rry you ever took him," said Mrs. Hopkins, shaking her
head.

"Set down in the corner, and l'arn your lesson, Samuel," said the old
man.

Sam looked undecided whether to obey or not, but under the
circumstances he thought it best to obey. He began to read the
catechism, but it did not interest him. His eyes were not long fixed
on the printed page. They moved about the room, following the
movements of Mrs. Hopkins as she cleared off the table. He saw her
take the pie and place it in the closet. His eyes glistened as he
caught sight of an entire pie on the lower shelf, designed, doubtless,
for to-morrow's supper.

"I wish I had it," he thought to himself. "Wouldn't it be jolly?"

Pretty soon the deacon took his hat and cane and went out. Then Mrs.
Hopkins went into the next room, and Sam was left alone. There was a
fine chance to escape, and Sam was not slow in availing himself of it.
He dropped the catechism on the floor, seized his hat, and darted out
of the room, finding his way out of the house through the front door.
He heaved a sigh of relief as he found himself out in the open air.
Catching sight of the deacon in a field to the right, he jumped over a
stone wall to the left, and made for a piece of woods a short distance
away.

It was not Sam's intention to run away. He felt that it would be
foolish to leave a house where he got such good suppers, but he wanted
a couple of hours of freedom. He did not mean to return till it was
too late to study the catechism any longer.

"What's the use of wearin' out a feller's eyes over such stuff?" he
thought.

It is not necessary to follow Sam's movements through the evening. At
nine o'clock he opened the front door, and went in, not exactly
abashed, but uncertain how the deacon would receive him.

Deacon Hopkins had his steel-bowed spectacles on, and was engaged in
reading a good book. He looked up sternly as Sam entered.

"Samuel, where have you been?" he asked.

"Out in the woods," said Sam, coolly.

"Didn't I tell you to get your catechism?" demanded the old man,
sternly.

"So I did," said Sam, without blushing.

"I am afraid you are telling a lie. Mrs. Hopkins said she went out of
the room a minute, and when she came back you were gone. Is that so?"

"Yes, I guess so," said Sam.

"Then how did you have time to l'arn your lesson?"

"It wasn't long," muttered Sam.

"Come here, and I will see if you know anything about it."

The deacon took the book,