MaybeSarahHoodwasnotpretty，buttherewassomethingaboutherleanfaceandshiningeyesthatmadeyoulooktwicebeforeyouweresureofit，andbythattimeyouhadgotsousedtoher，youlikedherbetterasshewas，andwouldn’thavechangedherforanything。Mrs。Fritzhadaprettyfaceanddressesandmanners，andsodidHannahDover，onlyshetalkedtoomuch。SoI
studiedthemandrememberedwhatthePrincesshadsaid，andI
wonderedifsheheardsomeonesaythatPeterJusticebeathiswife，orifsheshoweditinherfaceandmanner。Sheremindedmeofascaredcowslipthathadbeencutandlaidinthesunanhour。Idon’tknowasthatexpressesit。Perhapsaflowercouldn’tlookscared，butitcouldbewiltedandfaded。I
wonderedifsheeverhadbrighthair，laughingeyes，andredinherlipsandcheeks。Shemusthavebeenprettyifshehad。
AtlastIreachedmymother。Therewasnothingscaredorfadedabouther，andshewasdreadfullysicktoo，onceinawhilesinceshehadthefever。Shewasalittlebitofawoman，colouredlikeawildrosepetal，faceandbody——apieceofpinkporcelainDutch，fathersaid。Shehadbrowneyes，hairlikesilk，andshealwayshadthreebestdresses。Therewasoneofalpacaorwoollen，ofblack，grayorbrown，andtwosilks。Alwaystherewasafinerustlyblackonewithabonnetandmantletomatch，andthenasofter，fineroneofeithergoldbrown，likeherhair，ordaintygray，likeadove’swing。Whenthesegrewtoooldforfineuse，sheworethemtoSunday-schoolandhadafreshoneforbest。Therewasanewgrayinherclosetathome，sosheputontheoldbrownto-day，andshewaslovelyinit。
Usuallytheministerdidn’tcomeforchurchservicesuntilSunday-schoolwashalfover，sothesuperintendentreadachapter，DaddyDebsprayed，andallofusstoodupandsang：
“RingOuttheJoyBells。“Thenthesuperintendentreadthelessonoverasimpressivelyashecould。Thesecretarymadehisreport，wesanganothersong，gatheredthepennies，andeachteachertookaclassandtalkedoverthelessonafewminutes。
Thenwerepeatedtheverseswehadcommittedtomemorytoourteachers；thememberofeachclasswhohadlearnedthenicesttexts，andknewthembest，wasselectedtorecitebeforetheschool。Beginningwiththelittlestpeople，wecametothebigfolks。Eachonerecitedtwotextsuntiltheyreachedtheclassabovemine。Wewalkedtothefront，stoodinsidethealtar，madealittlebow，andthesuperintendentkeptscore。IcouldseethatmotherappearedworriedwhenLeon’snamewascalledforhisclass，forshehadn’theardhim，andshewasafraidhewouldforget。
AmongthefunnythingsaboutLeonwasthis：whileyouhadtodriveotherboysofhisagetorecite，youalmosthadtoholdhimtokeephimfromit。Fathersaidhewasbornforapoliticianorapreacher，ifhewouldbegood，andgrowintotherightkindofamantodosuchresponsiblework。
“IforgotseverallastSabbath，soIhavethirteento-day，“hesaidpolitely。
Ofcoursenooneexpectedanythinglikethat。YouneverknewwhatmighthappenwhenLeondidanything。Hemusthavebeenaboutsixteen。Hewasaslenderlad，havingalmostsandyhair，likehisEnglishgrandfather。Heworeawhiteruffledshirtwithabroadcollar，andcuffsturningbackoverhisblackjacket，andhistrousersfittedhisslightlegsclosely。Thewindwhippedhissoftblacktiealittleandruffledthelighthairwhereitwaslongestandwavyabovehisforehead。Suchaperfectpictureofinnocenceyouneversaw。Therewasonepartofhimthatcouldn’tbedescribedanybetterthanthewayMr。Rienzitoldabouthisbrotherinhis“AddresstotheRomans，“inMcGuffey’sSixth。“Thelookofheavenonhisface“stayedmostofthetime；
