第10章

"FinallytherewasCochrane’sarrestandexamination，theorderforhimtoappearattheSupremeCourt，hisfailuretodoso，hisrecaptureandtrial，andhissentenceoffouryearsimprisonmentonseveralcounts，inallofwhichhewasprovedguilty。CochranehadallalongsaidthattheAnointedoftheLordwouldneverbeallowedtoremaininjail，buthewasmistaken，forhestayedintheState’sPrisonatCharlestown，Massachusetts，forthefulldurationofhissentence。Here（Iamagaintryingtopleadthecauseofmyfatherandmother），herehereceivedmuchsympathyandsomefewvisitors，oneofwhomwalkedallthewayfromEdgewoodtoBoston，ahundredandfifteenmiles，withapetitionforpardon，apetitionwhichwasdelivered，andrefused，attheBostonStateHouse。Cochraneissuedfromprisonabrokenandhumiliatedman，butifreportsaystrue，isstillliving，faroutofsightandknowledge，somewhereinNewHampshire。Heoncesentmyfatheranepitaphofhisownselection，askinghimtohaveitcarveduponhisgravestoneshouldhediesuddenlywhenawayfromhisfriends。Mymotheroftenrepeatsit，notrealizinghowfarfromthepointitsoundstouswhoneverknewhiminhisglory，butonlyinhisdownfall。

"’HespreadhisarmsfullwideabroadHisworksareeverbeforehisGod，Hisnameonearthshalllongremain，Throughenvioussinnersfretinvain。’"

"Wearecertain，"concludedIvory，"thatmyfatherpreachedwithCochraneinLimington，Limerick，andParsonsfield；healsowrotefromEnfieldandEffinghaminNewHampshire；afterthat，allissilence。VariousreportsplacehiminBoston，inNewYork，evenasfarwestasOhio，whetherasCochraniteevangelistorwhatnot，alas！wecanneverknow。Idespairofevertracinghissteps。Ionlyhopethathediedbeforehewanderedtoowidely，eitherfromhisbeliefinGodorhisfidelitytomymother’slong—sufferinglove。"

Waitstillreadthelettertwicethroughandreplaceditinherdresstoreadagainatnight。ItseemedtheonlytangibleevidenceofIvory’slovethatshehadeverreceivedandshewarmedherheartwithwhatshefeltthathehadputbetweenthelines。

"WouldthatIwerefreetotellyouhowIvalueyourfriendship！"

"Mymother’sheartfeedsonthesightofyou！""Iwantyoutoknowsomethingofthecircumstancesthathavemademeaprisonerinlife，insteadofafreeman。""Yoursisthemostundauntedheartinalltheworld！"ThesesentencesWaitstillrehearsedagainandagainandtheyranginherearslikemusic，convertingallthetasksofherlongdayintoadeepandsilentjoy。

XIX

ATTHEBRICKSTORE

THEREweretwograndplacesforgossipinthecommunity；theoldtavernontheEdgewoodsideofthebridgeandthebrickstoreinRiverboro。ThecompanyattheEdgewoodTavernwouldbeatrifledifferentincharacter，morepicturesque，imposing，andeclecticbecauseofthetransientgueststhatgaveitchangeandvariety。

Heremightbefoundajudgeorlawyeronhiswaytocourt；asheriffwithahandcuffedprisoner；afarmerortwo，stoppingontheroadtomarketwithacartfulofproduce；andanoccasionalteamster，peddler，andstage—driver。Onwinternightschampionstory—tellerslikeJedMorrillandRishBixbywoulddropinthereandhangtheirwoollenneck—comfortersonthepegsalongthewall—side，wheretherewerealreadyhats，topcoats，andfurmufflers，aswellasstacksofwhips，canes，andox—goadsstandinginthecorners。Theywouldthenentertheroom，rubbingtheirhandsgenially，and，noddingtoCompanionPike，CephasCole，PhilPerryandothers，ensconcethemselvessnuglyinthegroupbythegreatopenfireplace。Thelandlordwasalwaysgladtoseethementer，fortheirstories，thougholdtohim，werenewtomanyoftheassembledcompanyandhadaremarkablegreetontheconsumptionofliquidrefreshment。

