d Violet.

"About the chapter David was reading," said Jem, mimicking his cousin's
tone and manner. "That is for mamma. You don't expect me to swallow
that. Give mamma the result of your meditations, like a good boy."

"I said I was thinking of the chapter, for one thing," said Frank, not
at all angry, though he reddened a little. "I was thinking, besides,
whether that was a proper book for you to be reading to-night, `The
Swiss Family,' is it not?"

"Sold," cried Jem, triumphantly; "it is the `Pilgrim's Progress.'"

"You have read that before," said Violet.

"Lots of times. It will bear it. But what about Hobab, Frank? Much
you care about the old chap, don't you? Davie, come here and listen to
Frank."

"If you would only give Frank a chance to speak," said his mother,
smiling.

"Did Hobab go, do you think, aunt?" asked Frank.

"He refused to go," said Jem. "Don't you remember he said, `I will not
go, but I will depart into my own land, and to my kindred?'"

"Yes; but that was before Moses said, `Thou mayest be to us instead of
eyes, forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in this
wilderness.' You see, he had a chance of some adventures; that might
tempt him. Do you think he went, aunt?"

"I cannot tell; afterwards we hear of Heber the Kenite, who was of the
children of Hobab; and his wife took the part of the Israelites, when
she slew Sisera. But whether he went with the people at that time, we
do not hear. Very likely he did. I can understand how the people's
need of him as a guide, or a guard, might have seemed to him a better
reason for casting in his lot with the people, than even the promise
that Moses gave him, `Come with us and we will do thee good.'"

"That is to say, mamma, he would rather have a chance to help others,
than the prospect of a good time for himself. That is not the way with
people generally," said Jem, shaking his head gravely.

"It is not said that it was the way with Hobab," said his mother; "but I
am inclined to think, with Francis, that perhaps it might have been so."

"He must have been a brave man and a good man, or Moses would not have
wanted him," said David.

"And if he went for the sake of a home in the promised land, he must
have been disappointed. He did not get there for forty years, if he got
there at all," said Jem.

"But if he went for the fighting he may have had a good time in the
wilderness, for there must have been many alarms, and a b