fi' MtttoiBIiii||y|liil THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Rare Book Room GIFT OF John W. Beckman University of California Berkeley "Here is the letter, Mr. Schaflfer.'. P. 58. LITTLE PETE. AUNT FKIEKDLY, AUTHOR OF "AMY AND HER BROTHERS," "THE PICKET- GUARD," ETC. "Render not evil for evil." PUBLISHED BY THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OP EYANGELICAL KNOWLEDGE, BIBLE HOUSE, N E W- Y O R K , AND 1224 CHESTNUT ST., PHILADELPHIA. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. I. SETTING OUT, 5 II. ENEMIES, 13 III. THE FARM, 21 IV. BOYS, 81 V. BITTER HERBS, . . 41 VI. THE LETTER, 50 VII. GLAD TIDINGS, 63 VIII. CONCLUSION, 06 I. SETTING OUT. IT was early for any travellers to be abroad, yet over a good turnpike road, a little foot-passenger was rapidly moving. Pete Derno's face was set in the direction in which he was going, and he turned his eyes neither to the right nor the left. His bare feet trod the ground as independently as if he were the owner of every bit of the rich farm-land, which lay on each side of the rail-fences, be tween which he was passing. Yet there was not a spadeful of ground anywhere which Pete could call his own. His " earthly pos sessions," like Ichabod Crane's, were done " up in a cotton pocket-handkerchief." Th^t handkerchief was carefully knotted, and sus pended to the stick Pete was carrying over his shoulder. Two pair of striped pantaloons, a small linen coat, and a valuable pair of 1* 6 LITTLE PETE. shoes, (if one was to judge by the weight of their soles in proportion to their size,) two clean shirts, and a pocket-handkerchief, this was Pete Derno's wardrobe. We have call ed Pete's wardrobe his own, the sum of his earthly possessions, yet he well and rightly looked upon it, rather as given him in trust by his mother, something for which he was . accountable to her as purchaser, manufacturer, and proprietor, he being but the tenant on favor, so long as his behavior made him wor thy of the honor. Ttiro things Pete had, however, in his right-hand pocket, which were his, bj^e very law his cloth-covered Testa ment, and his jack-knife, with one strong, thick blade, good, like his shoes, if quantity of the heavy element were the thing required* The Testament was a parting gift from his Sunday-school teacher, and had his name written in full on the fly-leaf, in Pete's best style, pete derno " Steel not this Book for Fear of shaim." Pete was not a superior penman, but he was LITTLE PETE. 7 proud to be able to write Ms name at all. Cer tainly any one who could not have read the inscription on that fly-leaf, must have been 4 nil indeed ; the letters were so large and distinct, and there was room enough between the words for the puzzled to stop and think, before going farther. Pete's Testament was done up in a piece of brown paper, and tied round with a string, fastened with innumerable knots. One might have been tempted to smile at this evidence of care, yet a smile of approval would have been most appropriate. Pete loved his Testament, not only as the gift of his teacher, but as the most precious of books, in which was written the story of the life of his dearest Friend, and many let ters about him, and last, (and almost the best, Pete thought,) a description of the home of that Friend, where Pete hoped one day to be .rejoicing in the shining glory. Yes, little bare-footed Pete Derno was a pilgrim on his way to the Heavenly Country, and cheered by the best sunshine, even the .sense of the con tinual love of the ever-present Saviour. Pete had passed through some of the pil- 8 LITTLE PETE. grim's troubles that very morning, though'he was stepping on so cheerfully now. Pete was leaving home for the first time in his life, go ing oat to service in a farmer's family, ful!L ten miles from the old brown shanty, where he had lived ever since he was born. Peter was only ten years old ; so he must be excus ed for having snuffled and thrust his fist in his eyes when he bade his mother good-by, and fairly cried outright when he got to a turn in the lane, where he was hidden from the kind faces that were watching him on his journey. The ship that sails most proudly through the waves often has its own bustle and delay and difficulties, Before it finally weighs an chor, and begins to move over the water " like a thing of life." Pete had done with his tears and his misgivings now. He had resolved to do his duty like a Christian boy in his new position, and to bear patiently whatever trials and annoyances might /all to his share. With such a strong right spirit within him, no wonder he trod the ground so cheerily and looked so pleasantly out of his - small blue eyes. Pete had judiciou'sfj* rolled LITTLE PETE. 9 his clean trowsers up to his knees", to keep them out of harm's way, and if there had been any possible place of safety in which to put "his new straw hat, he would have certainly gone bare-headed, trusting to his mass of curly hair to protect his little pate from the sum mer sun. To wear a hat with a whole brim for " every day," seemed to Pete a real ex travagance, and he had felt for once inclined to argue the matter with his mother, when she put his fringed, ragged head-piece on to his brother's, as " not fit for Pete, now he was going out to service." Mrs. Derno was not inclined to be lavish of new hats, or new garments of any kind. It took all her spare money and spare time to keep her brood of little ones supplied with clothing that was merely decent for Sunday. With much mending and patching, contriving and turning, she managed to have some cov ering over the bare skin of her boys and girls on a week-day. Motley, strange-looking gar ments they often wore, but they were merry and busy, and cared as little for what they had on as did the bees and butterflies who fluttered and buzzed around them, as they 10 LITTLE PETE. Veeded and hoed, and dug and raked, and laughed and chatted in the garden-patch be side their humble home. Mrs. Demo's critical neighbors said she had " no faculty for getting on in the world." She certainly had made no money, hitherto, but she had managed to keep out of debt, and to bring on so far a group of as happy and healthy-looking youngsters as were to be found anywhere in the country. That was perhaps doing well for a widow woman, with as many children as she had fingers on the strong right hand that worked so willingly for them. If good Mrs. Derno had turned out her little people to fight their way for themselves on the street, she might perhaps have found time to earn many shillings which now rested in purses far out of her reach. Mrs. Derno well knew that she was doing bet ter by her children than *if she were laying up chests full of gold for them, to be sparing time now to train them to be good and useful by and by. Very little profit she had as yet out of their labors, though they were almost too much in earnest to help her. She had often to pick out, after the girls were in bed, the LITTLE PETE. 11 sewing over which they had ingeniously prick ed their fingers for many an hour, or to wash, over the half-clean garments upon which they had tried their skill in the laundress depart ment. Only patient, persevering mothers know the trouble it is to teach children to be useful. It is far easier for a busy, active, en ergetic woman to let her children run at their own will, while she works for them, as if they were so many cats or * chickens, who were to know by nature the sum of what was to be needful for them the days of their life. Mrs. Derno had another end in view. She looked upon her five children as so many souls in trusted to her care, so many human beings to be trained for useful life on earth, and a bright, enduring home in heaven. There had been days in which she