ded over all. Then Mr. Bright felt in his
soul that the tide was turned in his favor. He advanced towards "Dodd"
and extended his hand.

"Come!" he said.

The boy did not raise his eyes, but he did lift his hand, just a
little--only a little--and Mr. Bright grasped it with all the fervor of
his thankful soul. He drew "Dodd" towards him, and he arose,
hesitatingly. They walked out of the room hand in hand, nor did they
break their clasp till they reached the school-room. When people are
too weak or too timid to go alone they musk be led; yes, sometimes they
must be carried! But, led or carried, the point always to keep in mind
is this, that the nearly dead are to be made alive again, the lost are
to be found.

And this is the test that must be set over against all systems and
institutions that have to deal with unformed characters. The
everlasting question must be put again and again, does this, that or
the other save, find, restore, or benefit the individuals that come
under its influence? Whatever does this, is good; whatever fails to do
this is not good. It is fair to ask what the machine does in this
regard!

CHAPTER XVI.

It was a trying time for both "Dodd" and Mr. Bright as they walked
together, hand in hand, towards the school-house. The trouble was that
neither of them could say anything. Mr. Bright felt that words might
only mar the matter, and "Dodd" was too busy thinking of what was just
before him, to say a word. The master realized the situation, and
counted their steps, almost, as they walked along.

Presently he felt "Dodd's" hand working nervously in his own, as if to
break their clasp. His heart sank, but, inspired by that same power
which had so often come to him in an emergency, he said:

"What is it 'Dodd'?"

"I can't apologize," returned the boy; "I don't know what to say," and
his lips trembled as he spoke, while tears welled from his eyes.

How many things there are that interpose between us and our duty! You
have found it so in your own experience, haven't you, my friend?

"Say that you did wrong this morning; that you are sorry for what you
did; that you apologize for your action, and that you pledge your word
of honor to your fellows that you will be a gentleman in school in
future," said Mr. Bright.

The nervousness was no longer in the hand, and both "Dodd" and Mr.
Bright felt that they were about to win in the strife. They quickened
their steps, and were s