in' the student from me, but ye ain't.
God ain't ready to let me have him. But he air a-goin' to let me have
him some time. I air glad I got ye, and I hopes that ye live, too. Myry
air got Ben Letts, and I air a-goin' to have--Frederick." She walked
home in a reverie deep and sweet.

CHAPTER XLII

Sunday morning, Tessibel was out upon the tracks, walking swiftly toward
the city. She could hear the church bell at Haytes Corner ringing out a
welcome to the country folk; she could hear the tolling of the chapel
bell from the University hill. Clothed in the clean skirt she had washed
at the time she had thought of going to Auburn prison, and a worn but
clean jacket, Tess felt fit to face the best-dressed in Ithaca. Of
course she was barefooted, for Daddy's boots were too big to wear into
the house of the student's God. Earlier in the morning Tessibel had sat
for a long time upon the small fishing dock, swinging her feet in the
clear water. They, too, like the skirt and jacket, were clean.

In the basket, snuggling in the nest of white clothes, lay little Dan.
He was robed, in the much-worn garment of the Longman child, and
Tessibel had looked at him with pride as she settled him in his bed
preparatory to her trip.

She passed swiftly through the city, and crossed Dewitt Park. How
vividly she remembered the many midnights she had taken the same way,
turning toward the jail to visit "Daddy"!

Tessibel paused before Minister Graves' church, and heard him read in
deep tones from the Scriptures: "Suffer little children to come unto me,
for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." The harmonious voice floated
through the window to the fisher-girl, now crouched in the sun. Every
word fell distinctly upon her ear.

She lifted the basket cover, and peeped in upon the babe. He looked
bluer and thinner than Tess had ever seen him; his lips rested upon the
rag with no indrawing movement. Unblinkingly stared the wide gray eyes
when the sunbeams flashed upon his face. The vivid birth-mark grew
fainter in the yellow light. Tess drew him into the shade, and waited.

The tones rolled out like thunder when Dominie Graves bade the members
of his flock bring their children to the Holy Font, that they might
receive the blessing of God, and everlasting life. Tess heard him say
that the Father in Heaven demanded that all children should be baptized
in the name of the crucified Saviour--that to put off such a duty might
prove dangerous t