“Oh, Aunt Dinah, I don’t care for myself,” Tom replied. “Give me the wood and I’ll make it.” “What do you ’spose Master Sutherland do to this chile if she let you make the fire? Go ’long with you and set your pen to scratchin’, and in five minutes there be a blaze goin’ up that chimney fit to take the roof off.” So Tom obeyed, and in less than the time she mentioned a little boy was kneeling in front of the grate, softly laying in the pieces of wood, and Tom heard Aunt Dinah tell him, as a last word as she opened the library door to admit him, “Now, you Jack, whatever you do, don’t ’sturb Tom’s writin’.” One morning, some time later than this, Tom was occupied over his morning’s work, writing away very busily, when he heard the door open softly and then close again. He was sitting with his back to it, so he did not look around, but went on with his task. Presently, however, lifting his head and hand together to move some papers, he found standing by his side, with motionless eyes fixed upon his face, Lillie Sutherland. “Good-morning, Miss Lillie,” said Tom, respectfully. “I did not know you were there, or I would have spoken before.” “Papa said,” returned the child, “that I might come in and see you if I could be very still and not speak to you until you were ready.” “Well, I am ready now,” replied Tom; “only first let me get you a chair.” So he rose and with a gentle courtesy placed a low-seated rocking-chair near his table and asked her to be seated. She watched him bring it, and then seated herself with the utmost satisfaction. “I came,” she said with an important air, which sat very curiously on her little figure, “to ask you if I might come to your Sunday-school.” Tom was very much surprised. “I am afraid your father would not like it, Miss Lillie,” he said, gently. “But papa said I might, and mamma said she did not care,” urged Lillie. “I am sure I’ll be glad to see you, Miss Lillie, but are you sure you would like it? There is no one there but the people from the quarters.” “Yes, I know, but you talk about Jesus, don’t you?” “Oh yes!” replied Tom, the little smile hovering about his lips which always came at any loving mention of his Saviour’s name. “Well, then, that’s just what I want to come for. I never hear anything about Jesus at home. And besides, he is there with you.” “Yes,” replied Tom, earnestly--“yes indeed, Miss Lillie. I was very wrong to forget that. I shall be very glad to see you.” “Thank you, Tom; then I will come, but I want something more. Jake says the children learn verses to say--hymns or Bible verses. Won’t you teach me one? I know a good many old ones, but I want something quite new for the first Sunday.”