, as a
general thing, silenced, if they did not convince. Whether she helped
her cause by this assertion of its claims, is a question. She took
great credit for her faithfulness in the matter, at any rate, and as she
had not in the past, so she had made up her mind that she should not in
the future be found wanting in this respect.

But it was one thing to tell her neighbours their duty with regard to
their minister, and it was quite another thing to listen to a lad like
Jem making disparaging remarks as to a minister's possessions and
prospects. "Hard work and poor pay," said Jem, and she felt very much
like resenting his words, as a reflection on the people of whom she was
one. Jem needed putting down.

"Your pa wouldn't say so. He ain't one to wish to serve two masters.
He ain't a mammon worshipper," said Miss Bethia, solemnly.

"No!" said Jem, opening his eyes very wide. "And I don't intend to be
one either. I intend to make a good living, and perhaps become a rich
man."

"Don't, Jem," said Violet, softly. She meant "Don't vex Miss Bethia,"
as Jem very well knew, but he only laughed and said:

"Don't do what? Become a rich man? or a worshipper of mammon? Don't be
silly, Letty."

"Jem's going to be a blacksmith," said Edward. "You needn't laugh. He
put a shoe on Mr Strong's old Jerry the other day. I saw him do it."

"Pooh," said Jem. "That's nothing. Anybody could do that. I am going
to make a steam-engine some day."

"You're a smart boy, if we are to believe you," said Miss Bethia. "Did
Mr Strong know that the blacksmith let you meddle with his horse's
shoes? I should like to have seen his face when he heard it."

"One must begin with somebody's horse, you know. And Peter Munro said
he couldn't have done it better himself," said Jem, triumphantly.

"Peter Munro knows about horseshoes, and that's about all he does know.
He ought to know that you might be about better business than hanging
about his shop, learning no good."

"Horseshoes no good!" said Jem, laughing.

"Jem, dear!" pleaded Violet.

"But it's dreadful to hear Miss Bethia speak disrespectfully of
horseshoes," said Jem.

"I think there's something more to be expected from your father's son
than horseshoes," said Miss Bethia.

"But horseshoes may do for a beginning," said David. "And by and by,
perhaps, it may be engines, and railways; who knows?"

"And good horseshoes are better than bad sermons, and they pay better