aid Jem. "Isn't our Davie a smart boy, Aunt
Bethia? I wish Frank could have heard that."

"Yes, so I told papa," said David, gravely.

"It is a great responsibility to have such privileges as you have,
boys--" began Miss Bethia.

"As Davie has, you mean, Miss Bethia," said Jem. "He goes with papa
almost always--"

"And as you have, too. Take care that you don't neglect them, so that
they may not rise up in judgment against you some day--"

But Miss Bethia was obliged to interrupt herself to shake hands with
Violet, who came in with her little brother and sister. Jem laughed at
the blank look in his sister's face.

"Miss Bethia has commenced your ironing for you," said he.

"Yes--I see. You shouldn't have troubled yourself about it, Miss
Bethia."

"I guess I know pretty well by this time what I should do, and what I
should let alone," said Miss Bethia, sharply, not pleased with the look
on Violet's face, or the heartiness of her greeting. "It was your
mother I was thinking of. I expect the heft of Debby's work will fall
on her."

"Debby will be back to-morrow or next day, I hope," said Violet. "But
it was very kind of you to do it, Miss Bethia, and I will begin in a
minute."

"You had better go to work and get supper ready, and get that out of the
way; and by that time the starched clothes will be done, and you can do
the rest. I expect the children want their supper by this time," said
Miss Bethia.

"Yes, I dare say it would be better."

Violet was very good-tempered, and did not feel inclined to resent Miss
Bethia's tone of command. And besides, she knew it would do no good to
resent it, so she went away to put aside her books, and her
out-of-door's dress, and Miss Bethia turned her attention to the boys
again.

"Yes, that was a solemn sermon, boys, and, David, I am glad to see that
you must have paid good attention to remember it so well. I hope it may
do you good, and all who heard it."

"Our Davie won't make a bad preacher himself, will he, Miss Bethia?"
said Jem. "He has about made up his mind to it now."

"His making up his mind don't amount to much, one way or the other,"
said Miss Bethia. "Boys' minds are soon made up, but they ain't apt to
stay made up--not to anything but foolishness. That's my belief, and
I've seen a good many boys at one time and another."

"But that's not the way with our Davie," said Jem. "You wouldn't find
many boys that would remember a sermon so wel