had been almost in despair of ever making any thing but a mischievous monkey out of Pete, the oldest of the flock. The wiry, nimble little fellow seemed to think the world a plaything, contrived for his special amusement, and re quiring all his activity to find out its many sources of fun and frolic. Yet, unpromising as was the material she had to work upon, 12 LITTLE PETE. Mrs. Derno's patience and prayers had made out of wild little Pete the industrious, right- principled, energetic little chap whom we have found speeding along the road, in the early morning, on his way " to service." II. ENEMIES, WE have said that Pete Derno looked neither to the right nor the left, as he kept up his steady march over the smooth turnpike. Experience had taught our young traveller that wandering eyes are sad mischief- makers. If he did not see the squirrels, seeming to beckon to him with their feathery tails, or the rabbits bowing and making mouths to him from the thickets, he would not, of course, be tempted to stop and declare war against them, or even to prosecute a friendly acquaintance. It is a secret worth knowing for frolicsome children like Pete, that there is no way of being sure of get ting safely through some important errand like keeping one's mind on the business in hand, and one's eyes straight on the path that is to be trodden. 2 14 LITTLE PETE. Following out this principle, Pete had fairly gotten over eight miles of his long walk without once stopping or lingering for any thing less lawful than the firmer knot ting of his bundle, or the quenching of his thirst at a wayside spring. Pete was grow ing weary now in spite of himself, and he moved on much more slowly than at first, and it was all the harder to keep himself from seeing the blackberry-vines, that hung out their garlands over the fences, as if to show, in their pride, what shining jet orna ments they were beginning to wear. Pete wished blackberries particularly, and there was a chance to him, in plucking the first of the season, yet he went- determinedly on, re solved not to be led to loiter for such a tempt ation. Pete had just passed " a solid quart of ber ries," he was sure, and was holding his head unusually straight, because he was pleased with himself that he was getting on so brave ly. His march was suddenly interrupted by a cry from an unseen enemy. " Halt ! I say, halt ! or I'll fire into you I" This martial address was accompanied by LITTLE PETE. 15 the swift discharge of a volley of stones, thrown as quickly, one after the other, as if jerked out from a " Colt's revolver." They were all in front of Pete, however, with strict regard to military etiquette, the customs seem ing to be the same on this high road as on the " high seas." Pete " hove to " at once, and looked about for the man or boy-of-war likely to be in the neighborhood. Two stout country lads came jumping over the rail-fence at his right hand, and laid hold of his arms like two highwaymen. " So that's the fashion in these parts," said Pete with a whimsical look. " You needn't hold me so fast, for I couldn't stand fight with even one of you, if you allowed me my stick and the first blow. Are you afraid of me that you hold on so ? I won't hurt you ; I declare I won't." Pete's little face was snivelled up into the drollest possible expression as he looked from one to the other of his captors. The larger of the two strangers burst into a hearty laugh, and let go his hold of Pete to support his own fat sides, while he made 16 LITTLE PETE. the woods ring with his shouts. The other boy's face grew sour arid surly. He tight ened his grasp painfully on Pete, and said : " I mean to make you afraid of me, though. What an arm ! Why, I could wring it off as easy as I would a chicken's neck." "Action, but not much muscle," said Pete, going through some singularly swift move ments with his free arm, and trying to look merry, though his face was very red with the pain he was suffering. The strong fin gers of the great rough boy would lea,ve Pete with a blue bracelet on for many a day ; the little pilgrim was sure of that, for private reasons not to be mistaken. " Hands off, Bob !" said the older brother, "hands off, I say. We've brought him to ; now let's state the terms of peace." The iron fingers were unclasped, and Pete stood, what he would have called "a free man," between his assailants. " I am Fritz Schaffer, and that's my brother Bob, and you are Pete Derno. We've been on picket-duty, this hour, looking out for you. We don't let in a stranger to our camp without giving him a chance to know the LITTLE PETE. 17 articles of war. Mind now the first thing is, you are not to say you ever met us before, when you see us up at the house. If you tell on us, now, at the start, we'll draw out in line-of-battle, at once, and may be you'll find yourself nowhere, before you know it. Will you promise ?" " Promise what ?" said Pete. " Not to tell on us, I say." Fritz Schaffer put a great ugly fist very near to Pete's little pug-nose, as he spoke. "It's not my place to speak, unless I'm spoken to," said Pete, with perfect com posure; "but if I am asked any questions, I shall give a true answer. You may as well know that from the first. I tell no lies to please any body. If that does not suit, just fall in, now, and hammer me as much as you think proper, and then let me go on. I prom ised to be at the farm early, and I should like to keep my agreement." " I'll teach you manners," began Bob Schaffer. Bob drew off to get force for a blow that was meant to floor his tiny adver sary. He met a very different match, and one not so much to his liking. 2* 18 LITTLE PETE. Fritz, by a swift movement, took the blow intended for Pete, as if the pain were a real source of satisfaction. He did not seem in clined, however, to receive any such satisfac tion, without returning it in kind. A regu lar tussle, fight, and struggle at once ensued between the brothers. Pete wisely thought it best for him to get off the battle-ground as fast as possible. He did not feel his fatigue now, and his nimble little feet pattered along the road with hearty good will. Quite out of breath, he found himself all in a heat, as he entered the lane leading to farmer Schaffer's small brown house. Pete marvelled to find the home of the comfort able farmer not one quarter as large as his barn. That barn was a perfect curiosity in its way, a mammoth of its kind, and as worthy of exhibition, at a quarter of a dollar a sight, as half of the monsters the showmen carry about in their cloth-houses, to " take in " the country people. Farmer Schaffer never charged any body for seeing his barn. Indeed, he had cut down three big oak-trees, that the passengers on the turnpike might be sure to have a full view of A regular tussle, fight, and struggle." P. 18. LITTLE PETE. 19 it, free of even the expense of a twisted neck or a wrenched backbone. Mr. Schaffer had never been fifty miles off from his own land. Of course he had never seen an ancient abbey ; yet he had the fac-simile of some of those old cloisters in the covered, porch-like resorts along the side and half-way under that astonishing barn. No thoughtful, sor rowful fanatics pacred those dark retreats, but there the cows chewed their cud in the win ter-time, and took the fresh air without wad ing through snow-banks, or being coated by merciless sleet. Pete forgot all about his mishaps by the way, as the wonders of the farm burst upon him. Such fat cattle as were grazing in the pastures,'such Brobdignag, long-legged chick ens as strutted in the lane, his eyes had never before beheld. Why, there were six young horses, seeming to have nothing to do but play, all in a field together, and one of them came close to the fence and made a mysterious friendly