in Elmbrook had ever seen John McIntyre smile, nor did he do so
now; but as he watched the absurd attempts of the youngster to portray
the queer gait of the village philosopher there came into his eyes a
look as though there had passed before them the ghost of the days when
he, himself, was young and light-hearted and full of boyish pranks. He
arose, and lighting the little lamp, placed it upon the table.

"It's a bully story," went on the boy. "Old Hughie started to read it
to me an' the twins las' night, but they got to scrappin', an' I had to
lambaste 'em both, an' so he didn't finish. He said mebby you would.
It's about an old guy who was rich an' had chunks o' money, an' a big
family, an' all the rest; an' the devil got after him an' busted up the
whole thing. He got all his cows an' his horses an' things struck with
lightning, an' his boys an' his girls were all at a swell birthday
spree, an' the house up an' fell down, an' smashed every bloomin' one
o' them--oh, say! it's a dandy!"

He placed the book on the table and shoved it toward John McIntyre.
The man reached for it, but quickly drew back.

"It's--the Bible!" he said sharply.

"Yes," said Tim, "'course. Did ye ever read any of it?" He paused in
embarrassment. John McIntyre, being such a particularly bad man, a
fact he was prone to forget, would naturally scorn to read the Bible.
He felt ashamed of himself. "It's got a whole lot o' bully yarns in
it," he added apologetically.

The man was looking at the Book as though he were afraid of it.

"This man's name was Job. D'ye ever hear about him?" continued Tim
insinuatingly.

"Yes, I've read it."

"Oh, have you? Well, read it again. Aw, go on. It won't hurt!"

He shoved the book into the man's hands. He had learned, long ere
this, that John McIntyre was his obedient servant. "Begin at the
beginning, 'cause I kinder forget how it starts."

So, for the first time in many long years, John McIntyre took into his
hands the Word of God--the Book he had been wont to read every evening,
so long ago, in the light of his happy home circle.

"There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was
perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil."

Tim snuggled down on Miss Arabella's rug, close to the stove, his chin
in his hands, and stared up with eager, devouring eyes. At first, John
McIntyre read in a strained, hard voice, but soon he seemed to forget
everythi