"'If any be Crooked'--this is the part! it's too wonderful! but Captain Higginson wouldn't have said it, when he was so near going down with his ship, and especially on his way home to get his own sister----" "Me dear lydy," said Mr. Punch, "_hif_ you would be so wery kind as to----" "Yes, yes; give me time. I declare you make me so nervous--Now just listen to this, every one of you, and don't speak: "'If any be Crooked, he shall there be made Straight.'" She paused, and looked hard at Toby. Mr. Punch started at the same time, and he and Toby looked hard at each other. "'If any be Blind, he shall see: If any Dumb, he shall speak.'" At the word "dumb," Mr. Hanlon, whose elbow was resting on the table, jumped so violently that he knocked the Album onto the floor. Aunt Amanda nodded her head to him, and all the others stared at him. "'If any be Old, he shall be Young again: If any Fat, he shall be as Lean as he will.'" At the word "fat", the Churchwarden gave a questioning grunt, and settled down deeper in his chair. "'If any be Poor, whether in Purse or in Mind, he shall seek Alms no longer.'" The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg, who had been resting his wooden leg on the chair opposite, dropped it to the floor and sat up very straight. Toby, who was standing beside him, clapped him heartily on the shoulder. "'If any be Mean, or Cunning, or Despiteful, he shall be given a new heart.'" Aunt Amanda looked directly at the Sly Old Codger, who was sitting smiling, with his tall silk hat on his knees; and everyone else in the room, except Mr. Hanlon, looked very intently at him. He noticed it, and glanced around inquiringly, smiling more benevolently than ever. "How beautiful that would be," he said. "How beautiful! If some of my dear, dear friends could only have a new heart,--how beautiful!" "Don't interrupt," said Aunt Amanda. "Freddie, listen to this: "'If any be Little in stature, against his desire, he shall be Great.'" Freddie opened his eyes very wide. Would it be possible to be big at once, without waiting all that long dreary time? How glorious that would be! "But this," said Aunt Amanda, "this is the last and the best. I don't know--whether I can--read it right--" her voice broke, and she blew her nose and cleared her throat--"but I will try. Oh! do you suppose it _could_ be true? Would a good Quaker captain, with a sister in New Bedford, say it if it wasn't true? With the sea raging and both masts gone, and the ship filling up with water, and----" "Aunt Amanda," said Toby, "if you don't read the rest of it this minute----" "Ah, yes, Toby, I will," said Aunt Amanda. "It must be true, or a good man like that wouldn't have said it. This is the last part, and the best: