Part 42 (1/2)

”Well I suppose you can. There are two girls and a boy besides the baby.

Just think what a lot of trouble it must be to keep them all clothed and fed!”

”And poor 'Liza will have to do it all herself while Ajax is in jail.”

”I don't believe he was much help anyhow,” said Lulu, with a scornful little toss of her head; ”she says he didn't work half the time and was always getting drunk and beating her and the children. I should think she'd want him kept in jail as long as he lives.”

”But maybe he'll grow good, and be kind and helpful to her when he gets out.”

”Papa will do all he can to make him good,” said Lulu; ”he's gone now to the jail to talk to him. Just think of his taking so much trouble for such an ungrateful wretch.”

”It's very good in him,” responded Grace; ”and it's being like the dear Lord Jesus to take trouble to do good to ungrateful wretches.”

”Yes; so it is, and n.o.body can be acquainted with papa without seeing that he tries always to be like Jesus.”

The captain's motive for visiting the jail that day was certainly most kind and Christian; a desire to reason with the two prisoners on the sin and folly of their evil courses, and persuade them to repentance and reformation.

He did not approach them in a self-righteous spirit, for the thought in his heart was, ”It is only the grace of G.o.d that maketh us to differ; and with the same heredity, and like surroundings and influences I might have been even a greater criminal than they;” but he found them sullen and defiant and by no means grateful for his kindly interest in their welfare.

Still he continued his efforts, visiting them frequently while they lay in the county jail awaiting trial.

Lulu looked forward to the trial with some apprehension, dreading to be placed on the witness-stand before the judges, jurymen, lawyers, and the crowd of spectators likely to be present on the occasion.

”It'll be a great, great deal worse than that time in the magistrate's office,” she said to herself again and again. But by her father's advice she tried to put away the thought of it and give her mind to other things.

She was interested in her studies, amus.e.m.e.nts, in the books and periodicals furnished for the profit and entertainment of herself and brother and sister, and in the young people's societies just started in the connection.

These prospered and grew by the addition of new members from among the young folks who, though of the neighborhood, were yet outside of the connection.

Under Grandma Elsie's wise and kindly instruction several of the older members soon became quite expert in preparing work for themselves and the others; also in gathering up information on the subject of missions, and in regard to the needy of their own vicinity.

Thus their meetings were made interesting, were well attended and looked forward to with pleasure, while quite an amount of good was accomplished through their means.

The Woodburn children were never willing to miss a meeting, and took pride and pleasure in doing their full share of the sewing undertaken by the Dorcas society.

That was a more congenial task to Grace than to Lulu, but the latter--partly from pride, partly from a real desire to be useful--insisted each time on carrying home at least as much work as Gracie did.

And for some weeks she was very faithful with her self-imposed task; but after that her interest in that particular work began to flag and she delayed doing it, giving her time and thoughts to other matters, till at last Gracie reminded her that there was but a day left in which to do it, if the garment were to be ready for handing in at the next meeting of the society.

”Oh dear!” cried Lulu, ”I forgot the time was so short, and how I'm ever to finish it so soon I don't see! I'll have to take all my play time for it.”

”I wish I could help you,” Gracie said, with a very sympathizing look, ”but you know papa said I mustn't do any more than my own.”

”Of course not,” returned Lulu emphatically; ”your own is too much for such a feeble little thing as you; and don't you worry about me, I'll manage it somehow.”

”But how can you? You have that composition to write, and two lessons to learn to recite to papa in the morning. I should think they would take all your afternoon except what has to be given to exercise; and it's dinner time now.”

”I'll study hard and try to get the lessons and composition all done before dark, and then I'll sew as fast as I can all the evening while papa is reading or talking to mamma Vi and us.”

”I'm afraid it's more than you can do,” returned Grace, with a doubtful shake of the head; ”and perhaps somebody may come in to interrupt us too.”