," thought he; "a good deal better than at home. If it
warn't for that plaguey catechism, I'd like livin' here fust-rate. I
wish I had another piece of that pie."

In ten minutes Sam was fast asleep; but the deacon was not so
fortunate. He lay awake a long time, wondering in perplexity what he
should do to reform the young outlaw of whom he had taken charge.

"He's a cur'us boy," thought the good man. "Seems to have no more
notion of religion than a Choctaw or a Hottentot. An yet he's been
livin' in a Christian community all his life. I'm afeared he takes
after his father."

CHAPTER IV.

SAM FRIGHTENS THE HOUSEHOLD.

Sam usually slept the whole night through; but to-night was an
exception. It might have been because he was in a strange bed, and in
a strange house. At any rate, he woke in time to hear the clock on the
church, of which his guardian was deacon, strike two.

"Where am I?" was his first thought.

He remembered almost immediately, and the thought made him broad
awake. He ought not to have been hungry at that hour, and in fact he
was not, but the thought of the pie forced itself upon his mind, and
he felt a longing for the slice that was left over from supper. Quick
upon this thought came another, "Why couldn't he creep downstairs
softly, and get it? The deacon and his wife were fast asleep, Who
would find him out?"

A boy better brought up than Sam might have reflected that it was
wrong; but, as the deacon said, Sam had no "conceptions of duty," or,
more properly, his conscience was not very active. He got out of bed,
slipped on his stockings, and crept softly downstairs, feeling his
way. It was very dark, for the entries were unlighted, but finally he
reached the kitchen without creating any alarm.

Now for the closet. It was not locked, and Sam opened the door without
difficulty.

"I wish I had a match, so's to see where the pie is," he thought.

He felt around, but the pie must have been placed elsewhere, for he
could not find it. It had really been placed on the highest shelf,
which Sam had not as yet explored. But there are dangers in feeling
around in the dark. Our hero managed to dislodge a pile of plates,
which fell with a crash upon his feet. There was a loud crash of
broken crockery, and the noise was increased by the howls of Sam, who
danced up and down with pain.

The noise reached the chamber where the deacon and his wife were
calmly reposing. Mrs. Hopkins was a light sleepe