noise at Pete, as if he re cognized him as an acquaintance. Pete had forgotten the circumstance, if he had had the pleasure of meeting the brown colt before, and he most unceremoniously 20 LITTLE PETE. passed on, without acknowledging the saluta^ tion. The fact was, Pete knew if he were to stop now, it would be all over with him. He would be off on an exploring expedition in a twinkling, instead of going straight up to the house, and reporting himself as " ready for duty/ 7 as was the thing proper to be done. Pete was a pilgrim to the heavenly coun try. Such pilgrims must put duty first, and keep out of temptation, if they want to come safely to the end of their journey. Pete had been made to understand thoroughly that the small duties of the boy must be well performed, and the small temptations valiant- ly resisted, if the little Christian pilgrim would keep his feet firmly in the narrow way that leadeth unto life. It cost curious, eager, wondering little Pete as great an effort to go straight to the door at farmer Schaffer's, without loitering and lin gering, as it has many an older tempted pil grim to pass unheeded the dram-shop or the beguiling saloon. They who would stand firm to duty, as Christian men, must be firm and faithful as Christian boys. III. THE FAKM. PETE had no difficulty in finding the back door at farmer Schaffer's. A broad, well- worn path led in that direction from the low, half- open gate, a little beyond the main en trance. This " back-door " was at the side of the house, and served as a " front door " on all ordinary occasions, the clean floor of the porch, facing the lane, being only trodden by privileged feet, on high days and holidays. Pete did not need to knock, for the " click " of the gate, which he closed behind him, brought out a rosy-cheeked girl, to see who could be coming. At the sight of Pete, she seemed to understand at once who he was, for she exclaimed : " So youVe come, have you ! We were not looking for you for an hour yet, and may be not at all. Boys an't to be re lied on, that we know well enough here." 22 LITTLE PETE. Pete did not wonder that there was a poor opinion of boys at farmer Schaffer's, after his experience with Bob and Fritz on the road. He mentally resolved, however, to show that at least one boy could be relied on, and change, if possible, Betty's bad opinion of the class to which it was his misfortune at present to belong. As a first step in the right direction, he bowed politely to Betty, and said in a re spectful way : " Is Mrs. Schaffer at home ?" " At home ! Of course she is ! She never goes nowhere but to church on Sundays, or to a quilting or an apple-paring once or twice a year. Miss Schaffer is at home, and so is he, too ; they are both down at the barn, look ing after a sick cow. You'd better leave your bundle here, and go down there right straight. She'll open her eyes to see you have really come. She had her doubts about it, for all the recommend the teacher-woman gave you. Boys that sits very still on the bench in Sun day-school is sometimes very sly and slippery on a week-day. I know that I never did think much of them Sunday-schools. I never went to none myself, and never saw no good LITTLE PETE. 23 come of them, neither did Miss Schaffer. Our boys never went." Pete was inclined to speak up in favor of the dear Sunday-school, whose precious teach ing had so helped him in the way of life ; but he prudently thought that his arguments would be worth nothing unless his conduct could show that he carried his religion into the week. He had better now be off to his duty, and leave Miss Betty to find out in due time that some good might come out of a Sunday-school scholar. " I'll go right down to the barn," said Pete, laying his bundle carefully on a strong bench on the unsheltered platform outside the door. " Don't let any body touch that, if you please," he added ; " it has my clothes in, my Sunday clothes." Pete made straight for the barn. If he had turned his head, he would have seen Betty making a thorough examination of his bundle, and commenting upon its contents after her own fashion. A liberty of this kind, Pete would have felt much inclined to resent, but now. as often before, by having his mind and 24: LITTLE PETE. his eyes on the path of duty, he was kept out of temptation. Betty had not condescended to tell Pete in what part of the capacious barn he was to look for the person he sought, but the moan of a suffering animal at once guided him to the spot. In one of the stalls under the barn stood a tall, gaunt man, who, as Pete came up, was opening the cow's mouth by main force, while a stout woman at his side put far down her throat the neck of a bottle, and skillfully ad ministered its contents. This was an interesting process to a child like Pete, and his eyes were round with won der as he approached the little party. u There now, I think she'll do," said farm er Schaffer, letting the cow's head droop upon a heap of straw. " You wouldn't have got a dpse of oil down Fritz or Bob so kindly. I believe those boys would rather die than take a drop of apothecary's stuff." " They have never been used to it. They have had uncommon health," said the wife, apologetically. " Who have we here !" exclaimed Mr. LITTLE PETE. 25 Schaffer, suddenly spying Pete close at his side. " The little boy, I declare ! The boy I told you about, who was to come from town. I need him to save me steps. I don't move around as easily as I used to." \ " I should think you had boys enough al ready to manage," said the farmer sharply. " Boys make more steps than they save, ac cording to my notion. A town boy ! A little thief as likely as not ! "What will he know about farm -work ?" "His mother lives just on the outskirts. He is accustomed to gardening and making himself generally useful," said Mrs. Schaffer. " He had an excellent recommendation. His being here so early looks well. Did you walk over, my boy?" " I did, ma'am," said Pete, pulling the edge of his straw hat, and throwing up one of his little bare feet, to increase the force of his bow. " "What do you expect to do here ?" asked: the Jfarmer, looking contemptuously at the small specimen of a servant whom his wife had chosen to employ. 3 26 LITTLE PETE. " Just what Mrs. Schaffer tells me. I have not had much experience in farming," said Pete, with a quizzical smile. " The sooner you begin the better, then," said Mrs. Schaffer. "I'll put you at work at once. Just run up to the house and tell Betty to make me a bucket of flax-seed gruel. I believe she'll live, Mr. Schaffer^ after all. I should hate to lose her, she's such a splen did milker. The calf looks well, too." Nestled away in the corner of the stall, was a dear little white and red calf, looking as contentedly out of its great, soft eyes as if its poor mother were as happy and healthy as itself. Pete caught a glimpse of the calf. How he did long to give it a close examination ! But that would never do. He must be off on his errand, like an arrow fronythe bow. He well knew the worthlessness of a tardy, lin gering messenger. His mother had not left him in ignorance on that point. When Pete came back,' carrying very care fully the full bucket of gruel, he was welcom ed by a kindly smile from Mrs. Schaffer, as she relieved him from his burden. Pete won dered to see the patient cow submit to having LITTLE PETE. 27 the gruel poured down her throat, and thought that, hungry as he was at that moment, he would rather wait all day for a meal than take it that fashion. " What is your name, boy ?" asked Mr. Schaifer, in a tone as severe as if the stranger were to blame for having any name at all. " Peter, sir, Peter Derno ; but every body calls me Pete. Mother says she don't think I'll ever get any thing