w to do the best we can, by his help."

"You mean, then, that I'm to begin now to put in my best licks for Jesus
Christ, and that he'll help me?"

This shocked Ralph's veneration a little. But it was the sincere
utterance of an earnest soul. It may not have been an orthodox start,
but it was the one start for Bud. And there be those who have repeated
with the finest aesthetic appreciation the old English liturgies who have
never known religious aspiration so sincere as that of this ignorant
young Hercules, whose best confession was that he meant hereafter "to
put in his best licks for Jesus Christ." And there be those who can
define repentance and faith to the turning of a hair who never made so
genuine a start for the kingdom of Heaven as Bud Means did.

Ralph said yes, that he thought that was just it. At least, he guessed
if there was something more, the man that was putting in his best licks
would be sure to find it out.

"Do you think he'd help a feller? Seems to me it would be number one to
have God help you. Not to help you fight other folks, but to help you
when it comes to fighting the devil inside. But you see I don't belong
to no church"

"Well, let's you and me have one right off. Two people that help one
another to serve God make a church."

I am afraid this ecclesiastical theory will not be considered orthodox.
It was Ralph's, and I write it down at the risk of bringing him into
condemnation.

But other people before the days of Bud and Ralph have discussed church
organization when they should have been doing Christian work. For both
of them had forgotten the danger that hung over the old basket-maker,
until Shocky burst into the school-house, weeping. Indeed, the poor,
nervous little frame was ready to go into convulsions.

"Miss Hawkins--"

Bud started at mention of the name.

"Miss Hawkins has just been over to say that a crowd is going to tar and
feather Mr. Pearson to-night. And--" here Shocky wept again. "And he
won't run, but he's took up the old flintlock, and he'll die in his
tracks."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE CHURCH MILITANT.

Bud was doubly enlisted on the side of John Pearson, the basket-maker.
In the first place, he knew that this persecution of the unpopular old
man was only a blind to save somebody else; that they were thieves who
cried, "Stop thief!" And he felt consequently that this was a chance to
put his newly-formed resolutions into practice. The Old Testament
religi