When Horace had seated himself on the bank, the old hawker plunged into
his travelling shop, and having returned with something in his right
hand, seated himself by his young companion. "It's this here little
Testament as has been and gone and done it," he said abruptly, opening
his hand at the same time and disclosing the book which Horace had given
him at their last meeting.

Greatly surprised and touched at these words, Horace looked earnestly
into Reuben's face for an explanation, and as he did so, it struck him
that the old expression of cunning had given place to one of gentleness
and peace.

"I'll tell you all about it, sir," proceeded the other. "You must know
as I haven't been easy in my mind for some time past--never since that
new schoolmaster at Bridgepath said a few words to me last feast-day.
You know I often come to the village, 'cos I've some good customers
there, and I never used to miss the feast. Well, I'd heard a deal about
the new goings on there long afore I set my own eyes on any on 'em, and
I weren't best pleased, nor weren't my best customers neither, you may
be sure. But still, down in my heart, I couldn't help feeling as things
were being changed for the better; yet it didn't quite suit my pocket
that they should be, and so I were very cross, and ready to take
everything by the wrong handle. So when the schoolmaster came and spoke
to me, I were as grumpy at first as a bear with a sore head, as the
saying is. But he wouldn't see it--no, not a bit, and talked to me as
pleasant as if I'd been all the while looking sugar and honey at him;
and I began to feel very uneasy all over. Then, too, I couldn't help
seeing as the boys and girls were as different as possible from what
they used to be. Many was the time as I've sworn with a big ugly oath
as I'd set Grip at them, when they came up and plagued me and wanted to
meddle with my goods. But there weren't no need for it now. Yet I
stuck out for all that, and talked it over with the keepers of the beer-
shops; and we all agreed as it were a great nuisance setting up this new
school and reading-room. But we didn't really think so, except that it
began to hurt our trade; for this was where the shoe pinched. And then
it was, when my mind was a-playing at `see-saw,' first up on this side,
and then up on the other, that you was sent that day to have a talk
about the children and my own blessed little 'un, and to give me the
Testament. When