hat Mrs. Mason had no right
to interfere in his father's arrangements.

"Well, well, we'll see!" said Mrs. Roxana, shaking her head
significantly. "If you'll look in your Bible, you'll read about 'the
haughty spirit that goes before a fall.' I'm sure I wish you well
enough. I hope that things'll turn out better'n they're like to. Tell
your mother I'll come over before long and talk with her about it."

Frank inwardly hoped that Mrs. Roxana wouldn't put herself to any
trouble to call, but politeness taught him to be silent.

Leaving Mrs. Mason's gate, he kept on his way to school, but had hardly
gone half a dozen rods before he met an old lady, whose benevolent face
indicated a very different disposition from that of the lady he had just
parted with.

"Good morning, Mrs. Chester," said Frank cordially, recognizing one of
his mother's oldest friends.

"Good morning, my dear boy," was the reply. "I hear your father is going
to the war."

"Yes," said Frank, a little nervously, not knowing but Mrs. Chester
would view the matter in the same way as Mrs. Mason, though he felt sure
she would express herself less disagreeably.

"And I hear that you are going to try to make his place good at home."

"I don't expect to make his place good, Mrs. Chester," said Frank
modestly, "but I shall do as well as I can."

"I have no doubt of it, my dear boy," said the old lady kindly. "You can
do a great deal, too. You can help your mother by looking out for your
brothers and sisters, as well as supplying your father's place on the
farm."

"I am glad you think I can make myself useful," said Frank, feeling
relieved. "Mrs. Mason has just been telling me that I am not fit for the
charge, and that discouraged me a little."

"It's a great responsibility, no doubt, to come on one so young," said
the old lady, "but it's of God's appointment. He will strengthen your
hands, if you will only ask Him. If you humbly seek His guidance and
assistance, you need not fear to fail."

"Yes," said Frank soberly, "that's what I mean to do."

"Then you will feel that you are in the path of duty. You'll be serving
your country just as much as if you went yourself."

"That's just the way I feel, Mrs. Chester," exclaimed Frank eagerly. "I
want to do something for my country."

"You remind me of my oldest brother," said the old lady thoughtfully.
"He was left pretty much as you are. It was about the middle of the
Revolutionary war, and the army need