He seemed scarcely able to lift his eyes from the ground as Mr. Travilla led him into the veranda where the whole family were gathered eagerly awaiting their coming; but in a moment Sally’s arms were round his neck, her kisses and tears warm on his cheek, as she sobbed out in excess of joy, “O Tom, dear Tom, I’m so glad to see you!”

Then Mrs. Travilla’s soft white hand grasped his in cordial greeting, and her low sweet voice bade him welcome; and the children echoed her words, apparently with no other thought of him than that he was Sally’s brother and it was perfectly natural he should be there with her.

So he was soon at ease among them; but felt very humble, kept close by Sally and used his eyes and ears far more than his tongue.

His kind entertainers exerted themselves to keep him out of the way of temptation and help him to conquer the thirst for intoxicating drink, Mrs. Travilla giving Sally carte blanche to go into the kitchen and prepare him a cup of strong coffee whenever she would.

“Sally,” he said to his sister, one evening when they sat alone together on the veranda, “what a place this is to be in!  It’s like a little heaven below; there is so much of peace and love; the moral atmosphere is so sweet and pure:  I feel as though I had no business here, such a fallen wretch as I am!” he concluded with a groan, hiding his face in his hands.

“Don’t, Tom, dear Tom!” she whispered, putting her arms about his neck and laying her head on his shoulder.  “You’ve given up that dreadful habit? you’re never going back to it?”

“I don’t want to!  God knows I don’t!” he cried as in an agony of fear, “but that awful thirst—­you don’t know what it is! and I—­I’m weak as water.  Oh if there was none of the accursed thing on the face of the earth, I might hope for salvation!  Sally, I’m afraid of myself, of the demon that is in me!”

“O, Tom, fly to Jesus!” she said, clinging to him.  “He says, ’In me is thine help.’  ‘Fear not; I will help thee,’ and he never yet turned a deaf ear to any poor sinner that cried to him for help.  Cast yourself wholly on him and he will give you strength; for ’every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’”

There was a moment of silence, in which Sally’s heart was going up in earnest prayer for him; then Mr. Travilla joined them and addressing Tom said, “My wife and I have been talking about your future; indeed Sally’s also; for we suppose you would like to keep together.”

“That we should,” they said.

“Well, how would you like to emigrate to Kansas and begin life anew; away from all old associates?  I need not add that if you decide to go the means shall not be wanting.”

“Thank you, sir; you have been the best of friends to us both, and to our mother, you and Mrs. Travilla,” said Tom, with emotion:  “and this is just what Sally and I have been wishing we could do.  I understand something of farming and should like to take up a claim out there in some good location where land is given to those who will settle on it.  And if you, sir, can conveniently advance the few hundred dollars we shall need to carry us there and give us a fair start, I shall gladly and thankfully accept it as a loan; hoping to be able to return it in a year or two.”