Onsummereveningsgossipwaslanguidinthevillage，andifanyoccurredatallitwouldbeontheloafer’sbenchatoneortheothersideofthebridge。WhencoolerweathercamethegroupoflocalwitsgatheredinRiverboro，eitheratUncleBart’sjoiner’sshoporatthebrickstore，accordingtofancy。ThelatterplacewasperhapsthefavoriteforRiverborotalkers。Itwasalarge，two—story，square，brickbuildingwithabig—mouthedchimneyandanopenfire。Wheneveryhouseinthetwovillageshadsixfeetofsnowaroundit，roadswouldalwaysbebrokentothebrickstore，andacrowdoftenorfifteenmenwouldbegatheredtheretalking，listening，betting，smoking，chewing，bragging，playingcheckers，singing，and"swappingstories。"

SomeofthemenhadbeenthroughtheWarof1812andcoulddisplaywoundsreceivedonthefieldofvalor；otherswerestillprouderofscarswoninencounterswiththeIndians，andtherewasoneoldcodger，aRevolutionaryveteran，BillDunhambyname，whowouldaddbloodytalesofhisencounterswiththe"Husshons。"

HiscouragehadbeensoextraordinaryandhisslaughtersocolossalthathishearersmarvelledthattherewasaHessianlefttotellhissideofthestory，andBillhimselfdoubtedifsuchwerethecase。

"’Tisanawfulsintohaveonyoursoul，"Billwouldsayfromhisplaceinadarkcorner，wherehewouldsitwithhishatpulleddownoverhiseyestillthepsychologicalmomentcameforthe"Husshons"tobetrottedout。"’Tisanawfulsintohaveonyoursoul，——theextumminationofaraceo’men；eveniftheywa’n’tnothin’more’nsomanyignorantcockroaches。Themwasthegreatdaysforfightin’！TheHusshonswasthebiggestmenIeverseenonthefield，mostof’emstandin’sixfeeteightintheirstockin’s，——butLord！howwewalloped’em！Oncewehadacannonmountedan’loadedfor’emthatwassolargewehadtodrawtheballintoitwithayokeofoxen！"

Billpausedfromforceofhabit，justashehadpausedforthelasttwentyyears。Therehadbeentimeswhenroarsofincredulouslaughterhadgreetedthisboast，butmostofthisparticulargrouphadheardtheyarnmorethanonceandletitpasswithasmileandawink，rememberingthenightthatAbelDayhadaskedoldBillhowtheygottheoxenoutofthecannononthatmostmemorableoccasion。

"Oh！"saidBill，"thatwaseasyenough；wejestunyoked’eman’

turned’emouto’theprimin’—hole！"

ItwasonlyearlyOctober，buttherehadbeenakillingfrost，andEzraSimms，whokeptthebrickstore，flungsomeshavingsandsmallwoodonthehearthandlightedablaze，justtoinducealittletradeandstartconversationonwhatthreatenedtobeadullevening。PeterMorrill，Jed’seldestbrother，hadlatelyreturnedfromalongtripthroughthestateandintoNewHampshire，andhisadventuresbyfieldandfloodwerealwaysworthlisteningto。Hewentaboutthecountrymendingclocks，andmanyanoldtime—piecestillbearshisname，withthedateofrepairing，writteninpencilontheinsideofitsdoor。

Therewasneveranylackofsubjectsatthebrickstore，theidiosyncrasiesoftheneighborsbeingthemostprolificsourceofanecdoteandcomment。Ofscandalaboutwomentherewaslittle，thoughtherewouldbeoccasionalharmlesspleasantriesconcerningvillageloveaffairs；propheciesofwhatcouplewouldbenext"published"intheblack—walnutframeupatthemeeting—house；agenialcommentonthenumberandchancesofPatienceBaxter’svariousbeaux；andwheneverallelsefailed，thelateststoryofDeaconBaxter’sparsimony，inwhichthevillagetracedtheinfluenceofheredity。

"Hecan’thardlyhelpit，inheritin’itonbothsides，"wasAbelDay’sopinion。"TheBaxterswasallerssnug，fromtime’memorial，andFoxy’sthesnuggestof’em。WhenIlookathisuglymugan’

hearhissnarlin’voice，Ithinkstomyself，he’sgoin’thesamewayhisfatherdid。WhenoldLeviBaxterwasleftawidder—maninthathouseo’his’nupriver，hegrewwussan’wuss，ifyouremember，tillhewa’n’thardlyhumanatthelast；andIdon’tbelieveFoxyevenwentuptohisownfather’sfuneral。"

