ire Hall's and do several jobs for him
to-morrow forenoon; and to-morrow afternoon I have got to go to old Mr.
Truman's; and to-morrow night I have to lead the exercises at the
colored people's missionary meeting at Colonel Mervin's. And as all that
will be a long day's work I shall have to make a pretty early start in
the morning; and of course as I shall want you to go with me, I shall
expect you to be at my house as early as six o'clock in the morning! Can
you do it?"

"Oh, yes, professor," answered Ishmael, so promptly and cheerfully that
Morris laid his hand upon the boy's head and smiled upon him as he said,
addressing Hannah:

"I take great comfort in this boy, Miss Hannah! I look upon him a'most
as my own son and the prop of my declining years; and I hope to prepare
him to succeed me in my business, when I know he will do honor to the
profession. Ah, Miss Hannah, I feel that I am not as young as I used to
be; in fact that I am rather past my first youth; being about fifty-two
years of age; professional duties wear a man, Miss Hannah! But when I
look at this boy I am consoled! I say to myself, though I have no son, I
shall have a successor who will do credit to my memory, my teachings,
and my profession! I say, that, fall when it may, my mantle will fall
upon his shoulders!" concluded Jim with emotion. And like all other
great orators, after having produced his finest effect, he made his
exit.

The next morning, according to promise, Ishmael rendered himself at the
appointed hour at the professor's cottage. They set out together upon
their day's round of professional visits. The forenoon was spent at
Squire Hall's in mending a pump, fitting up some rain pipes, and putting
locks on some of the cabin doors. Then they got their dinner. The
afternoon was spent at old Mr. Truman's in altering the position of the
lightning rod, laying a hearth, and glazing some windows. And there they
got their tea. The evening was spent in leading the exercises of the
colored people's missionary meeting at Colonel Mervin's. As the session
was rather long, it was after ten o'clock before they left the
meetinghouse on their return home. The night was pitch dark; the rain,
that had been threatening all day long, now fell in torrents.

They had a full four miles walk before them; but the professor had an
ample old cotton umbrella that sheltered both himself and his pupil; so
they trudged manfully onward, cheering the way with lively t