another, Samuel Muir did for John Morely. Holidays were rare and
precious to him at this time; but he devoted more than one that fell to
him in going here and there with him in search of work; and when work
was found, he spoke of him to the employers and to the workmen in words
that none but the utterly debased could hear in vain, entreating them
that they would not make the work of reform more difficult to the poor
broken man by placing temptation in his way. Many a morning and evening
when he had little time or strength to spare from his own duties, he
went far out of his way to see him past temptation, at times when he
knew that the agony of desire was strong upon him, and that left to
himself he must fall.

Many a pleasant invitation he refused at such times, rather than leave
the poor homesick wretch to get through the long, dreary evening alone.
Sometimes--not often, however--he beguiled him into some quiet
pleasure-taking out of the house, to while away the time. Having given
up his own room for the garret, he now gave up his garret--a matter of
greater self-denial--to share his own room with Morely, that the garret
might be made a place for evening work. He purchased, at the price of
some self-denial in the way of outward adornment, a set of tools for the
finer sort of cabinet-work; and in the long winter evenings applied
himself to learn to use them, that his friend might have something to do
in teaching him.

It would take long to tell all the ways in which this young man carried
on the labour of love he had undertaken. He watched over him, cared for
him, denied himself on his account, bore alike with his petulance and
his despondency, sheltered him from temptation from without,
strengthened him to resist temptation from within--in short, laboured,
as in God's sight, to turn this sinner from the error of his way, to
lead him in faith to the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin;
knowing that he was thus "striving to save a soul from death, and to
hide a multitude of sins."

Nor did he strive in vain. When months of temptation and struggle had
passed, John Morely stood--not, perhaps, with his foe beneath his feet,
but still on firm ground, a man who once more had confidence in himself,
and in whom other men had confidence.

CHAPTER NINE.

RIGHT AT LAST.

The twenty-fourth of May came on Saturday that year. It was to be a
double holiday to the children in the little log-house on the hi