"’Twould’a’servedoldLevirightifnobodyelsehadgone，"

saidRishBixby。"Whenhiswifediedherefusedtocomeintothehousetillthelastminute。Hestayedtoworkinthebarnuntilallthefolkshadassembled，andeventhemenwereallsettin’

downonbenchesinthekitchen。Theparsonsentmeoutforhim，andI’mblestiftheoldskunkdidn’tcomeinthroughthecrowdwithhissleevesrolledup，——wenttothesinkandwashed，andthensetdownintheroomwherethecoffinwas，ascoolasacowcumber。"

"Irememberthatfuneralwell，"corroboratedAbelDay。"An’Mis’

DayheerdLevisaytohisdaughter，assoonasthey’dputpooroldMrs。Baxterint’thegrave：’Comeon，Marthy；there’snousecryin’overspiltmilk；we’dbettergohomean’huskouttheresto’thatcorn。’OldFoxycouldhaveinheritedplentyo’meannessfromhisfather，that’scertain，an’he’saddedtohisinheritancerightalong，likethethriftymanheis。Ihatetothinko’themtwofinegirlswearin’theirfingerstotheboneforhisbenefit。"

"Oh，well！’twon’tlastforever，"saidRishBixby。"They’rethehandsomestcoupleo’girlsontheriveran’they’llgethusbandsaforemanyyears。Patience’llhaveoneprettysoon，bythelooks。

SheneverbudgesaninchbutMarkWilsonorPhilPerryarefollerin’behind，withCephasColewatchin’hischancerightalong，too。Waitstilldon’tseemtohavenobeaux；whatwithflyin’aroundtokeepupwiththeDeacon，an’bein’amothertoPatience，herhandsisfull，Iguess。"

"Ifthingswasalittlemitedif’rentallround，IcouldprognosticatewhoWaitstillcouldkeephousefor，"wasPeterMorrill’sopinion。

"YoumeanIvoryBoynton？Well，iftheDeaconwasaskedhe’dnevergivehisconsent，that’scertain；an’Ivoryain’tinnopositiontokeepawifeanyways。Whatwasityouheerd’boutAaronBoyntonuptoNewHampshire，Peter？"askedAbelDay。

"Consid’able，onewayan’another；an’noneofitwould’a’beenanycomforttoIvory。IguessAaron’n’JakeCochranewasbothof’emmoreinterestedinsavin’thesisters’soulsthanthebrothers’！Aaronwasafine—appearin’man，andsowasJakeforthatmatter，’n’theybothhadthegifto’gab。There’snothin’

likealimbertongueifyouwanttopleasethewomen—folks！Ifreportsaystrue，AarondiedofafeveroutinOhiosomewheres；

Cortland’stheplace，Ib’lieve。Seems’sifhehidhistrailallthewayfromNewHampshiresomehow，forasausualthing，amano’book—larnin’likehimwouldberememberedwhereverhewent。

Wouldn’tyoucallAaronBoyntonaturriblelarnedman，Timothy？"

TimothyGrant，theparishclerk，hadjustenteredthestoreonanerrand，butbeingdirectlyaddressed，andjudgingthatthesubjectunderdiscussionwasadiscreetone，andthatitwastooearlyintheeveningfordrinkingtobegin，hejoinedthegroupbythefireside。HehadpreachedinVermontforseveralyearsasanitinerantMethodistministerbeforesettlingdowntofarminginEdgewood，onlygivinguphisprofessionbecausehisquiverwassofulloflittleGrantsthatawanderinglifewasdifficultandundesirable。WhenUncleBartColehadremarkedthatMis’Granthadalittleofeverythinginthewayofbaby—stocknow，——black，red，an’yaller—haired，darkandlightcomplected，fatan’lean，tallan’short，twinsan’singles，——JedMorrillhadobserveddryly："Yes，Mis’Grantkindo’remindsmeofcharity。"

"How’sthat？"inquiredUncleBart。

"Shebearethallthings，"chuckledJed。

"AaronBoyntonwas，indeed，amanofmostadhesivelarnin’，"

agreedTimothy，whohadthereputationofthelargestandmostunusualvocabularyinEdgewood。"NexttoJacobCochraneIshouldsayAaronhadmoregrandeloquenceasanoratorthananymanwe’veeverhadintheseparts。Itdon’tseem’sifIvorywasgoin’

totakeafterhisfatherthatway。Thelittlefeller，now，issmart’sawhip，an’couldtalkthetailoffabrassmonkey。"

