When nine o'clock came, Edah took her place on the platform, and rang the bell, and the little crowd immediately took their seats in a kind of disorderly order. She waited a few minutes till all was perfectly still, and then said— "I am very glad to meet so many pleasant faces here this morning. I hope and believe that you have all come prepared to do your best, to learn your lessons well, and behave well. I am pleased too, to see so many large boys and girls, and I presume I shall find them a great assistance. But as no undertaking can be expected to prosper which is not commenced with the blessing of God, we will begin all our mornings with prayer. I wish all present who have Testaments would open to the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel." There were a few glances of surprise interchanged, but the books were produced, and the places found. "We will read round once two verses to each," continued Edah, "and then you will all kneel and join with me in repeating the Lord's Prayer." The verses were read round accordingly, and all knelt in a very orderly manner, but only a few voices joined in the prayer: these were Edah's Sunday scholars, one of the older girls, and Bob Raymond. She was not unprepared for this result; but she had resolved beforehand to persevere till the experiment was fairly tried. She knew she could depend upon her Sunday scholars, and she hoped the rest would fall in by degrees. The oldest girl in the school, whose name was Martha Cowles, was a communicant of the church at Raeburn, a pleasant, unassuming young woman, with mild dark eyes, and very prepossessing in her appearance. The first day was spent in arranging classes, ascertaining the acquirements of the pupils, and making acquaintance with them. In one of the boys Edah was especially interested, not from any personal beauty, or attractiveness of appearance, but quite the reverse. John Downing was a pale, sullen, dark-haired boy, about fourteen years old. He had good features, and might have been called handsome, but for the settled expression of discontent and ill-humor which deformed his countenance: he seldom smiled or looked up, and Edah could not help thinking that with his sullenness there was also an expression of habitual unhappiness. He seemed rather backward in his studies, and when he was placed in a lower class than the other boys of his own age, the gloom on his face deepened till it was painful to look at him. Edah resolved to take the first opportunity to attract his confidence, and win his love. The opportunity soon presented itself, though in rather an unexpected manner. One afternoon Jack was complained of by the little ones for pinching them, pulling their hair, and otherwise annoying them. He denied these accusations at once; but Edah was very quick-sighted, and soon saw with her own eyes the offence repeated. "You will stay a little while after school to-night, John," said she. "I must have a talk with you about this matter."