ton,
he couldn't stand it, and he hopped down and he jined the pledge. And his
clerk, that Will Somers, he did write his name handsome. O, it was a
meetin', I tell ye!"

Yes, it was a memorable evening. Dr. Tilton and Will Somers kept their
word faithfully, and society recognized the fact and liberally patronized
the doctor's store, afterward.

"Got a new 'pothecary in our town," said Simes Badger. "At any rate, he's
good as new, and new things draw. A 'pothecary can do amazin' sight of
harm if he aint jest the right sort of man in his business."

Society, outside the store, recognized the new life that Dr. Tilton and
Will had begun. They were received cordially by their old friends. The
club gathered about Will, treating him after the fashion of the old
enthusiastic friendship.

"He's singin' once more and a playin'," Aunt Stanshy said to a neighbor,
"jest as nice as can be. It does me good to see him."

And Tim Tyler--where was he?

His sister Ann did hope he would be reached, but she folded her old shawl
about her shoulders and went away from the meeting, saying sorrowfully to
herself, "Tim didn't come."

No, he was not at the meeting. He did not show any interest in the
movement.

"But--but we can't give him up," some of his praying friends whispered.

And when our prayers refuse to let the angel of blessing go, was that
angel ever known to forsake us?

CHAPTER XV.

THE FAIR.

Poor Charlie! His life did not seem to him to be altogether agreeable.

Being fat and good-natured, the boys were rather disposed to pick on him.
Then a standing vexation at school was his arithmetic. In addition to
these things, he had a special trouble one day to grieve him. His class
was reading a selection called the "Miller." The teacher, Mr. Armstrong,
permitted the members of the class to remain in their desks and there
read. Charlie abused this privilege by clapping his head below his desk,
and while the boys in another part of the room were reading, he was doing
his best to pack away a corn-ball.

"Time enough," he had concluded, "before it is my time to read, to have
something good to pay for my old arithmetic."

His mouth was full of corn-ball and preparing itself to take in more, when
his teacher, watching the long detention of Charlie's head in such a
humble posture, and suspicious of the real reason, stole softly up behind
Charlie and, looking over his shoulder, was puzzled to decide whether the
corn-b