again，therewasadealishtwinklethatsparkledandflashedwhilehewasthinkingupsomethingmischievoustodo。Whenhewasfightingangry，andgoingtothrashAbsalomSaundersordietrying，hewasplainwhiteandhiseyeswerelikesteel。Mothercalledhim“Weiscope，“halfthetime。Icanonlyspellthewaythatsounds，butitmeans“white-head，“andshealwaysusedthatnamewhenshelovedhimmost。“Thelookofheaven“wasstrongonhisfacenow。
“One，“saidtherecordingsecretary。
“Jesuswept，“answeredLeonpromptly。
Therewasnotasoundinthechurch。Youcouldalmosthearthebutterfliespass。Fatherlookeddownandlaidhislowerlipinfoldswithhisfingers，likehedidsometimeswhenitwouldn’tbehavetosuithim。
“Two，“saidthesecretaryafterjustabreathofpause。
LeonlookedoverthecongregationeasilyandthenfastenedhiseyesonAbramSaunders，thefatherofAbsalom，andsaidreprovingly：“Givenotsleeptothineeyesnorslumbertothineeyelids。“
Abramstraightenedupsuddenlyandblinkedinastonishment，whilefatherheldfasttohislip。
“Three，“calledthesecretaryhurriedly。
LeonshiftedhisgazetoBetsyAlton，whohadn’tspokentohernextdoorneighbourinfiveyears。
“Hatredstirrethupstrife，“hetoldhersoftly，“butlovecoverethallsins。“
Thingsweresoquietitseemedasiftheairwouldsnap。
“Four。“
Themildblueeyestravelledbacktothemen’ssideandsettledonIsaacThomas，amantoolazytoplowandsowlandhisfatherhadlefthim。Theywerenotsomild，andthevoicewastouchedwithcommand：“Gototheant，thousluggard，considerherwaysandbewise。“
Stillthatsilence。
“Five，“saidthesecretaryhurriedly，asifhewisheditwereover。Backcametheeyestothewomen’ssideandpastallquestionlookedstraightatHannahDover。
“Asajewelofgoldinaswine’ssnout，soisafairwomanwithoutdiscretion。“
“Six，“saidthesecretaryandlookedappealinglyatfather，whosefacewasfilledwithdismay。
AgainLeon’seyescrossedtheaisleandhelookeddirectlyatthemanwhomeverybodyinthecommunitycalled“Stiff-neckedJohnny。“
Ithinkhewasratherproudofit，heworkedsohardtokeepthemdoingit。
“Liftnotupyourhornonhigh：speaknotwithastiffneck，“
Leoncommandedhim。
Towardthedoorsomeonetittered。
“Seven，“calledthesecretaryhastily。
Leonglancedaroundtheroom。
“Buthowgoodandhowpleasantitisforbrethrentodwelltogetherinunity，“heannouncedindelightedtonesasifhehadfounditoutbyhimself。
“Eight，“calledthesecretarywithsomethinglikeabreathofrelief。
Ourangelboyneverhadlookedsoangelic，andhewasbeamingonthePrincess。
“Thouartallfair，mylove；thereisnospotinthee，“hetoldher。
Laddiewouldthrashhimforthat。
Instantlyafter，“Nine，“herecitedstraightatLaddie：“Imadeacovenantwithmineeyes；whythenshouldIthinkuponamaid？“
Morethanonegiggledthattime。
“Ten！“camealmostsharply。
Leonlookedscaredforthefirsttime。Heactuallyseemedtoshiver。Maybeherealizedatlastthatitwasaprettyseriousthinghewasdoing。Whenhespokehesaidthesewordsinthemostsurprisedvoiceyoueverheard：“Iwasalmostinallevilinthemidstofthecongregationandassembly。“
