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。