influence shed by William's resolution to suffer wrong rather
than sin, brought him at last to recognise the beauty of holiness, and
induced him to seek for pardon where it may be found?

But William's old friends in M----, were they forgotten? No; he had
written constantly to George Herman, telling of his troubles, and now
he wrote to assure him how happy he was. Would our readers like to
know the contents of his letter. We can give them an extract from it.
Here it is:--

Dear George,

I know you will be glad to hear how happy I am, and I know
you will wonder when I tell you of all that has happened. You
know I told you of a gentleman whom I met in the grave-yard
the day before I left M----, and who coloured the little
picture I had drawn. Well, he is a great painter, and as my
health was bad, he persuaded Mr. Walters to give me up to
him, for a while at least, or until I get strong. He gives me
drawing lessons with his own son, who is a very good boy, and
very kind to me; but he does not encourage my giving up my
trade altogether, for he says that many shoemakers have
become great men, and that it is the trade which, of all
others, has produced most remarkable men. He told us about
Crispin, who lived long ago, and about Holcroft, and Gifford,
and Sherman, and John Pounds--the last named being only a
cobbler, and yet he spent most of his life in teaching the
poor. He says that I must draw every day, and by the time the
hot weather is over, he will be able to tell whether or not I
have any real talent, and whether it will be worth while to
continue my drawing lessons. Ah, George, if he says I will
make a painter, then I shall give up shoemaking; but if the
contrary, I will "_stick to my last_," and continue a
shoemaker contentedly so the end of my life, because I shall
believe it my proper place. I go to school now, and for the
present board with old Mrs. Graham, and feel more like being
at home than I have done since I left M----. I would like so
to see you and your good father; and as soon as I have money
enough of my own, I will go to M---- and see you all.
Good-bye, dear George, and do not forget your friend,

William

CHAPTER XIV.

WILLIAM'S SUCCESS.

About ten years after the date of William Raymond's letter to George
Herman, a young man with a knap