I shall be very
glad indeed to come here and learn to know him better under your
most kind and faithful teaching, and as I learn, I will try to do
my best; but oh, Mr. Eltinge, you can't realize how very weak and
imperfect--how ignorant and full of faults I am!"
"Just so the poor little tree might have spoken if it had had a
voice. Indeed I thought it WOULD die. But now look at the fruit
over your head. You shall take some of it home, and every pear
will be a sermon to you--a juicy one, too. If you will do as you
say, my child, all will be well."
She bathed her tear-stained face in the brook, and came back looking
fairer than any flower in the garden. Then they went up to the
old-fashioned house.
"My dear, this is my sister, Miss Eltinge," he said, presenting a
white-haired old lady, who still was evidently much younger than
her brother. Then, turning suddenly around in comical dismay, he
said, "Why, bless you, my child, I don't know your name! Well,
well, no matter! I know YOU. There are people whose names I've
known half my life, and yet I don't know them and don't trust 'em."
"My name is Ida Mayhew," said the young girl simply. "I heard Mr.
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