else, now." " A long tongue your boy has, Mrs. Schaf- fer," said the husband ; " you had better see to it, it is not a saucy tongue, too." "Pete," said Mrs. Schaffer kindly, "don't you want to look at the calf?" The wife seemed to be constantly on the watch to smooth away the effect of her husband's se verity. Pete put his hand on the head of the calf and stroked its large, soft ears. " What a dear !" he ventured to say, notwithstanding the reproof he had just received for too free use of his tongue. " Go to the house and get a pan of milk, Pete," said the farmer. " I want to see if the calf will take it before I go in." 28 LITTLE PETE. " We are going to try to raise the calf, Pete. I shouldn't wonder if you were very fond of it. It will be a regular pet." Pete was almost afraid to wait to hear out kind Mrs. Schaffer's pleasant remark ; but he knew it would not be polite for him to move while she was talking to him. He made up for the delay by starting away at full speed as soon as he was at liberty. Perhaps he had two motives zeal to be off on his errand, and a desire to be out of hearing, before he could get another rebuke from the farmer. The calf made no objection to taking the good sweet milk that was soon, set before it, and Mrs. Schaffer declared her opinion that it would " do famously," and be well worth the raising. " You always want to raise all the calves. A few days longer would have made first-rate veal out of this one ; I am not sure that it would not do to kill now." Mr. Schaffer looked both savage and contemplative as he spoke. Pete was shocked and almost ready to cry. The idea of making veal of that dear little calf seemed to him perfectly barbarous. Pete LITTLE PETE. 29 need not have been troubled ; Mr. Schaffer had no idea of killing the calf. He only thought this a fitting opportunity for reprov ing his tender-hearted wife, whom he consid ered quite too indulgent toward all the live stock about the farm, especially boys, " a kind of cattle," the farmer often said, " which were always ready for fodder, but never ready for work. 7 ' Work enough seemed to be ready for Pete, whether it was or was not welcome to him. After Mrs. Schaffer he trotted all the morn ing ; now making a hen comfortable on a new nest ; now providing for the welfare of some turkeys of delicate constitution, now weeding, under the direct supervision of the mistress, and finally pulling for dinner such vegetables as the abundant garden would afford. It was a luxury to Mrs. Schaffer to have somebody who obeyed her orders promptly, without question or remonstrance. Such a luxury she had long been craving, for both Betty and the boys had too high an idea of their own judgment to submit it willingly to hers. The good woman was no disciplinarian ; easy 3* 30 LITTLE PETE. and kind-hearted, she was ruled by every strong-willed person who came in her way, without having the cheerful content of one who is wisely governed by the rightful au thority. IV. BOYS. (( "\TOW, Pete, wash your hands, and I'll \\ find something for you to do in the house," said Mrs. Schaffer, when her small servant's duties in the garden were over. Pete made free use of the water that gushed constantly from the trough beside the door. While he was going through a vigorous rub bing with a stout towel, his eye t was caught by what looked' like a specimen of mammoth fruit on a neighboring apple-tree. Something round and red was swinging on the end of one of' the high branches. It could not be Pete's precious bundle ! Yes, it was nothing else. Even at the distance at which he stood, Pete could trace the familiar pattern of his best pocket-handkerchief in which his ward robe had been so carefully wrapped. How came it there ? 32 LITTLE PETE. Pete did not need to ask himself that ques tion twice. He at once decided that no eagle or other foul bird had done the mischief. On some two-legged creatures without feath ers he felt inclined to lay the blame, and rightly concluded that Fritz and Bob were not far away. They should see that he was not to be discomfited, or put out of humor by such a trick. Up the tree he clambered in a twinkling, lightly swinging among the branch es, and by skillful management soon took his possessions from the perilous resting-place where it had cost his tormentors a half-hour's hard work to put them. Pete was just sliding down the trunk in high spirits when farmer Schaffer came into the yard. "So ho ! youngster ! At my apple-trees already I" he shouted. Not waiting for any explanation, he forthwith gave Pete* some such hard slaps with his bare hand as were intended to check all pilfering propensities at the very beginning. When Pete fairly came to himself after the stinging sensations that seemed to thrill and pervade his small body, he was alone. In- LITTLE PETE. 33 dignation, burning indignation, made him stamp his bare foot, and dash the hot tears from his eyes. What was it that suddenly calmed his spirit and smoothed away the frowns from his brow ? " But and if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patient ly, this is acceptable with God." The self- justification, the manners and complaints that a moment before had been filling his mind, he would silence them all, and try to take pa tiently the punishment he had so little de served. After all, Mr. Schaffer had not been so very much to blame. What could he suppose Pete was in the apple-tree for, but to get at some of the red, tempting fruit that shone out so beguilingly from among the bright leaves ? 11 Why, I might have made such a mistake myself!" said Pete, in an undertone, as he again sought the trough, now to wash away the traces of his angry tears. During this process, Pete had time to remember certain oc casions when he had been left in charge of the younger children at home, and had adminis tered rebuke and punishment with about as little delay or justice as farmer Schaffer seem 34 LITTLE PETE. ed to use on his premises. Pete made a men tal resolve to be very slow in future to con demn others, without knowing the whole story of the seeming iniquity. There had been two spectators to the scene that had just taken place. Fritz and Bob, from behind a clump of lilac-bushes, had been witnesses to the whole affair. They were not a little disappointed at the failure of their in tended joke at Pete's expense, when he so nimbly repossessed himself of his precious bundle. The coming up of their father gave a new turn to the affair. As he seized Pete, Bob whispered : " Now he'll tell, and we'll catch it." " He's catching it himself ! My ! that hurts, 1 know," said Fritz. " He's mad as can be, and no wonder," continued Fritz, as he saw Pete stamping on the ground in his sudden wrath. All this the boys could well understand but they were puzzled at the change in Pete's demeanor. They had never had the tumult in their young hearts hushed by the Voice at whose command the wild waves were calmed on stormy Gennesaret. They had never lis- LITTLE PETE. 35 tened to the still, small voice within, till it had charmed away the painful swellings of anger and hate. " What does that mean ?" said Bob tim orously. " I believe he has made up his mind tortell on us ; and won't we get it if he does ! He had better not begin that game. I'll make him repent it, I'll warrant." " You shan't bully the life out of that little chap ; I've told you so once before this morn ing, Bob Schaffer," said Fritz decidedly, " and I'll make you mind me. The rules of war must be observed. You may hector him as much as you please, but he's too little for you to lay your hands on." " I won't have you laying down the law every three minutes," said Bob sullenly. "T shall do what I please to Pete Derno." " You will, will you !" was the hasty reply. An angry flush overspread