!" bubbled from Job's lips,
like a gushing stream of glad water.

He laughed; he shed tears; he seemed warmed through and through with the
sunshine of peace. The clergyman clasped his hand, weeping silently,
with joy in his glorious old face.

"Yes," said Job, rallying, "I knowed it 'u'd be all right in the end. I
tell folks, though I an't good at dancing and capering, and turning
short corners in life, and dodging this way and that, with my wooden
stump, I shall do well enough in the long run."

"And, considering how well afflictions prepare us for heaven, we may
say," added Father Brighthopes, "you have already put your best foot
forward."

"That I have! that I have!" cried Job, delighted.

"How does your wife bear up, under all her trials?" asked the old man.

At this juncture the old woman in the corner started once more from her
dreams, and cried out.

"On the left-hand side, as you go down. There was thirteen children of
'em--all boys but two. The youngest was a gal, born the same day we sold
our old brindle cow."

Mr. Royden and the clergyman both started, and looked at the speaker.

"Don't mind her,--don't mind the poor creatur'!" said Job, softly. "Her
talk is all out of date; it's all about bygones. A kind old lady, but
childish again, and very deaf."

Father Brighthopes returned to the subject they were conversing upon.

"My wife has seen a mighty deal of bad weather," said Job, very softly.
"Oh, she has got through it amazin' well, for a feeble woman. She
astonishes me every day o' my life. But, then, you see, she's a good
deal broken, late years."

"I am sorry for her,--sorry for her!" exclaimed the clergyman, warmly.
"But there's a good time coming for all of us old people,"--looking up,
with a peaceful smile.

"So I tell her," replied Job. "But she han't got the animal sperrits she
once had. And that an't to be wondered at. Oh, she's a good soul! and if
she'd pluck up heart a little,--gracious!" exclaimed the shoemaker,
doubling his fists, and compressing his lips with hopeful firmness, "I
think I wouldn't like any better fun than to fight the world ten or a
dozen years longer!"

"My bold Christian hero!"

"Thank you, sir! To be that is glory enough for me; though I didn't
think exactly so when I stood strong and proud on two legs. I believed
then I was destined to do wonders with bayonets and gun-powder."

The clergyman patted his shoulder kindly, and said, "Do you not feel it
is bet