"Yes，butRodmanain’tnokintotheBoyntons，"Abelremindedhim。"Heinhailsfromtheothersideo’thehouse。"

"That’sso；well，Ivorydoes，forcertain，an’takesafterhismother，rightenough，forshehain’tspokenadozenwordsinasmanyyears，Iguess。Ivory’sgotasighto’book—knowledge，though，an’theydosayhecouldtalkGreekan’Latinboth，ifwehadanyof’eminthecommunitytoconversewith。I’veneverpaidnointentiontothedeadlanguages，bein’soocker—piedwithotherstudies。"

"Whydotheycall’emthedeadlanguages，Tim？"askedRishBixby。

"Becauseallthemthateverspoke’emhasperishedoffthefaceo’theland，"Timothyansweredoracularly。"Deadan’gonetheybe，lock，stock，an’barrel；yettherewasatimewhenLatinsan’

Crustaceansan’Hebrewsan’Prooshiansan’Australiansan’

Simesianswaschatterin’awayintheirowntongues，an’sopow’fulthattheywaswallopin’thewholeearth，youmightsay。"

"IbetyertheynevertriedtowallopthesehereUnitedStates，"

interpolatedBillDunhamfromthedarkcornerbythemolasseshogs—head。

"IsIvoryinhere？"ThedooropenedandRodmanBoyntonappearedonthethreshold。

"No，sonny，Ivoryain’tbeeninthiseveningrepliedEzraSimms。

"Ihopethereain’tnothin’thematterovertoyourhouse？"

"No，nothingparticular，"theboyansweredhesitatingly；"onlyAuntBoyntondon’tseemsowellascommonandIcan’tfindIvoryanywhere。"

"Comealongwithme；I’llhelpyoulookforhiman’thenI’llgoasfurasthelanewithyerifwedon’tfindhim。"AndkindlyRishBixbytooktheboy’shandandleftthestore。

"Mis’Boyntonhadaspell，Iguess！"suggestedthestorekeeper，peeringthroughthedoorintothedarkness。"’Tain’tlikeIvorytobeoutnightsandleavehertoRod。"

"Shedon’thavenospells，"saidAbelDay。"UncleBartseesconsid’ableofIvoryan’hesayshismotherisasquietasalamb。——Couldn’tyougitnokindofacertif’cateofAaron’sdeathouto’thatEnfieldfeller，Peter？Seems’sifthatpoorwoman’doughterbestoppedwatchin’foradeadman；tuckerin’herselfallout，an’keepin’Ivoryan’theboyallnervedup。"

"I’vetoldIvoryeverythingIcouldgetherupinthewayofinformation，andgivehimthenamesofthefolksinOhiothathadwritbacktoNewHampshire。Ididn’tdialateonAaron’sgoin’s—oninEffinghaman’Portsmouth，causeIdassay’twasnothin’butscandal。ThemashatestheCochranites’llneverallowthere’sanygoodin’em，whereasI’vemetsomeasisservin’theLordgoodan’constant，an’indulgin’innokindoffoolishnessan’

deviltrywhatsoever。"

"Speakin’o’Husshons，"saidBillDunhamfromhiscorner，"I

remember——"

"Wewa’n’talludin’tonoHusshons，"retortedTimothyGrant。"Wewasdealin’withthemisfortunesofAaronBoynton，whoneverfitvaloriouslyonthefieldo’battle，butperishedoutinOhioofscarlitfever，ifwhattheysayinEnfieldistrue。"

"Tisaneasydeath，"remarkedBillargumentatively。"Scarlitfeverdon’tseemlikenothin’tome！Many’sthetimeI’vebeencloseenoughtofireattheeyeballofaHusshon，an’runtheresko’bein’blowntosmithereens！——calmandcoolIalterswas，too！Scarlitfeverisaneasydeathfromawarrior’sp’into’

view！"

