What do you think he said, reader? Can you imagine how his face brightened, or can you hear the heartiness of his consent to their plan? This new work, sent him, as he believed, by God, was entered upon immediately with a great deep joy and a silent thanksgiving in his heart. He gave his first lesson that very night, listening to the slowly-spelled words of those who were proud to say they had commenced to learn, and to the rest showing the first letters of the alphabet. He did not confine himself to these, however, but as he went the rounds from one to another, he would lead the talk from some word in the book to something he had heard or read elsewhere, putting them in a way, while they were learning their letters, to store their minds from his with many better things. “Such an opportunity to work for Jesus!” his heart cried exultingly, and so when the clock struck nine, as he told them they had learned enough for one evening, he added that “he would like to read to them before they went.” They were very well content; so he opened his Bible and read to them--with such an interest in the words himself that the listening was pleasant--the story of the Good Samaritan; and then, closing the book, he repeated it again in words which were better understood by them, enforcing the lesson which is among the most beautiful taught by our Saviour in his parables: “Go and do thou likewise.” Then he dismissed them, saying that on the next evening they should meet again, and that they might bring as many of their friends as chose to come. “My house used to be a place of frolic, honey,” Aunt Margaret said, as they went out, “but now it is a place of education.” And Tom, happy boy! went up-stairs and kneeled beside his bed with his heart full of thanks. They could not be expressed, but a tear or two told all he could not say, and Jimmy’s rather spiteful remark, that “he supposed he felt too big for anything,” fell on his ears as lightly as the summer’s rain upon the moist soil. Although his head throbbed with the effort of the day, his field-work in the burning sun and the double task of the evening, yet his waking thoughts were as sweet as his sleep, and _that_ was most calm and peaceful.