ost.

Roland wished them to stop as they were going along, for they met
Claus, the field-guard. Roland introduced him to Eric's mother; she
extended her hand, and said she would soon give him a call.

Claus, looking very much gratified, and pointing to Roland, replied:--

"Yes, yes, if I had to turn out a grandmother for him, it would be
nobody else but you."

They laughed, and drove on. When they reached the town, the bells of
the newly-erected Protestant church were just ringing. It stood upon a
hill, from which there was a wide view of the country around.

The Mother stopped, and went with Eric and Roland into the church.

Roland had never been in a Protestant church while service was going
on. The Mother requested him not to go in now, when she heard him say
this, but to proceed directly with Eric to the town; he was bent,
however, upon remaining with her.

They entered the simple, plain building just as the congregation was
finishing the hymn. The Mother was pained to hear a discourse on
eternal punishment, delivered in a high-pitched voice, and regretted in
her own mind that she had yielded to Roland.

After they had taken a survey of the cheering landscape on coming out,
the Mother took Roland's hand, saying:--

"When you are prepared for it, I shall make you acquainted with one of
your countrymen, from whom you can get higher views."

"Is it Benjamin Franklin? I know him."

"No; the man I speak of is a preacher who died only a few years ago; a
man of the deepest religious nature. I am glad to have known him
personally; he has been a guest at our house, and I have taken him by
the hand. He and your father, Eric, became intimate friends at once."

"Do you mean Theodore Parker?" inquired Eric.

"I mean him, and I feel elevated to have had such a man live with us."

"Why have you never spoken of this man?" said Roland, turning to Eric.

"Because I did not wish to interfere with the faith in which you were
brought up."

Eric said this without meaning to reprove his mother, and yet she was
alarmed when she heard his reply; she repeated, that Roland would learn
about the man after his judgment had become more mature.

The mischief, however, had been done, of pointing out to the youth
something which was now withheld from him; and as he had never been
accustomed to being denied, anything, he would now, as usual, be eager
after what was forbidden, and if it was not given him, he would take
secret meas