ou belong to, an' that I've been goin'
to for some little time, an' I know he thinks a good deal of Father
Black. I've found out myself, after a good deal of trouble in this
world, that it makes a good deal of difference who talks to you about
such things. Now, he thinks Father Black is the best man there is in
the world. I don't know anythin' about that, though I don't know of
anybody in this town I ever talked to that left me feelin' more
comfortable an' looked more like a good man himself than that old
priest did one day when he come in here an' talked to me very kindly.
Why, deacon, he didn't put on any airs at all. He talked just as if he
was a good brother of mine, an' he left me feelin' that if I wasn't
good I was a brother of his anyhow. That's more than I can say most
other folks in this town ever did, deacon."

The deacon was so horrified at this unexpected turn of the conversation
that for a little while he entirely forgot the purpose for which he had
come. But he was recalled to his senses by the entrance of Reynolds
Bartram. His eyes met the lawyer's, and at once the deacon looked
defiant. Then he pulled himself together, and, with a mighty effort,
remarked,--

"Sam, some folks say I am down on you, and that I don't sympathize with
you. Some folks talk a good deal for you, and to you, and don't do
anything for you. But I just came in this morning for the sole purpose
of saying this: You've had a hard row to hoe, and you've worked at it
first rate ever since you got out of jail. I've been watching you,
though perhaps you don't know it, and I came here to say that I believe
so much in your having had a change--though I do insist you haven't
gone far enough--I came around to say that I was going to buy out this
place from Larry, and give it to you at your own terms, so that you can
make all the money that comes in."

Sam looked up in astonishment at the lawyer. The lawyer looked down
smilingly at the deacon, who was seated on a very low bench, and
said,--

"Deacon, we're all a good, deal alike in this world in one respect: our
best thoughts come too late. I don't hesitate to say that some good
thoughts, which I have heard you urge upon other people but which you
never mentioned to me, have come to me a deal later than they should.
But, on the other hand, this matter of making Sam the master of this
shop has already been attended to. I've bought it for him myself, and
made him a free and clear present of i