d I have
hard work to keep him in his place, but I do it, I can tell you," she
added, glaring spitefully at the little cowering creature.

"Why, he don't look like a very naughty boy," said Clemence. "I think
Johnny is one of the best behaved boys in school. He is so quiet that I
hardly know he is there, except when he is reading his lessons, and
those he always has well learned. He very seldom fails with a
recitation."

"Well, I'm glad to hear anybody speak well of you," said Mrs. Brier to
him again. "I hope she'll be able to make something of you. Guess you'll
show the cloven foot, though, before long."

The child, who had been regarding Clemence with a beaming, grateful
glance, turned, as the woman concluded these remarks, with a sigh so
deep and mournful that Clemence's heart throbbed with sympathetic pain.

"We are none of us perfect," she said, gently, "we can only try to do
right, and ask God to bless our endeavors. It requires a good deal of
patience with little ones, and a firm and gentle hand to guide them."

"I ain't sure about the gentle, but I'm firm and determined enough. I
mean to be feared, if I ain't loved. I don't care anything about such
nonsense as winning a child's affections. He's none of mine, and I'm
glad of it. He won't expect to be pampered and spoiled like the other
children around here. And let me tell you, you had better profit by my
example, in respect to that girl of Lynn's. It was a mighty foolish
thing, burdening yourself down with the care of that child. You're poor,
I take it, or you wouldn't be teachin' school here, and you say you're
an orphan. What would become of you if you was to fall sick?"

"I should still trust in God," said Clemence, "and I believe He would
open a way for me. I have only done what I thought to be my duty in the
matter, and I have faith that I shall be fully sustained."

"Oh, you know best of course, but people will have their say, and there
has been a good deal of talk lately, and rather to your disadvantage.
'Taint been looked upon in a favorable light here, taking a poor
nobody's child, and dressing her up to make her feel her importance over
her betters. I'm afraid you'll yet be sorry that you ever undertook to
provide for her."

"God forbid," said Clemence earnestly. "I should despise myself for even
once harboring such an unworthy thought. Whatever the future may have in
store for me, whether for weal or woe, this child shares it, for there
is no