The family gathered around the story-telling missionary after supper, and listened to his tales of the Rhine, all of which had some soul-lesson in his view, and enabled him to preach by parables. No stories better served this peculiar mission than Baron Fouque's, and this night he related Thiodolf, the Icelander. There came a rap at the door. "Who can that be?" said Mrs. Duncan in alarm. She opened the door, and a tall, dark-faced young man stood before her. "Why, Abe," said Mrs. Duncan, "what has brought you here at this late hour? I hope that nothing has happened!" "That bill of yours. You paid me two dollars and six cents, did you not? It was not right." "Isn't it? Well, I paid you all that you asked me, like an honest woman, so I am not to blame for any mistake. How much more do you want? If it isn't too much I'll pay it, for I think that you mean well." "More! That isn't it, Mrs. Duncan; you paid me six cents too much--you overpaid me. It was my fault." "Your fault!--and honest Abe Lincoln, you have walked two miles out of your way to pay me that six cents! Why didn't you wait until to-morrow?" "I couldn't." "Why, what is going to happen?" "I can't sleep with a thing like that on my conscience. Now I feel light and free again." "Come in, if it is late. We've got company--a Tunker--teaches, preaches, and works. May be you have met him before. He's been traveling down in Indiana and middle Illinois." Abraham came in, and Jasper rose to receive him. "Lincoln," said the wandering school-master, "it does my heart good to see you. I see that you have grown in body and in soul. What brought you here? I have been telling stories for hours. Sit down, and tell us about what has happened to you since we met last." The tall young man sat down. "He's clark down to Orfutt's store now," said Mrs. Duncan, "and his word is as good as gold, and his weights are as true as the scales of the Judgment Day. Why, one day he made a wrong weight of half a pound, and as soon as he found it out he shut up the shop and went shivering through the village with that half-pound of tea as though the powers of the air were after him. He's schooled his conscience so that he couldn't be dishonest if he were to try. I do believe a dishonorable act would wither him and drive him crazy." "Character, which is the habit of obedience to the universal law of right, is the highest school of life," said Jasper. "That is what I try to teach everywhere. But Abraham has heard me say that before. Where have you been since I saw you last? Tell me, what has been your school of life?" "I have been to New Orleans in a flat-boat. I went for Mr. Orfutt, who now keeps the store in this place. When I came back he gave me a place in his store here. I have been here ever since." "What did you see in New Orleans?"