the face of Fritz and his too ready right hand was suddenly raised. At that moment his mother's voice was heard calling : " Boys ! boys ! I've a hot turnover-pie for you. Boys ! Fritz I Bob !" By the time Mrs. Schaffer had done calling, 36 LITTLE PETE. her hopeful sons were at her side, to receive the little pies she had ordered made for their special benefit. Pete was now sitting on the door- step, par ing potatoes as cheerfully as if he had nevei felt the smart of the farmer's broad, strong hand. " This is Pete Derno. You must be very kind to him, boys," said the mother. " He is a willing little chap. He and I have had a nice time together this morning haven't we, Pete ? I wish I had a pie for you too, Pete." At this thought Mrs. Schaffer bustled back to the kitchen to break off a generous piece from a "card" of gingerbread, to make up for what she deemed a sad omissions " Tell on us if you dare, Pete," said Bob, with an ugly scowl. Fritz looked inquiringly at Pete's pleasant little face, and was silent. He could not quite understand the stranger. Pete thought Mrs. Schaffer's gingerbread about the nicest thing he had ever tasted, and so he told her, with many thanks. it There, lay down your knife and take LITTLE PETE. 37 your comfort. Why, I believe the child is half-starved. Just think of it, Betty ; he walked ten miles, and we never thought to give him a bite till this blessed minute. Eat your gingerbread, child, and take your com fort." "With this parting injunction, Mrs. Schaffer went off to attend to her household duties, while Pete and " the boys" ate their lunch eon together. To have heard them chatting there by the door-step you would never have dreamed that any thing but peace and har mony had ever existed between them. Pete's droll, merry spirit was irresistible. When he took up his knife and resumed his work, his companions did not forsake him. Fritz stretched himself on the grass, while Bob produced a fishing-line from his pocket, and began to pick out various knots, in which it was mysteriously tangled. Pete's little tongue was chattering away,, and Fritz was indulging in one of his loud peals of laughter, when there was a sudden,, heavy tread along the hall. " Hush ! hush up ! Pete," said Fritz, his own mirth being cooled down in a minute. 38 LITTLE PETE. " There's father ! He can't bear a noise about the house." Pete needed no second warning. He had already learned the lesson that farmer Schaf- fer was not to be trifled with. "What are you doing here, idling away your time ?" said the father. As he spoke, he strode by little Pete on the door-step, and laid hold of Fritz. " Up, young man, and go down to the stable to saddle my horse. And you, Bob, put up the bars there in the meadow. You must have left them down as you came through. I have told you, boys, times enough that I would not have you coming through -the fields, trampling down the grain, when there was a way round the road." Fritz set off with a defiant air for the stable, while Bob, with a. surly look, disappeared in the direction of the meadow. They were neither of them seen again till dinner. Pete soon found out that it was their policy to keep as much as possible out of the way of their father, who seldom inquired how they spent their time if he did not see them idling or quarrelling right under his eyes. LITTLE PETE. 39 Never before had Pete known how to prize the wise, kind government of his judi cious mother. In a few days at farmer Schaffer's he learned mpre the value of her careful training than in all the years of his previous life. Mr. Schaffer's over-severity and the over indulgence of his wife were calculated to make just such children as they were raising. The mother was always ready to screen from the father the faults of the boys, lest his hasty, rigorous punishment should overtake them in her very presence, and fairly set her to crying, even more heartily than the delin quents themselves. Our little pilgrim did not find his path strewn with roses at farmer 'Schaffer's, as we may well presume. Was he home-sick? Did he beg to be taken back to his mother ? Did he run away? Did he learn to fight and bully and deceive ? Did he take advan tage of the indulgence of his mistress, and waste and idle away the time that was right fully hers ? Ah ! Pete was tempted to one and all of these misdemeanors. He was tempted, but 40 LITTLE PETE. lie did not yield; and why ? Morning, noon, and night he prayed for strength to fulfill his duties amid his many trials, and to bear cheerfully and patiently the annoyances of his lot. Day by day he thanked his Hea venly Father for the abundant food that was ever ready for him, for the snug bed that awaited him at night, and for the health and ^ strength which made even life and labor a pleasure to him. Very earnestly prayed little Pete that a blessing might fall on the house hold of which he was now a member, aul that amid his temptations, he might so live like a Christian child that others should glorify his Father in heaven. V. BITTEE HEEBS. T)ETE bad been a week at farmer Schaf- JL fer's, a long, long week it had seemed to him. Through many trying encounters with Fritz and Bob he had come off without injury of life or limb, and on many a threatening occasion his merry spirit had turned into a laugh what promised, on his side at least, to be crying matter. The week had not been without its keen pleasures to Pete. He had become intimate with every living inmate of the farm-yard horses and mules, pigs and poultry, cows and calves; he knew them one and all, and could count them over on his fingers at a moment's warning. In the midst of his general interest in these new dumb friends, Pete's particular preference was for the calf and its invalid mamma, whose acquaintance he had made immediate- 4* 42 LITTLE PETE. ly on his arrival at the farm. The calf was in a most promising condition, and conde scended now to eat grass and drink milk in the most obliging manner ; but the health of the cow was by no means fully reestablished. Mrs. Schaffer still looked grave and doubtful when her case was mentioned, and continued to declare that all was not right with her. "If I could only see her chewing her cud once more, I should be content," said the farmer's wife ; " until that comes right, she can't be well." To bring about this desirable end various expedients had been tried, which, although apparently very annoying to the patient, had not produced the much wished for effect. A narrow slice of pork as long as Pete's arm had been forced down her throat in vain, and the prescribed " strip of a. dish-cloth rolled in dough " proved no more effective. Monday morning had come round again, and Mrs. Schaffer had risen in a peculiarly active and energetic spirit. " Betty," she said, " we must bring the spotted cow right to-day, if we can. "We haven't tried the green ball yet. I have LITTLE PETE. 43 known that to succeed when nothing else would." Pete was listening, all eyes and ears, to know what this new remedy would be, but he prudently forebore any questions, but waited to see how time would develop it. It was to be Pete's lot to have his own share in preparing this prescription. As soon as breakfast was over, Mrs. Schaf- fer took him aside and said : " Now, Pete, I want you to look me out nine bitter herbs, a piece of each, to make a ball for the cow. They need not be so very bitter, but something that has a smart, strong taste. If that don't bring back her cud, we may as well knock her in the head, for she won't get well." "Must there be just nine, Mrs. Schaffer?" said Pete, with great interest. The farmer's wife was restless under the question, but she answered, without irrita tion. " Mr. Schaffer says it's all nonsense about there being nine or nineteen