precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood it s all owing to
my dear teachers that taught me to learn it s all owing to the good
superintendent, who encouraged me, and watched over me, and gave me a
beautiful Bible a splendid elegant Bible to keep and have it all for my
own, always it s all owing to right bringing up! That is what you will
say, Thomas and you wouldn t take any money for those two thousand
verses no indeed you wouldn t. And now you wouldn t mind telling me and
this lady some of the things you ve learned no, I know you wouldn t for
we are proud of little boys that learn. Now, no doubt you know the names
of all the twelve disciples. Won t you tell us the names of the first
two that were appointed?
Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed,
now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters heart sank within him. He said
to himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest
question why _did_ the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up
and say:
Answer the gentleman, Thomas don t be afraid.
Tom still hung fire.
Now I know you ll tell me, said the lady. The names of the first two
disciples were
_David and Goliah!_
Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene.
CHAPTER V
About half-past ten the cracked bell of the small church began to ring,
and presently the people began to gather for the morning sermon. The
Sunday-school children distributed themselves about the house and
occupied pews with their parents, so as to be under supervision. Aunt
Polly came, and Tom and Sid and Mary sat with her Tom being placed next
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