\"Theoldman’sworritshevsortershookoutalittleofhissand，\"
shehadexplained。OnthoseeveningswhenheattendedtheBoard，shesoughthigherconsolationinprayermeetingattheSouthernBaptistChurch，inwhoseexercisesherNorthernandEasternneighbors，thinlydisguisedas\"Baal\"and\"Astaroth，\"weregenerallyoverthrownandtheirtemplesmadedesolate。
IfUncleBen’sprogresswasslower，itwasnolesssatisfactory。
Withoutimaginationandevenwithoutenthusiasm，hekeptonwithadulllaboriouspersistency。WhentheirascibleimpatienceofRupertFilgeeatlastsuccumbedtotheobdurateslownessofhispupil，themasterhimself，touchedbyUncleBen’sperspiringforeheadandperplexedeyebrows，oftendevotedtherestoftheafternoontoagentleelucidationofthemysteriesbeforehim，settingcopiesforhisheavyhand，orevenguidingitwithhisown，likeachild’s，acrossthepaper。AttimestheappallinguselessnessofUncleBen’sendeavorsremindedhimofRupert’stauntingcharge。Washereallydoingthisfromagenuinethirstforknowledge？ItwasinconsistentwithallthatIndianSpringknewofhisantecedentsandhispresentambitions；hewasasimpleminerwithoutscientificortechnicalknowledge；hisalreadyslightacquaintancewitharithmeticandthescrawlthatservedforhissignatureweremorethansufficientforhisneeds。Yetitwaswiththislattersign-manualthatheseemedtotakeinfinitepains。Themaster，oneafternoon，thoughtfittocorrecttheapparentvanityofthisperformance。
\"Ifyoutookasmuchcareintryingtoformyourlettersaccordingtocopy，you’ddobetter。Yoursignatureisfairenoughasitis。\"