things to examine the pasteboard.

"That's my sign--leastways it will be when your wits and my wits are put
together to make it. I g