ach was doing though in this last item "Dodd" drew largely upon
his imagination, informing his teacher very indefinitely as to the
calling in which he was engaged. Mr. Bright had moved to the city,
having been called to take charge of an important educational
institution located within its corporate limits. He had a home of his
own, and said he should be glad to see "Dodd" there.

"Dodd" said he would call on Mr. Bright. He did so.

And now began one of the most perplexing series of circumstances that I
have yet had occasion to record. "Dodd" came to see his teacher, who
was really anxious to have a sober talk with him, and the two spent an
hour together. When they separated, "Dodd" had five dollars of Mr.
Bright's money in his pocket! He had "struck" his former preceptor for
a loan. I do not say that he had deliberately stolen this money.
Perhaps he meant to pay it back sometime; but he had long been used to
borrowing, and the impulse was almost irresistible to borrow whenever
he came where he could. Sometimes he returned these loans; oftener he
did not. His sense of right and wrong in such matters was not very
keen at this time.

And so he began to sponge off Mr. Bright. He came to visit him
frequently, and often left with a dollar or two extra after the
interview.

At first Mr. Bright did not fully realize the depth of degradation
which "Dodd" had reached. He made these small loans as he would have
given money to a son of his own, had he had one. He talked with the
young man, and once or twice hinted that he feared all was not as it
should be. But "Dodd" evaded an issue, and so the days went by.

But one evening these two people met, and the truth stood revealed.
"Dodd" was drunk.

Mr. Bright knew a good deal about human nature, but he had had no
experience with the peculiar vice of drunkenness. His heart went out
towards "Dodd," and, taking the boy's arm in his own, he led him to his
house. He would care for the prodigal with his own hand, and restore
him if possible.

So he gave him the best chamber, and bathed his head, and watched with
him till far into the night. The next morning they talked it all over.
"Dodd" was penitent, even to the extent of tears and bitter weeping.
He pledged Mr. Bright that this should be the last time; that he would
reform now. He confessed that for years he had been a miserable sinner
in the matter of drink, but declared that now he would break off. In a
word