“Eleven。“
PerhapsthesewordsareintheBible。TheyarenottheretoreadthewayLeonrepeatedthem，forheputashortpauseafterthefirstname，andheglancedtowardourfather：“JesusChrist，theSAME，yesterday，andto-day，andforever！“
Sureasyoulivemymother’sshouldersshook。
“Twelve。“
SuddenlyLeonseemedtobeforsaken。Hesurelyshrankinsizeandappearedabused。
“Whenmyfatherandmymotherforsakeme，thentheLordwilltakemeup，“heannounced，andlookedashappyovertheendingashehadseemedforlornatthebeginning。
“Thirteen。“
“TheLordisonmyside；Iwillnotfear；whatcanmandountome？“inquiredLeonofeveryoneinthechurch。Thenhesoberlymadeabowandwalkedtohisseat。
Father’svoicebrokethatsilence。“Letuskneelinprayer，“hesaid。
Hetookastepforward，knelt，laidhishandsonthealtar，closedhiseyesandturnedhisfaceupward。
“OurHeavenlyFather，wecomebeforeTheeinatryingsituation，“
hesaid。“Thywordoftruthhasbeenspokentousbyathoughtlessboy，whetherinaspiritofhelpfulnessorofjest，Thouknowest。Sincewearereasoningcreatures，itlittlemattersinwhatformThytruthcomestous；theessentialthingisthatwesoftenourheartsforitsentrance，andgrowingracebyitsapplication。TearsofcompassionsuchasourdearSaviourweptareinoureyesthismorningaswepleadwithTheetohelpustoapplythesewordstothebettermentofthiscommunity。“
Thenfatherbegantopray。IftheLordhadbeenstandingsixfeetinfrontofhim，andhislifehaddependedonwhathesaid，hecouldhaveprayednoharder。Goodnessknowshowfathersremember。Hebeganat“Jesuswept“andtoldaboutthissinfulworldandwhyHeweptoverit；thenoneatatimehetookthoseothertwelveversesandhammeredthemdownwheretheybelongedmuchharderthanLeonevercouldbymerelylookingatpeople。
Afterthatheprayedallaroundeachonesoferventlythatthosewhohadbeenhittheveryworstcriedaloudandsaid：“Amen！“
Youwouldn’tthinkanyonecoulddoathinglikethat；butI
heardandsawmyfatherdoit。
Whenhearosethetearswererunningdownhischeeks，andbeforehimstoodLeon。Hewaswhiteascouldbe，buthespokeoutloudlyandclearly。
“Pleaseforgiveme，sir；Ididn’tintendtohurtyourfeelings。
Pleaseeveryoneforgiveme。Ididn’tmeantooffendanyone。
Ithappenedthroughhuntingshortverses。Alltheshortonesseemedtobelikethat，andtheymademethink——“
Hegotnofarther。Fathermusthavebeenafraidofwhathemightsaynext。HethrewhisarmsaroundLeon’sshoulders，drewhimtotheseat，andwiththetearsstillrolling，helaughedashappilyasyoueverheard，andhecried：“`SweepingthroughtheGates！’
Alljoinin！“
Youneverheardsuchsinginginyourlife。Thatwasanotherwonderfulthing。Myfatherdidn’tknowthenotes。Hecouldn’tsing；hesaidsohimself。Neithercouldhalfthepeoplethere，yetallofthemweresingingatthetopsoftheirvoices，andI
don’tbelievetheangelsinHeavencouldmakegrandermusic。Myfatherwasleading：
“These，thesearethey，whointheconflictdire——“
YoucouldtellEmanuelRipleyhadbeeninthewarfromthewayheroared：
“Boldlyhavestoodamidstthehottestfire——“
TheWidowFallsoaredaboveallofthemonthenextline；hermanwasthere，andmaybeshewaslonelyandwouldhavebeengladtogotohim：
“Jesusnowsays，`Comeuphigher——’“
Thenmylittlemother：
