e
had not yet been subdued; "an' don't you vish you may get 'im!"

It is but justice to Bobby, however, to add, that this remark was made
entirely to himself.

To all these flattering offers the Guardian turned a deaf ear, until he
had passed through the crowd and marshalled his boys in an empty room of
the depot. Then inquiries were made; the boys' characters and
capacities explained; suitability on both sides considered; the needs of
the soul as well as the body referred to and pressed; and, finally, the
party went on its way greatly reduced in numbers.

Thus they dwindled and travelled westward until only our friend Bobby,
Tim, Konky, and little Mouse remained with the Guardian, whose
affections seemed to intensify as fewer numbers were left on which they
might concentrate.

Soon the little Mouse was caught. A huge backwoods farmer, who could
have almost put him in his coat-pocket, took a fancy to him. The fancy
seemed to be mutual, for, after a tearful farewell to the Guardian, the
Mouse went off with the backwoodsman quite contentedly.

Then Konky was disposed of. A hearty old lady with a pretty daughter
and a slim son went away with him in triumph, and the band was reduced
to two.

"I do believe," whispered Bob to Tim, "that he's goin' to let us stick
together after all."

"You are right, my dear boy," said the Guardian, who overheard the
remark. "A family living a considerable distance off wishes to have two
boys. I have reason to believe that they love the Lord Jesus, and will
treat you well. So, as I knew you wished to be together, I have
arranged for your going to live with them."

As the journey drew to a close, the Guardian seemed to concentrate his
whole heart on the little waifs whom he had conducted so far, and he
gave them many words of counsel, besides praying with and for them.

At last, towards evening, the train rushed into a grand pine-wood. It
soon rushed out of it again and entered a beautiful piece of country
which was diversified by lakelet and rivulet, hill and vale, with rich
meadow lands in the hollows, where cattle browsed or lay in the evening
sunshine.

The train drew up sharply at a small road-side station. There was no
one to get into the cars there, and no one to get out except our two
waifs. On the road beyond stood a wagon with a couple of spanking bays
in it. On the platform stood a broad-shouldered, deep-chested,
short-legged farmer with a face like the sun,