herbs, bitter or sweet, in the ball ; so you get her well choked with something she makes out to swallow at 44 LITTLE PETE. last, that is all that is needed. But men don't know every thing. I got it from an old aunty, who was very knowing about the almanac and signs, and such things, and it is my be lief that you must have just nine kinds of bitter herbs, if you want the thing to be worth trying. Now set off, Pete, and when you get your two hands well full, press and pat the herbs a little, as if you were making a snow-ball, until you get it smooth and round, and then cover it with clover, and call Betty." Pete started at once, much impressed with the importance of his mission. Tansy and sorrel, " old man's pepper-grass " and dande lion, he had gathered without difficulty, and then he came to a stop. Where was he to find the five other plants to t make up the requisite number? Along the edges of the nearest field, and among the clusters of foliage near the large stones, Pete continued his search. Burdock and mallows had been added to his collection, when he was interrupted in his labors by the shout of "Hallo! Pete; what are you doing there, creeping along the fences., like a regular sneak?" LITTLE PETE. 45 Fritz was the speaker, and Bob, as usual, was close in his rear. Pete explained the errand upon which he had been sent, and displayed the treasures of his incomplete collection. Fritz burst into one of his loud laughs, exclaiming : "Just o / o an old woman's notion, nothing else. Come, I'll give you something better to do. We are going fishing, and want you to dig us some bait. Put down your greens, and take this shovel, and go to work at once." " I must mind Mrs. Schaffer first," said Pete decidedly. u You must, must you?" said Fritz fierce ly. " She won't even scold you, if you give her the slip. But I tell you, I will be mind ed ; so set to work at once." Pete did set to work, but it was to search among the vines and shrubs along the fence, for some new plant that would suit his pur pose. A strong, hard slap came down upon him suddenly. Pete's eyes were full of tears from the stinging pain, but he looked up with fixed determination, as he said: "Fritz, you can 46 LITTLE PETE. beat me, if you choose, but I shall try to mind your mother." " Come along, Fritz," said Bob, giving a knowing wink to his companion, " there is a better way to punish him." The boys went off, whispering together, while Pete continued his* search. "Lady's sorrel," white weed, and a bit of sassafras were added at last, and then they were all covered with a coating of clover. Three or four large specimens of four-leaved clover had come in Pete's way, and he had treasured them, as they had for him the attraction they have to most children. On the outside of the ball, he now placed them, and having completed his work, he put it on the horse block, near the barn, and ran to call Betty. Betty promptly obeyed the summons. "See," said Pete, "see what splendid four- leaved clovers !" As he spoke, he took up the green ball from the block, and turned it round and round in his hand. No clover at all was to be seen on the ball, and as Betty looked at it, she exclaimed: "Put it down, Pete, put it down. Why, there's St. John's weed in it, LITTLE PETE. 47 and laurel too ; and poison parsley, I declare. Do you want to kill the cow, and yourself too ? You must be a raw one, not to know those things were not fit to handle." " Tansy, sorrel, old man's pepper-grass, dandelion, white-weed, lady's-sorrel, sassafras, burdock, and mallows that was j^ist what I had," said Pete, counting on his fingers, as he named the plants in order. " This is not my ball, Betty. Mine was covered all over, too, with clover, and had some four-leaved clo vers, all spread out on one side. Somebody has put it here for mischief." " Those abominable boys!" exclaimed Bet ty. " I'd go right and tell their father, if I was you. He'd whip them within an inch of their lives, if he knew it." "I think I had better make up another ball just as quick as I can," said Pete, with out giving Betty any direct answer. " They could not have wanted to poison me or hurt the cow," he continued, as if talking to him self. " They just wanted to get you into trouble, and make out you had hurt the cow, if any harm came of it. They reckoned at the least 48 LITTLE PETE. you'd have a fine pair of sore hands after ^touching that thing. It was Bob that made it up, I know ; nothing ever poisons him. A pity something don't. It would be no more than he deserves, the scamp !' 1 Pete looked very serious as he answered : " I can't think they meant it, really. I don't believe they thought what they were doing." " It's their business to think. They don't mind if they pull the house down, if they can only get a trick off on a body. I say such boys are a nuisance I" said Betty. Pete thought of his own mischievous spirit, and of the pains his mother had taken to teach him its danger. But for her fce might have been tempted to go as far as Fritz and Bob had now done, and risk the life of a poor animal as well as the credit and comfort of an innocent boy. As Pete's eyes wandered off while these thoughts were passing through his mind, he caught a glimpse of something green hidden behind the water-trough, near him. He sprang toward it. It was his own ball ; there LITTLE PETE. 49 could be no mistake there were the four- leaved clovers pressed on as he had left them. " Here it is ; now we had better give it to her at once/' said Pete triumphantly, lead ing the way promptly to the door of poor " Molly's " stall. Pete wondered as usual at the patient submission of the cow during the adminis tration of the dose, but Betty wondered far more at the sweet, placid face of little Pete after his late sore provocation. She could not know that in the very mo ment of the discovery of the trick, Pete had prayed for his tormentors, and fairly trem bled at the thought of the length to which their wild and wicked spirit was carrying them. Not in vain had Pete read so many times the story of Him who, even in the midst of the agonies of the cross, could utter the peti tion : " Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." 5 VI. THE LETTEB. WHEN farmer Scliaffer's family were gathered at the tea-table, the wife look ed across at her husband and said : u The nine kinds of bitter herbs did some- good this time. The cow is chewing her cud, and seems right well. Don't she, Pete ?" Pete had come into the dining-room at this moment, with a plate of hot cakes in his hand. "She seems all right, ma'am," answered Pete. As he spoke he looked not at his mistress, but at Fritz and Bob with an anxious, inquir ing glance. Bob seemed confused, and cast down his eyes, but Fritz whispered as Pete passed him : " We'll be up with you another time, youngster." LITTLE PETE. 51 "You got that letter into the office safely, boys," said Mr. Schaffer, riot condescending to take any notice of his wife's last remark. Now it was Fritz's turn to start and look confused, while Bob opened his mouth to speak. " Stop I" said Fritz, giving his brother an angry thrust with his elbow. " Don't go to lying about it, Bob. You'll be found out in the end, and make it so much the worse for you." Fritz fumbled in all his pockets, and then said boldly : We've lost the letter, fa ther. I hope it was not of much account." " Account ! It had more money in it than your heads are worth. I was worried after ward that I trusted you with it ; but I could not go to town myself, and it was important it should get into the mail to-day. You will catch it for this, young gentlemen. Let me see you walk straight to the garret. It won't take me long to get my horsewhip. Walk!" Fritz stood up very straight and marched off up -stairs like a soldier going into battle, while Bob, fairly whimpering, followed close at his heels. Mr. Schaffer made fast the garret-stairs. 