"Speakin’ofeasydeath，"continuedTimothy，"youknowI’magreatoneforwords，bein’somethingofascholardinmysmallway。MebbeyounoticedthatElderBooneusedastrangewordinhissermonlastSunday？Nowan’then，whenthere’stoomanyyawnin’toonceinthecongregation，Parson’lloutwithareg’larjaw—breakertowake’emup。ThewordasnearasIcouldketchitwas’youthinasia。’Ikep’holtofittillnoontimean’thenIrunhomean’lookedthroughallthey’sinthedictionarywithoutfindin’it。Mebbeit’sHebrew，Ithinks，forHebrew’slikehismother’stonguetoParson，soIwentrightuptohimatafternoonmeetin’an’saystohim：’What’stheexactmeanin’of"youthinasia"？Thereain’tnosechwordintheY’sinmyWebster，’saysI。’LookintheE’s，Timothy；"euthanasia"’sayshe，’meanseasydeath’；an’now，don’titbeatallthatBillDunhamshouldhavebroughtthatexpressionof’easydeath’intothisevenin’stalk？"

"Iknowyouthan’IknowAshy，"saidAbelDay，"butblessedifI

knowwhytheyshouldmeaneasydeathwhentheyyoke’emtogether。"

"That’sbecauseyouain’tneverpaidno’tentiontoentomology，"

saidTimothy。"AaronBoyntonwasmastero’more’ologiesthanyoucouldshakeastickat，butheusedtosayIbeathimonentomology。Wordsaircur’ousthingssometimes，asIknow，hevin’

hadconsid’ableleisuretimetoreadwhenIwasjoggin’’boutthecountryan’bein’broughtintocontackwithmeno’learnin’。ThewayIworkeditout，notwishin’toaskParsonanymorequestions，bein’somethingofascholardmyself，isthis：TheyouthinAshyisapeculiarkindo’youth，’n’theirreligiondisposes’emtolaynokindo’stressonhuminglife。Whenanythinggoeswrongwith’eman’theygetaset—backinwar，orbusiness，oraffairswithwomen—folks，theywanttodierightoff；sotheytakeaswordan’stan’itstraightupwherevertheyhappentobe，intheshedorthebarn，orthehenhouse，an’theyp’intthesharpendrighttotheirwaist—line，wherethebowelsan’othervitalorganismsislowcated；an’thentheyfallontoit。Itruns’emrightthroughtothebackan’kills’emlikeashot，andthat’sthewayIcal’latetheyouthinAshydies，ifmyentomologyiscorrect，asitgen’allyis。"

"Don’tseemaneasydeathtome，"arguedOkra，"butIain’tnoscholard。Whatcollegedidthouattendto，Tim？"

"Idon’tholdnodiaploma，"respondedTimothy，"thoughIattendedtoWarehamAcademyquiteaspell，thesametimeasyoursisterwasgoin’toWarehamSeminarywhereeddicationisstillbein’

disseminatedthoughofanawfulpoorkind，comparedtotheoldtimes。"

"It’slivean’larn，"saidthestorekeeperrespectfully。"IneverthoughtofaSeminarybein’aplaceofdisseminationbefore，butyoucanseethetwowordsisnearkin。"

"Youcan’talterstellbythesound，"saidTimothyinstructively。

"Sometimestwowords’llstartfromthesameroot，an’branchoutdiff’rent，like’critter’an’’hypocritter。’A’hypocritter’mustnatcherallystartbybein’a’critter，’butacritterain’tobligedtobea’hypocritter’’thouthewantsto。"

"Ishouldhopenot，"interpolatedAbelDay，piously。"Entomologymustbeanawfulinterest—in’study，thoughIneverthoughtofobservin’wordsmyself，kepttoavoidvulgarlanguagean’

profanity。"

"Husshon’sacur’ouswordforaman，"inter—jectedBillDunhamwithalastdespairingeffort。"Irememberseein’aHusshononcethat——"

"Perhapsyouain’tonetoobserveclosely，Abel，"saidTimothy，nottakingnoteofanyinterruption，simplyusingthetimetodirectastreamoftobaccojuicetoanincredibledistance，butlandingitneatlyintheexactspothehadintended。"It’satradebyitself，youmightsay，observin’is，an’there’sanothersing’larcorraption！TheWhigsinforeignparts，sotheysay，buildstonetowerstoobservetheevilmachinationsoftheTories，an’sotheword’observatory’comeintogeneraluse！Allentomology；nothin’butentomology。"

