There were hundreds of hands employed in the great human hive in which Reuben worked, but for some time he did not enter into friendly relations with any of them. Reuben was a shy, countrified lad, blunt of speech, and awkward in his bearing, and such notice as he received was not of a flattering nature. The sharper town lads found much to ridicule in him, and amused themselves at his expense by playing off on him various practical jokes, some of which were positively cruel. Reuben bore them with a stolid patience that appeared like indifference, but in truth, he felt them keenly, and they increased the sore home-sickness, which was becoming almost more than he could bear. His work, too, was a disappointment to him. At present he was learning nothing, but was merely employed as a messenger to carry orders to the various workshops, and be at the beck and call of every one in authority. It was no easy post, however. The hours, from eight in the morning till eight at night, seemed to him very long, and he often felt far more weary when his day's work was done than he had ever felt after a day spent in the fields. But Reuben held on bravely in spite of every discouragement, for a brave heart had Reuben Roy, and he was no stupid, though he might seem slow. It is what we think and feel in the secret chamber of our souls that determines what our lives are. Right thinking leads to right doing. Our actions are never really better than our thoughts. They may have a fair appearance, like the righteousness on which the Pharisees prided themselves, but it is the motive that gives every action its value in the sight of God, and sooner or later the insincere act will reveal itself as such to the eyes of men. Now Reuben's thoughts were good and true, and he had that fear of God which, it has been well said, "expels all other fear." He had not forgotten the words that had impressed him as he listened to Mr. Howe's farewell address, nor his resolve that he would be strong and of a good courage in the battle of life. That resolve was being well tested in these days. There were times when he felt as if he must throw up his new employment, and go back to the old life at Ashworth, which now seemed so dear. He was feeling thus one warm August evening, when he had come away from his work too tired even to take a stroll through the streets. The room he hired, and for which he had to pay a considerable proportion of his weekly wage, was a very small one at the top of a house in which several of the factory hands lodged. From its tiny window nothing was to be seen but an expanse of roofs and chimney-pots.