And I have done so! Every word! And if Miss Coleman could only see me now!
How could I forget?
I was silent all the way home. At the dinner table, as my father was
tucking his napkin under his chin, he said: "Well, Nelly, w'at was Mr.
Stoddard's text?"
"I--I guess it was something about the children of Israel."
"Yes, prob'ly it was something about 'em," Pa assented with a chuckle.
But Ma spoke more sharply: "I guess you won't get let to set in Aunt
Keren-Happuch's pew again right away, Helen 'Lizy." For before my lesson I
had once more been studying Aunt Em'ly's face.
I didn't mind the prohibition the least bit. I had a new idea and a new
hope. The idea was exaggerated, the hope vain.--Was vain? Ah, it has been
more than realised, as you shall hear; realised in a way that amazes me
the more, the more I think upon it. Realised as yours shall be, some day,
through me!
Realised! Great Heavens! It is a miracle!
CHAPTER III.
THE QUEST OF KNOWLEDGE.
Our district schoolhouse was a shadeless, unpainted box. Within, whittled
desks, staring windows and broken plastering made it a fit prison for the
boys, whose rough ways were proof of the refining influence of their daily
intercourse with the hired men.
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