"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—mouthedchimneyandanopenf（丁香书院小说）ire。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。