THE ORDEAL AT MT. HOPE
"And I don't want you to," was the calm reply.
Another look of wide-eyed astonishment took in the preacher's face. These were strange words from one of his guild. But without noticing the surprise he had created, Dokesbury went on: "What I want is that you will take me fishing as soon as you can. I never get tired of fishing and I am anxious to go here. Tom Scott says you fish a great deal about here."
"Why, we kin go dis ve'y afternoon," exclaimed 'Lias, in relief and delight; "I 's mighty fond o' fishin', myse'f."
"All right; I'm in your hands from now on."
'Lias drew his shoulders up, with an unconscious motion. The preacher saw it, and mentally rejoiced. He felt that the first thing the boy beside him needed was a consciousness of responsibility, and the lifted shoulders meant progress in that direction, a sort of physical straightening up to correspond with the moral one.
On seeing her son walk in with the minister, Aunt 'Ca'line's' delight was boundless. "La! Brothah Dokesbury," she exclaimed, "wha 'd you fin' dat scamp?"
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