"I want to begin right, and keep right clear through to the end," answered Edward, thoughtfully. "Have you anything to suggest?" "When I left the Forge for Long Point farm," answered Ray, "I adopted some resolutions that have been a great help to me. I see no reason why I should not re-adopt them now. I will read them to you, and perhaps you can make some suggestion that will add to their effectiveness." And he took from his pocket the rules he had written long months before, and which we have already recorded. Edward listened attentively, and, when Ray had finished, he remarked, gravely: "I guess, Ray, if we live up to these rules here at the academy, we shall have all we want to do without adding others. But I'm willing to adopt them, too. I tell you, I have a small frame in my trunk, and I'll copy those off in my finest style; then we will frame them and hang them just over our study table. There they'll be where we can see them, and where others can see them, too. So we will keep them constantly in mind, and show our colors at one and the same time. What say you?" "A capital suggestion!" answered Ray, enthusiastically. Edward, who was an unusually fine penman, now got out his writing materials, and copied the resolutions, while Ray looked up the frame and made that ready. In less than an hour the task was completed, and the neatly written rules hung just above the study table. "One thing more, Ned," said Ray, as he stepped down from the chair on which he had stood to hang the frame. "What is it, chum?" "Let us now ask the Master to help us keep them." "All right!" And the two lads knelt there, and in turn asked their Saviour to help them to make those resolutions a part of their daily lives, in their studies, among their associates, and in whatsoever they should find to do. With this consecration of their young lives to Jesus, they began their careers as students at Clinton Academy. Is it strange that the Master drew near and looked down in gentle love upon them? What else could we expect of One whose promise to his own is: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee?" CHAPTER XIX. SHOWING THEIR COLORS. It is impossible to follow Ray and Edward in all the details of their academic life. All that can here be done is to give a few incidents that will illustrate their mental and spiritual growth; and if in these Ray seems to have undue prominence, let it be remembered it is his story that is given on these pages. Ray sought an early opportunity to confer with Mr. Phillips, the principal of the academy. "I presume you know my circumstances," he said. "If I succeed in graduating from the academy, I must have work. Do you know of anything I can get to do?" Mr. Phillips smiled at the lad's straightforward way in coming to the point, and asked: "What are you willing to do?" "Anything that is honest," answered Ray, promptly.