"'Suppose you come on down to our house, and we'll have a game of ball?' "Still Robert waited. He was fond of playing ball,--that was certain,--and he liked company better than to walk alone; why he should think of wandering off down to the river by himself he was sure he didn't know. Still something seemed to keep saying to him, 'Go this way--turn to the right; come, go to the river, 'until he said at last,-- "'No; I guess I'll take a walk this way first.' "And he turned the corner, then he was but a few steps from the river." "What came of the other fellow?" asked Bob. "Why, some more boys came up just then, and he walked along with them. "There was a large elm-tree on the river bank, and there was one particular spot under it that Robert called his seat; but he found a gentleman seated there this time; he had a book in his hand, partly closed, and he was leaning back against a tree, watching the sunset. "He looked around as he heard Robert's step, and said, 'Good evening; will you have a seat?' "He moved along, and Robert sat down on the grass near him; then he said,-- "'I heard a boy call out to another just now, "Going home, Robert?" Are you the boy?' "'No,' said Robert; 'Hal Carter screamed that out to me just as he came round the corner.' "'Oh, you are the one he was talking to. Well, I'll ask you the same question. _Are_ you going home?' "'No,' said Robert again; 'I have just walked straight away from home.' "'Yes; but are you going up _there_?' And the gentleman pointed up to the blue sky. 'That's the home I mean; I've just been reading about it; this river made me think of it. Where it says, you know, "And he showed me a pure river of water, clear as crystal." Then it goes on to describe the city with its "gates of pearl" and "streets of gold," the robes and crowns that the people wear, the harps on which they play, and, after this warm day, I couldn't help thinking that one of the pleasantest things about this home was the promise, "Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat." Aren't you going to that home, my boy?'" "'I don't know,' Robert said, feeling very much astonished." At this point the superintendent's bell rang, and Miss Perry had to hasten her story. "I haven't time, boys, to tell you all the gentleman said, but, after that talk, Robert began to think about these things a great deal, and pretty soon he learned to read the Bible and to pray. That was more than fifty years ago. He is an old minister now; I have heard him preach a great many times; and he told me once he should always believe God put it into his heart to turn to the right that evening, instead of the left." "Oh!" exclaimed Tip, just here; and Miss Perry stopped. "Joe pinched me," said Tip, to explain his part of the noise.