to realize that
Tode's mother was already his one tender memory, and that everything
about that death-bed scene, if remembered at all, must be fraught with
pain; so he still kept the story until some quiet time when they should
be in a pleasant room alone. But this meeting was a great thing for
Tode. From that day forth Mr. Birge realized fully that he was the boy's
minister. He began at once to work carefully for him. Thursday evening
Tode learned to close business at an early hour, and betake himself to
the Young People's Meeting. He was toled into the Sabbath-school--more
than that, he coaxed Winny in, a feat which her mother had never
succeeded in performing.

It was some time in September that a new duty and a new privilege dawned
upon him, that of publicly uniting himself with the people of God. Tode
never forgot the solemn joy which thrilled his soul at that time, when
it was made known to him that this privilege was actually his. There
came a wondrously beautiful October Saturday, and Tode stood by the
window in Mr. Birge's study. It was just at the close of a long
conversation. On the morrow the boy was to stand up in the church and
take the solemn vows upon him, and his face was grave yet glad.

"By the way," said Mr. Birge, "yours is a very singular name. Fortunate
that it is, or I never would have found you again; but it must be a
contraction of something."

"Why yes," answered Tode, hesitatingly. He didn't know what contraction
meant. "My name was once, when I was a _very_ little youngster,
_Theodore_; but I never knew myself in that way."

"Theodore! A grand name--it belonged to a brother of mine once before he
was called to receive 'the new name.' I like it; and Theodore the name
goes down on my record. How do you spell the other? Are you sure that's
all right?"

"M-a--" began our friend, then stopped to laugh. "Why no--I'll be bound
that ain't my name, either. It's Mallery, that's what it is; no Mall
about it."

Mr. Birge turned and surveyed his caller leisurely, with a quiet smile
on his face.

"It seems to me, Master Theodore Mallery, that you are sailing under
false colors," he said at last. "What have you to do with Tode Mall?"

Tode laughed.

"Well they nicknamed me so, and I suppose it stuck, and it seems like
me; but my name truly is Theodore S. Mallery."

"Then of course I shall write it so." And after he had written it Mr.
Birge came over and took the boy's hand.

"It is a pleasa