"Now, John," broke in Magdalene, as she solidly planked herself on the couch beside him, "First, you've been here more than forty times since that evening, and next, did you not deserve a good box on your ear when you tied the straw to our dog's tail?" "I was just playing Sampson." "How did you like my playing Sampson, when I boxed your ears?" "I just enjoyed it." "You did not; if you had you would not remember it." "I did." "Now, John," said the peaceful aunty, "you must confine yourself to the truth; you know I have always held you up as a model young man." "John," said Magdalene, as she touched him on the shoulder. John turned, and looking her quizzically in the face, said, "Do you remember, Lena, that the trouble that day all ended with you and I eating bread and honey and then your going part way home with me, hugging and kissing me all the way. Now do you wonder at my enjoyment?" She smilingly replied, "What a pity it is that handsome boys grow up to be such ugly men. Just play you are a boy again and set fire to the dog's tail once more. I dare you to do it." "Oh, Lena," he said, as he turned the conversation, "do you buy your fish of Simon yet?" Springing to her feet, her eyes sparkling, she said, "Honestly, John, I would rather go to hell with you than to heaven with old Simon." John looked admiringly at the stately figure before him, as he calmly said, "Why, Lena." After time for reflection, Magdalene again seated herself beside him, dropping her head on his shoulder weeping, and while Aunt Susanna came and kissed away the tears, she with difficulty continued, "If you only knew how I hated some people, without cause, and loved others who do not love me, you would pity me. Old Peter has his virtues and I know it." After the storm had passed, Magdalene laughingly inquired, "Now, John, did you actually come over to see Aunty, or did you come to see me?" John declared it was both, but the business end of the call was bread. Then it was soon arranged that Aunt Susanna should furnish ten loaves each day as long as the followers of Jesus remained at the Lake. "His apparent communion with God," continued John, "has so startled the world that many are coming out of curiosity. Tomorrow, being Sabbath, he will preach in the synagogue and we hope the spies from Jerusalem will not interfere." "Truly, John," inquired Aunt Susanna, "do you believe in him? Magdalene, answer the door call." RUTH Aunt Susanna and John listened that they might recognize the voice when Magdalene exclaimed, "Oh, Ruth--Ruth, you dear sweet girl, why did you keep me waiting so long?" And Ruth after embracing Magdalene ran and kissed Aunt Susanna and then with a low courtsey begged John to pardon her rudeness, for which John complied and said, "I saw you with your folks today, but I did not dare approach for you all looked so nervous that I feared a break-down."