52 ; LITTLE PETE. " He'll hardly leave a whole bone in their body," said .Betty, who had overheard the whole conversation from the adjacent kitchen. Mrs. Schaffer threw herself into a chair, and began to cry and bemoan herself as one of the most miserable women in the world. Mr. Schaffer had stepped to the barn to get his whip. Betty soon peered out the door to see what had become of him, and did not know whether to be glad or sorry when she saw a neighbor holding the farmer by the button, and delaying the execution of his in tended vengeance. "May I go to the meadow, Mrs. Schaffer? May I go to the meadow ? May be I could find the letter," said Pete. Mrs. Schaffer threw down the apron with which she had been screening her face, and said : " Go ! yes, go ! Pete. That's a good boy ! If you could only find it before he comes in I" u You wouldn't now help those boys out of their scrape if you could, Pete," said Betty wonderingly. Pete did not stay to hear Betty's remon strances. He remembered seeing a letter in LITTLE PETE. 53 Bob's hand as the boys came up to him in the meadow. He fancied, too, he saw Bob give it to Fritz as they went off whispering together. Round the meadow went Pete in his eager search, until he came to the edge of the woods on its border. There, under a laurel- bush, lay something -white. Yes, it was the letter, still safe and sound ! Pete sped to ward the house as if on wings. " I've got it, Mrs. Schaffer. I've got it !" he exclaimed ; then on he hurried to hail the boys from the foot of the stairs. " Bob ! Fritz ! Bob I say ! I have found the letter under the laurel-bush. I'll give it to your father as soon as he comes in. He's talking now, by the barn, with a man I don't know. I don't believe he'll whip you, now the letter is found." There was no answer from within, and Pete hurried down-stairs to meet Mr. Schaf fer, whose footstep was already heard below. "Here is the letter, Mr. Schaffer," said Pete, with beaming eyes. "You won't whip the boys now ; will you, please ?" " The letter, Pete ! so it is !" said the 5* 54 LITTLE PETE. farmer, brightening. " Where did you find it?" " In the meadow, where the looys dropped it right under a bush," said Pete. " No thanks to those young scamps. They deserve a whipping." " But you won't " began Pete. " It's a queer thing you want them to get off. I'll venture you owe them no mercy," said the farmer with a puzzled look. " But, see here, young man, I've a settlement to make with you. Is this the kind of ball of bitter herbs you make for Mrs. Schaffer's cow ? I found it just now while I was talk ing with Mr. Sprott in the barn-yard. Mr. Schaffer held out the poison-ball, and looked searchingly at Pete. " I didn't make up that ball," said Pete, with confusion. " Tell me the truth about it," said the farmer, with an authoritative snap with the horsewhip he had in his hand. Pete was silent a moment. He wanted to do exactly what was right. It was, after all, but suspicion of the boys on his part. Yet LITTLE PETE. 55 the letter under the laurel-bush that was strong evidence against them. " Speak!" said Mr. Schaffer. The whip made a whizzing sweep in the neighborhood of Pete's little body that was by no means pleasing. " Mr. Schaffer,' 7 said Betty, taking a step forward and setting her arms akimbo, " Mr. Schaffer, I don't know what is in Pete. He hates to tell on those boys of yours, and get them into trouble, though they lead him a dog's life. I'll tell you all about that poison thing." "Betty! Betty!" interposed Mrs. Schaffer. " Silence ! Go on, Betty I" thundered the farmer. Betty did go on, telling all she had gath ered from Pete about the ball, and adding her own firm conviction that Messrs. Bob and Fritz were the compounders of the pre cious dose. " Do you think Bob and Fritz made up this ball to get you into mischief, and may be poison the cow, Pete? Answer me truly," said the farmer sternly. 56 LITTLE PETE. " I don't know certainly, but I think so," said Pete with some hesitation. " Then why, in the name of wonder, don't you want the very skin whipped off from them ? And why did you look so pleased about the letter ? One would have thought you were to slip the whipping, not they." Pete stood up in the midst of the great kitchen, a little, slender boy, before the stout farmer with the horsewhip in his hand. Could he speak out the very truth from his heart? He would try. His Saviour was present with him; he would not blush to own that Lord. He began : " Mr. Schaffer, I did not want the boys whipped. I had tried very hard to forgive them and love them, though they haven't been kind to me. It makes me sorry to see them so bad, and worries me, too, for I am afraid God will punish them. I think God has helped me to feel kindly to them or I couldn't do it. That's all, sir. I want them to be good boys I do, sir." "Pete," said the farmer, much moved, " Pete, I won't whip them. You may go and tell them just what you have told me. LITTLE PETE. 57 Let them come down when they choose. The young rascals, they will have to learn to let poison alone after this." Pete hurried up-stairs and unlocked the garret- door. "Where are you, boys?" he said cheer fully. There was no answer. Pete sprang up the steep stairway. Bob was sitting astride a vinegar-barrel, and slowly rocking from side to side. Fritz was standing irresolutely near him. " I found the letter, Fritz. Your father knows all about the ball. He picked it up in the barn-yard, and Betty told him about it,, but he has promised me he will not whip you. He let me come to tell you." Pete looked up kindly into the face of the strong, rough boy as he spoke. " I am ashamed of myself, Pete, I am,'' said Fritz. " I've treated you like a savage. What makes you take it the way you do ? If you had fought and lied and told and made mischief for me, I could have kept it up ; but I can't stand this. What makes you do the way you do ?' 7 58 LITTLE PETE. "I want to be a Christian, Fritz,' 7 said Pete. " Mother told me when I came away I must try to act here like a Christian boy, and if I had any trouble at first it would be sure to all come right in the end." "And it shall come right,' 1 said Fritz heartily. " Your way is the best, and I am ashamed of myself, I am. Haven't you a word to say for yourself, Bob Schaffer ?" " I'm glad you got us out of the whipping, Pete," said Bob, when thus appealed to. Fritz gave him a look of ineffable scorn, and then took Pete by the hand to go down stairs. " Your father said you might both come down," said Pete, looking at Bob. "I don't want to come down," said Bob sullenly. Fritz made his way straight to the dining- room, where the farmer was talking with his wife. "Father," said Fritz, "I've tormented Pete's life out of him, and plagued him every way I could. Bob and I made up that ball just to get him into trouble. We deserved a whipping, a real sound one. I LITTLE PETE. 59 am asliamed of myself. Pete, here, is worth, fifteen such boys as I am. He has done the handsome thing by me, and I mean to take pattern after him. There, now, I've said all I want to, but just one thing more. Bad as I am, you know I speak the truth. I say I mean to be a better boy." Where was the stern, cold farmer Schaf-^ fer ? Not certainly in that father with mbist- ened eyes, who now took Fritz by the hand. " I have hopes of you, my son, I have hopes of you," said the farmer. " The wrong has not been all on your side. Your mother and I have been talking about it. She has been too easy with you, and I have been too hard on you, maybe. Yes, I know I have. Things must be changed. You and Bob must be sent away to school. That will be the best