"Idon’tseewhereinthunderyoupickedupsomuchlarnin’，Timothy！"ItwasAbelDay’sexclamation，buteveryoneagreedwithhim。

XX

THERODTHATBLOSSOMED

IVORYBOYNTONhadtakenthehorseandgonetothevillageonanerrand，ararethingforhimtodoafterdark，soRodwasthinking，ashesatintheliving—roomlearninghisSunday—Schoollessononthesameeveningthatthemenweregossipingatthebrickstore。Hisaunthadrequiredhim，fromthetimewhenhewasproficientenoughtodoso，toreadatleastapartofachapterintheBibleeverynight。BeginningwithGenesishehadreachedLeviticusandhadmadeuphismindthattheBiblewasamuchmoredifficultbookthan"ScottishChiefs，"notwithstandingthefactthatIvoryhelpedhimovermostofthehardplaces。Atthepresentjuncturehewasvastlyinterestedinthesubjectof"rods"asunfoldedinthebookofExodus，whichwasbeingstudiedbyhisSunday—Schoolclass。Whataddedtotheexcitementwasthefactthathisuncle’sChristianname，Aaron，keptappearinginthechronicle，asfrequentlyasthatofthegreatlawgiverMoseshimself；andthereweremanyversesaboutthewonder—workingrodsofMosesandAaronthathadastrangeeffectupontheboy’sear，whenhereadthemaloud，ashelovedtodowheneverhewasleftaloneforatime。Whenhisauntwasintheroomhisinstinctkepthimfromdoingthis，forthemerementionofthenameofAaron，hefeared，mightsaddenhisauntandprovokeinherthatdangerousveinofreminiscencethatmadeIvorysoanxious。

"Itkindo’makesmenervoustobenamed’Rod，’AuntBoynton，"

saidtheboy，lookingupfromtheBible。"AlltherodsintheseExoduschaptersdosuchdreadfulthings！Theybecomeserpents，andoneofthemswallowsupalltheothers：andMosessmitesthewaterswitharodandtheybecomeblood，andthepeoplecan’tdrinkthewaterandthefishdie！Thentheystretcharodacrossthestreamsandpondsandbringaplagueoffrogsovertheland，withswarmsoffliesandhorribleinsects。"

"ThatwastoshowGod’spowertoPharaoh，andmelthishardhearttoobedienceandreverence，"explainedMrs。Boynton，whohadknowntheBiblefromcovertocoverinheryouthandcouldstillgivechapterandverseforhundredsofherfavoritepassages。

"Ittookanawfullotofmelting，Pharaoh’sheart！"exclaimedtheboy。"PharaohmusthavebeenworsethanDeaconBaxter！Iwonderiftheyevertriedtomakehimgoodbybeingkindtohim！I’vereadandread，butIcan’tfindtheyusedanythingonhimbutplaguesandfaminesandboilsandpestilencesandthunderandhailandfire！——HaveIgotamiddlename，AuntBoynton，forI

don’tlikeRodverymuch？"

"Ineverheardthatyouhadamiddlename；youmustaskIvory，"

saidhisauntabstractedly。

"DidmyfathernamemeRod，ormymother？’

"Idon’treallyknow；perhapsitwasyourmother，butdon’taskquestions，please。"

"Iforgot，AuntBoynton！Yes，Ithinkperhapsmymothernamedme。

Mothers’mostalwaysnametheirbabies，don’tthey？Mymotherwasn’tlikeyou；shelookedjustlikethepictureofPocahontasinmyHistory。SheneverknewabouttheseBiblerods，Iguess。"

"Whenyougoalittlefurtheryouwillfindpleasanterthingsaboutrods，"saidhisaunt，knitting，knitting，intensely，aswasherhabit，andtalkingasifhermindwereathousandmilesaway。

"Youknowtheywerejustlittlebranchesoftrees，anditwasonlyGod’spowerthatmadethemwonderfulinanyway。"

"Oh！Ithoughttheywerelikethesinging—teacher’sstickhekeepstimewith。"

"No；ifyoulookatyourConcordanceyou’llfindsitgivesyouachapterinNumberswherethere’ssomethingbeautifulaboutrods。

Ihaveforgottentheplace；ithasbeenmanyyearssinceIlookedatit。Finditandreaditaloudtome。"TheboysearchedhisConcordanceandreadilyfoundthereferenceintheseventeenthchapterofNumbers。

