Hiram's present distress, and the lively agony of the child awakened his
strongest sympathy. He talked very kindly to him, explained in a
genuine, truthful manner, what was necessary. He dwelt on the mercy of
our heavenly Father, and on his love. He prayed with the lad earnestly,
and with many affectionate counsels he went away. Hiram was comforted.
Things began to look in a pleasanter light than ever before. He had only
to repent and believe, and it was his duty to repent and believe, and
all would be well. So it happened that when the week was out, Hiram felt
that he had cast his burden on the Lord, and was accepted by him.

There were great rejoicings over this event. Mrs. Meeker exclaimed,
while tears streamed from her eyes, that she was ready to depart in
peace. Mr. Meeker, who had by no means been indifferent to his son's
state of mind, and who had sought from time to time to encourage him,
(rather, it must be confessed, to his wife's annoyance,) was thankful
that he had obtained relief from the right source. The happy subject
himself became an object of a good deal of interest in the congregation.
There was not the usual attention, just then, to religious matters, and
Hiram's conversion was seized on as a token that more fruits were to be
gathered in from the same field, that is, among the young. In due course
he was propounded and admitted into the church. It happened on that day
that he was the only individual who joined, and he was the observed of
all observers. Hiram Meeker was a handsome boy, well formed, with an
interesting face, blight blue eyes, and a profusion of light hair
shading a forehead indicative of much intelligence. All this was
disclosed to the casual observer; indeed, who would stop to criticise
the features of one so young--else you would have been struck by
something disagreeable about the corners of his mouth, something
repulsive in the curve of those thin lips, (he had his mother's lips,)
something forbidding in a certain latent expression of the eye, while
you would remark with pain the conscious, self-possessed air with which
he took his place in the broad aisle before the pulpit, to give his
assent to the church articles and confession of faith. The good minister
preached from the text, 'Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth,' and in the course of his sermon held up Hiram as an example to
all the unconverted youth of his flock. On Monday he returned to school,
prosecuting hi