e way we are: he's down in the village and can't come up to me, and I
can't get down to him. We'll have to wait until we meet each other
half-way in the churchyard. I expect to find all the old world there,
and in heaven it'll be better yet. My poor Jack Adam has been waiting a
long time for me to come after him: he'll be getting tired of it."

"All the people in the village must like you," said the teacher.

"Call into the wood, and you'll have a good answer. When we're young,
we want to eat everybody up,--some for love, and some for vexation:
when we're old, we live and let live. You wouldn't believe me how good
the people are here if I were to tell you: you'll have to find it out
yourself. Have you been much about in the world?"

"Not at all. My father was a schoolmaster like myself, and when he died
I was only six years old: my mother soon followed him. I was taken to
the Orphans' House, and remained there--first as a pupil, and then as
an incipient and assistant--until this spring, when I was transferred
here. Ah, my good friend, it's a hard lot to have almost forgotten the
touch of a mother's hand."

The old woman's hand suddenly passed over his face. He blushed deeply,
and sat for a moment with closed lids and quivering eyeballs. Then, as
if awaking from a dream, he seized her hand, saying,--

"I may call you grandmother, mayn't I?"

"Yes, and welcome, my kind, good friend: a grandchild more or less
won't break me, I'll try it, and will knit your stockings: bring me
your torn ones, too, to mend."

The teacher still kept his seat, unable to tear himself away. The
passers-by were astonished to find the proud man chatting so cosily
with old Maurita. At last a man came out of the house, rubbing himself
and stretching his eyes.

"'Had your nap out, Johnnie?" asked the old woman.

"Yes; but my back aches woefully with mowing."

"It'll get well again: our Lord God won't let any man get hurt by
working," answered his mother.

The teacher recalled the thoughts suggested by the bowing motion of the
mowers. He saluted Johnnie, and walked out into the fields with him.
Johnnie liked those conversations which were not attended with
drinking, and, therefore, free from expense. He found the teacher, who
was an excellent listener, in the highest degree amiable and smart. He
favored him with an exposition of his finances, with the story of
Constantine, and many other interesting particulars.

In the evening he inform