to feel
very strangely, because he had his own in his hand. He dropped it,
however, beside his chair; then he began to watch the children and to
try to do just as they were doing. But as no two of the youngsters were
doing the same thing, he again felt troubled. The older members of the
family, he noticed, sat very still; and suddenly John realized that they
must be listening to the farmer, who had been reading. John knew that he
had not heard one single word that had been read, and here, the farmer
was now saying, "Let us pray."

When they knelt beside their chairs, John was again bewildered; but
having decided to do just as nearly as he possibly could the way the
rest did, he, too, slipped down upon his knees. For some reason that he
could not understand, a burning shame that seemed to benumb his whole
being swept over him, and he could hardly hear the farmer's words; but
he realized suddenly that the farmer was saying, "Dear Lord, bless the
help today, and keep them from accidents and danger."

Hurriedly glancing around, John saw the children peeking from between
their fingers; and hastily covering his own face with his hands, he gave
a quick glance toward Mr. A, his boss. Mr. A was kneeling beside his
chair, but was picking his teeth and looking out of the window. Just
then the farmer said, "Amen," and they all arose.

Then, as John compared his own attitude with that of Mr. A.'s, another
feeling of shame came over him; and for some time he kept asking
himself, "Why didn't I act unconcerned like the boss?" But John was not
a bad boy naturally. He was ignorant of what was right. He had never
understood that there is a Savior and that that Savior loved him and
left an example for him to follow. To be sure, he had often heard both
his Savior's and his Creator's names reviled and abused by his evil
companions. But he did not know that these were Beings to whom he could
go when in trouble; nor did he understand that in God's sight he was
a sinner.

More than once that day while working, John thought of the farmer's
words and wondered if the prayer would have any effect upon the day.
Some way he thought it would, and he decided to watch and see. The day
was ideal, and the help orderly; and God kept them free from accident
and trouble. It was all a mystery to John, and he pondered over it along
the way home and even during the night. Farmer Z had opened up a new
channel for his thoughts.

CHAPTER VIII

With t