The farmer for whom John began to work was known among his men as “the captain.”  All the hired help worked under one manager, or boss; so John’s experience while in this service was new and varied.

“We have orders today to work for Farmer Z,” explained the boss one morning a few weeks after John’s arrival.  “And the captain says we must be sure and get around there early in the morning, for we are to get our breakfast over there.”

The home of Farmer Z was some distance from that of John’s employer; but the prancing horses on which the men were to ride were soon carrying them across the prairie, and it was not long until they were in sight of Farmer Z’s modest farmhouse.  As they entered the gateway, Farmer Z stepped into the doorway; and when he greeted the men with a kindly “Good morning,” John particularly noticed his countenance and expression and wondered why he was so different from the comrades with whom he had always associated.  He noticed, too, that, as the men gathered in the dining room and took their places around the table, they were quiet and reserved; and he was puzzled by still another thing—­Farmer Z bowed his head and thanked God for all of His blessings and benefits and goodness to them all.

Such things were new and strange to John; and when at the close of the meal, the farmer invited them into another room, saying, “We always have reading and prayer immediately after breakfast and would be glad to have you all join with us,” John suddenly felt extremely awkward and out of place, and he longed to make his escape to the barn.

John could have given no reason for his feelings, unless it was that the farmer’s suggestion of prayer made him think about his mother and of the time when his father had taught him the little prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep,” and had told him that he very much desired him to be a little man.  But it was not strange that John should feel as he did; for he had so often associated other scenes with that of learning the prayer, but had since that time heard very little about the Bible.  In fact, the only part of the Bible that he had ever read was a few verses in the small New Testament that had belonged to his mother; and he had read these because he had heard that the reading of certain passages would stop the toothache and relieve the nosebleed.  He experimented one time when he had the nosebleed, and his nosebleed did stop; but he was not sure that it would not have stopped as soon had he not read the verses.

Now, for some reason unknown to himself, John did not want to remain for worship; so when he noticed one of the other men slipping out of the back door, he quickly followed.  The two were just about to enter the barn when the farmer, calling to them in words that were gentle but firm, said, “We always have our help come in with us for worship.”  Seeing then that there was no way around going in except to stoutly refuse, the two returned to the house; and with the others they seated themselves in the room where it was evident that the family worship was to be held.  This experience was so entirely new to John that he actually suffered.  He did not know what to do nor how to act.