sed in all directions. He was not agile
enough to overtake a fast retreating army in the dark, and was forced to
abandon the pursuit. As he turned to pursue his journey homeward, a
voice from out of the darkness, again addressed him, saying, "don't you
only wish you could catch us, old vinegar man?" Knowing that further
pursuit would be useless, he proceeded on his way, uttering threats of
future vengeance. He did spend a portion of the following day in trying
to find out the boys who had insulted him; but all his efforts to that
end were without success. A gentleman to whom he complained ventured to
remark: "I fear, Mr. Judson, that in a great measure you have yourself
to blame for all this, for you ever treat the boys with unkindness; and,
without reason and experience to guide them, can you wonder that they
render evil for evil. If you exercised more of the spirit of kindness
in your casual intercourse with the boys, I think it would be better for
both you and them." This advice was very good, but it is to be feared
that the farmer profited but little by it. Through fear of her stern
husband Mrs. Judson finally ceased to mention attending church; but
often on a Sunday afternoon, when he was either asleep or walking over
his farm, she would seat herself in a quiet corner of the large
kitchen and read her Bible, and perhaps sing a hymn to some of the
old-fashioned plaintive airs, which formed a large portion of the Church
Music in her youthful days. I remember when I lived at the Farmer's, I
used often to think it no wonder that Mrs. Judson almost always sung her
Sunday hymn to the air of "Complaint," and read more frequently in the
book of Job and the Lamentations of Jeremiah than any other portion of
the Bible. The poor lonely woman seemed to feel a mother's tenderness
for me, which manifested itself in many little acts of kindness, when
unobserved by her husband, who took good care that no undue indulgence
should be shown to any one under his roof. I soon learned to regard the
old lady with all the affection of which I was capable; and it was her
kindness alone which rendered my position endurable. I sought in many
ways to lighten her labors, for, even in the busiest seasons, no help
was allowed her to perform all the household work; and I soon found many
ways of making myself useful.

CHAPTER IV.

One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised
me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you