"Standnearmeandread，"saidMrs。Boynton。"IliketoheartheBiblereadaloud！"

RodmantookhisBibleandread，slowlyandhaltingly，butwithclearnessandunderstanding：

1。ANDTHELORDSPAKEUNTOMOSES，SAYING，2。SPEAKUNTOTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，ANDTAKEOFEVERYONEOF

THEMARODACCORDINGTOTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERS，OFALLTHEIR

PRINCESACCORDINGTOTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERSTWELVERODS：

WRITETHOUEVERYMAN’SNAMEUPONHISROD。

Throughtheboy’smindtheredartedtheflashofathought，asadthought。HehimselfwasaRodonwhomnoman’snameseemedtobewritten，orphanthathewas，withnoknowledgeofhisparents！

Suddenlyhehesitated，forhehadcaughtsightofthenameofAaronintheversethathewasabouttoread，anddidnotwishtopronounceitinhisaunt’shearing。

"Thischapterismosttoohardformetoreadoutloud，AuntBoynton，"hestammered。"CanIstudyitbymyselfandreadittoIvoryfirst？"

"Goon，goon，youreadverysweetly；IcannotrememberwhatcomesandIwishtohearit。"

Theboycontinued，butwithoutraisinghiseyesfromtheBible。

3。ANDTHOUSHALTWRITEAARON’SNAMEUPONTHERODOFLEVI：FOR

ONERODSHALLBEFORTHEHEADOFTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERS。

4。ANDTHOUSHALTLAYTHEMUPINTHETABERNACLEOFTHE

CONGREGATIONBEFORETHETESTIMONY，WHEREIWILLMEETWITHYOU。

5。ANDITSHALLCOMETOPASSTHATTHEMAN’SROD，WHOMISHALL

CHOOSE，SHALLBLOSSOM：ANDIWILLMAKETOCEASEFROMMETHE

MURMURINGSOFTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，WHEREBYTHEYMURMURAGAINST

YOU。

Rodmanhadreadon，absorbedinthestoryandthepictureitpresentedtohisimagination。Helikedtheideaofalltheprinceshavingarodaccordingtothehouseoftheirfathers；helikedtothinkofthelittlebranchesbeinglaidonthealtarinthetabernacle，andaboveallhethoughtofthelongingofeachoftheprincestohavehisownrodchosenfortheblossoming。

6。ANDMOSESSPOKEUNTOTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，ANDEVERYONEOF

THEIRPRINCESGAVEHIMARODAPIECE，FOREACHPRINCEONE，ACCORDINGTOTHEIRFATHER’SHOUSES，EVENTWELVERODS；ANDTHEROD

OFAARONWASAMONGTHEIRRODS。

Oh！howtheboyhopedthatAaron’sbranchwouldbetheonechosentoblossom！Hefeltthathisauntwouldbepleased，too；buthereadonsteadily，witheyesthatglowedandbreaththatcameandwentinaverypalpitationofinterest。

7。ANDMOSESLAIDUPTHERODSBEFORETHELORDINTHETABERNACLE

OFWITNESS。

8。ANDITCAMETOPASS，THATONTHEMORROWMOSESWENTINTOTHE

TABERNACLEOFWITNESS；AND，BEHOLD，THERODOFAARONWASBUDDED

ANDBROUGHTFORTHBUDS，ANDBLOOMEDBLOSSOMS，ANDYIELDED

ALMONDS。

ItwasAaron’srod，then，andwasanalmondbranch！Howbeautiful，fortheblossomswouldhavebeenpink；andhowthepeoplemusthavemarvelledtoseethelovelybloomingthingonthedarkaltar；firstbudding，thenblossoming，thenbearingnuts！Andwhatwastherodchosenfor？Hehurriedontothenextverse。

9。ANDMOSESBROUGHTOUTALLTHERODSFROMBEFORETHELORDUNTO

ALLTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL：ANDTHEYLOOKED，ANDTOOKEVERYMAN

HISROD。

10。ANDTHELORDSAIDUNTOMOSES，BRINGAARON’SRODAGAINBEFORE

THETESTIMONYTOBEKEPTFORATOKENAGAINSTTHEREBELS；ANDTHOU

SHALTQUITETAKEAWAYTHEIRMURMURINGSFROMME，THATTHEYDIE

NOT。