It was a restless, wearying class. It required all Mr. Holbrook's wits and wisdom to keep them in any sort of order, to gain any part of their attention. Yet it was not as bad as usual; partly because the minister knew how, if anybody did, to teach just such boys, and partly because Tip, hitherto the spirit of all the mischief there, never took his eyes from the teacher's face. Mr. Holbrook watched his close attention, and took courage. When the other scholars passed out, he laid his hand on Tip's arm, with the words, "You have been a good listener to-day, Edward, Did you understand the story I told, of the boy who started on a journey to the Holy Land?" "Some of it I did: you meant that he started for heaven." "You understand it, I see. Don't you want to take that journey?" "I mean to, sir." "'Help Thou mine unbelief,'" was Mr. Holbrook's prayer just then. He had hoped for, longed for, prayed for these boys, especially for this one since the day before; yet he was astonished when he received the firm, prompt answer, "I mean to, sir,"--astonished, as too many are, that his prayer was heard. "Have you started, my boy?" he asked, speaking with a little tremble in his voice. "Yes, sir, I've tried; I told God last night that I would, but I don't much know how." "You want a lamp, don't you?" "A what, sir?" "A lamp. You remember in the story the boy found dark places every little way; then he took out his lamp, so he couldn't lose the road. Don't you need it?" "I want some help, but I don't know as a lamp would do me any good." "Ah yes; the one I mean will surely help you, if you give it a chance." Mr. Holbrook took from his pocket a small, red-covered book, and held it up. "Do you know what book this is?" he asked. "It's a Bible, ain't it?" "Yes. Have you ever read in the Bible?" "Some, at school." "You know, then, that God told men just what to say, and they wrote it here, so you see that makes it God's words; that is what we call it sometimes,--the Word of God. Now, let me show you something." He turned the leaves rapidly, then pointed with his finger to a verse; and Tip read, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet." "Oh," he said, with a bright look, "that is the kind of lamp you mean!" "That is it; and, my boy, I want you to take this for your lamp. There is no place on the whole road so dark but that it can light you through, if you try it. When you don't understand it, there is always Jesus to go to, you know." And, taking out his pencil, Mr. Holbrook wrote on the fly-leaf, in plain, round letters, "Edward Lewis." Then, handing the book to him, with a bow and smile, the minister turned away.