d if He wants it, thaa'll be
loike to let Him ha' it. He can tak' better care on 't nor thaa can;
bless it, it'll sooin be better off nor ony on us--don't fret, my
lass--th' Lord comfort the'." And so in this way Little Abe went on
talking, softening, comforting, and strengthening the bitter heart of
that poor woman; at length he said, "Thaa wants me to baptize th'
little un, I reckon."

"If yo' pleeas," she replied. "Jack," added she turning to her
husband, who stood all the time with his back to the table, trying hard
to keep his eyes dry and swallow down a lump that was continually
rising into his throat, "get a basin o' watter, my lad." It was said
so sadly and yet so kindly, that if Jack had had to go through fire to
fetch that basin of water he would have got it. In a minute or two he
came with the basin in his big broad hand and stood close up to his
wife's side, looking down on his dying child.

"This is a religious service," said Abe, "and I want yo' to understand
that." He had his doubts about the man, notwithstanding his evident
effort to control his emotions; he knew the man's sinful character,
knew his hostility to everything religious, and now that he had him to
something like an advantage, he wanted to make the most of it. "I'm
baan to baptize that bairn in God's name, and we mun kneel daan and
pray for it;" and then looking at the father he said, "Wilt ta knug"
(kneel) "daan with us?"

The man made no answer, but still kept by his wife's side, looking down
on the infant.

"Wilt ta knug with us, Jack?" he repeated; "it's thy bairn, and it'll
sooin be gone." Still there came no reply; a conflict was going on in
the breast of that strong man, the wicked man of the world was
contending against the father.

"If thaa will n't knug beside the' wife and bairns, I'll go haam
agean," said Abe.

The man was conquered; the devil was strong in him, but the father was
stronger. He could not bear the thought of paying a slight to his
dying child. "I'll knug," said he, and that instant he full on his
knees. Abe baptized the child, and then all of them knelt together,
while he poured out his soul in earnest supplication to God for the
child and the family; but especially for the father who was now, almost
for the first time in his life, found humbly kneeling at the throne of
grace. It would have been very gratifying if we could say that this
was the turning-point in that man's life; but here our knowl