thing, the very best thing." " They needn't go just yet, need they?" interrupted Mrs. Schaffer. "At 'once, Mrs. Schaffer. . I shall take them away to-morrow noon. You can have their clothes looked up and sent after them. If I don't go to-morrow, I shan't be able to for two weeks. We can't have boys that make 60 LITTLE PETE. poison-balls about here. They must be under masters who can look after them. Where is that sneaking fellow, Bob ? Why don't he show his face here ? He knows I am not going to whip him. Bob ! Bob Schaffer ! come down this moment !" Bob came shuffling down the stairs, and stood before his father. " You are a mean young rascal," began the farmer ; then checking himself, he chang ed his manner and said : "I am ashamed of you, Bob ; fc but, as I have been telling Fritz, your mother and I are partly to blame for your being such scamps as you are. She has indulged you and petted you with her pies and her permissions to do any thing you pleased. I have scolded and whipped, hop ing to make something out of you, and may be gone as far wrong as she. Any how, you don't do us much credit. You are to go off to school to-morrow, and I want you to turn over a new leaf and see if you can't be a dif ferent boy. I won't ask you to promise. I have not always found your promises worth much. But I do say, if you don't change your ways you'll come to the gallows some LITTLE PETE. 61 day, or deserve to swing, if you don't get your deserts. Boys who will try to poison the skin of an innocent boy, or to kill a cow, that he may bear the blame, had better look out. They are mighty near the murderer's track. Go to bed, now, Bob Schaffer, and see for the future that you are a different boy." " Mayn't I have a cake before I go ? I didn't finish my supper," said Bob. Mrs. Schaffer moved toward the cupboard. "Stand still, Mrs. Schaffer!" said the farmer angrily. " I believe the only place where that boy feels is in his stomach. Get you to bed at once, Bob Schaffer, and be glad that nothing worse overtake you than going without your supper. I can hardly keep my hands off from you." Fritz had already disappeared, and Bob now reluctantly followed. We will not relate the conversation that took place between the farmer and his wife that evening. Suffice it to say, each saw cause for bitter self-reproach in the past, and looked tremblingly toward the future in store for their sons. They could send them from them to be under the care of skillful 6 62 LITTLE PETE. masters, but as yet Mr. and Mrs. Schaffer were far from the true secret of rightly training their children, even the bringing them up in the fear of the Lord. It was late before little Pete fell asleep that night. His heart was full of deep grati tude for the kind, judicious, Christian mother who had watched over his early days. How he thanked her for the loving gentleness that had smiled on his innocent sports, and the patient strictness with which she had kept him in the path of duty ! "What might he not have been but for such a mother ! Pete had another pleasant subject for thought. The few words that Fritz had spoken might be for him the beginning of a new and better life. Very earnestly Pete prayed that the spirit of God might strengthen Fritz's new resolution, and help him to be truly a Christ ian boy. Pete well knew that no reforma tion, however outwardly fair and promising, can be relied upon unless it is made in His strength who alone can purify and rale the guilty human soul. VII. GLAD TIDINGS. "T1KITZ and Bob had been more than a JC month, away at school. On Pete Mrs. Schaffer now lavished her indulgence and her " goodies," and. only Pete's earnest deter mination to do his duty kept him from fall ing into habits of negligence and self-indul gence. When thus tried and tempted, he became more and more kindly in his judg ment of the absent boys, who had been brought up from babyhood under this un wise training. Several letters, poorly written and badly spelt, had arrived from the boys. The bulk of the correspondence fell on Fritz, Bob only adding a postscript to ask for a " box " from home, or some spending money to buy cakes, the boarding-school fare not being at all to his mind. 64 LITTLE PETE. Pete was much, pleased to receive one day a letter, directed to him in Fritz's own writ ing. He. opened it eagerly and read : DEAR LITTLE PETE : I want to tell you something, but I don't know how to say it. I have not forgotten the talk we had in the barn the day I went away. You know what you said to me about praying and reading the Bible every day if I really wanted to be a good boy. The planting and sowing, you called it, waiting for the rain and sunshine to come. I've been planting and sowing, and mighty hard it came, some times ; but I kept at it because I promised. It don't come hard now. Somehow I feel different. That is what I wanted to tell you. I can't put it on paper. I am studying American History. We have twenty boys in school. I have made the biggest kite you ever saw. My knife is all sawed on the edge and al most spoiled. Bob is sitting on the bed eating pea nuts. He don't like school ; I wish he did. Little Pete, I don't think I have quite made you understand what I mean to say. I an't fit to be called a Christian boy, but that is what I am trying for. I think a great deal about you and our talk in the barn. If I ever get to heaven, it was you that set me right. Give my love to father and mother. Your friend, FRITZ SCHAFFER. Pete was no critic. The blots and the bad spelling of the letter (which we have left LITTLE PETE. 65 out) were nothing to him. His heart over flowed with grateful joy as he read poor Fritz's dim and awkward announcement of the great and blessed change that had come over his soul. Pete might have trouble and sorrows afterward in life, but he would never forget that moment of pure gladness. * "Let me see Fritz's letter," said Mrs. Schaf- fer, when Pete had done reading. "I won der what made him write to you this time." Mrs. Schaffer bent over the letter in si lence. When she had done she folded it up slowly, and placed it in Pete's hand without a word. Yet she kissed the little fellow be fore she left the kitchen, and went up-stairs quietly to her own room. Where is the mother, herself a stranger to Christ, who is not touched and softened by the glad tidings that she has a child on the heavenly path ? 6* VIII. CONCLUSION. \7~EAKS rolled by, and Fritz Schaffer had 1 become an upright, industrious, Christ ian farmer, a blessing to his home and neigh borhood. In his tenant-house, and in his employ, was honest Peter Derno, no longer little Pete, but an active, strong- limbed, sturdy man, albeit small in "Stature. Peter had a lively home to which to return at evening. His mother was sure to be at the door to give him a welcome, and there were brothers and sisters to gather round his table and share the comforts won by his in dustry and trials. There was a blessing on that humble home. The children, trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, had not departed from the ways of peace. They were " requiting " their mother for her faithful care, and honoring her before LITTLE PETE. 67 all men by their faithful, consistent, Christ ian lives. And where was poor Bob Schaffer ? Where? None conld tell. The boy who ran away to sea had never returned to shame his parents by his worthless, miserable ca reer. On some far-away ship he was going on in his wicked, wretched course, or per haps he had unk in the deep waves, and gone to his last account. The path of the j ast is as a shining light, seen and admired of men and angels. The way of the wicked is dark and slippery ; its end is death, that second death which knows no glad awaking. j e fl ;-jj J'j . ',i .' ; a*-.r;^' 4JK'B^ISl5liiiIi