“WashedinthebloodoftheLamb——“
Likethunderallofthemrolledintothechorus：
“Sweepin，throughthegatestotheNewJerusalem——“
Youwouldn’thavebeenleftoutofthatcompanyforanythinginallthisworld，andnothingelseevercouldmakeyouwanttogosobadlyastoheareveryonesing，straightfromtheheart，agrandoldsonglikethat。Itisnorightwaytohavetositandkeepstill，andpayotherpeoplemoneytosingaboutHeaventoyou。Nomatterifyoucan’tsingbynote，ifyourheartandsoularefull，untiltheyarerunningover，sothatyouareforcedtosingasthosepeopledid，whetheryoucanornot，youaresuretobestraightonthewaytotheGates。
Beforethreelineswerefinishedmyfatherwaskeepingtimelikeachoirmaster，hisfaceallbeamingwithshininglight；motherwasrockingonhertoeslikeawoodrobinonatwigattwilight，andattheendofthechorusshecried“Glory！“rightoutloud，andturnedandstarteddowntheaisle，shakinghandswitheveryone，singingasshewent。WhenshereachedBetsyAltonsheheldherhandandledherdowntheaislestraighttowardRachelBrown。
WhenRachelsawthemcomingshehurriedtomeetthem，andtheyshookhandsandweregladtomakeupasanytwopeopleyoueversaw。Itmusthavebeenperfectlydreadfultoseeawomaneverydayforfiveyears，andnottogiveherapie，whenyoufeltsureyourswerebetterthanshecouldmake，orloanheranewpattern，ortellherfirstwhohadababy，orwasmarried，ordead，oranythinglikethat。Itwasnowondertheyfeltglad。Mothercameon，andasshepassedmetheverseswereallfinishedandeveryonebegantalkingandmoving。JohnnyDoverforgothisneckandshookhandstoo，andfatherpronouncedthebenediction。Healwayshadtowhentheministerwasn’tthere，becausehewasordainedhimself，andyoudidn’tdarepronouncethebenedictionunlessyouwere。
Everyonebegantalkingagain，andwonderingiftheministerwouldn’tcomesoon，andsomeonewentouttosee。TherewasmotherstandingonlyafewfeetfromthePrincess，andIthoughtofsomething。Ihadseenitdoneoftenenough，butIneverhadtrieditmyself，yetIwantedtosobadly，therewasnotimetothinkhowscaredIwouldbe。Itookmother’shandandledherafewstepsfartherandsaid：“Mother，thisismyfriend，PamelaPryor。“
IbelieveIdiditfairlywell。Mothermusthavebeensurprised，butsheputoutherhand。
“Ididn’tknowMissPryorandyouwereacquainted。“
“It’sonlybeenalittlewhile，“Itoldher。“ImetherwhenI
wasonsomebusinesswiththeFairies。Theyknoweverythingandtheytoldmeherfatherwasbusy“——Ithoughtshewouldn’twantmetotellthathewasplainCROSS，whereeveryonecouldhear，soI
said“busy“forpoliteness——“andhermothernotverystrong，andthatshewasagoodgirl，anddreadfullylonesome。Can’tyoudosomething，mother？“
“Well，Ishouldthinkso！“saidmother，forherheartwassoftasroseleaves。Maybeyouwon’tbelievethis，butit’squitetrue。
MymothertookthePrincess’armandledhertoSallyandShelley，andintroducedhertoallthegirls。Bythetimetheministercameandmotherwentbacktoherseat，shehadforgottenallaboutthe“indisposed“wordshedisliked，andasyoulive！
sheinvitedthePrincesstogohomewithustodinner。Shestoodtallandstraight，hereyesverybright，andhercheeksalittleredderthanusual，assheshookhandsandsaidafewpleasantwordsthatwerelikefromabook，theyfittedandweresoright。