Giles’ family had always kept clear of the school.  Dick, indeed, had sometimes wished to go:  not that he had much sense of sin, or desire after goodness, but he thought if he could once read, he might rise in the world, and not be forced to drive asses all his life.  Through this whole Saturday night he could not sleep.  He longed to know what would be done to Tom.  He began to wish to go to school, but he had not courage—­sin is very cowardly:  so, on the Sunday morning, he went and sat himself down under the church-wall.  Mr. Wilson passed by.  It was not his way to reject the most wicked, till he had tried every means to bring them over; and even then he pitied and prayed for them.  He had, indeed, long left off talking to Giles’ sons; but, seeing Dick sitting by himself, he once more spoke to him, desired him to leave off his vagabond life, and go with him into the school.  The boy hung down his head, but made no answer.  He did not, however, either rise up and run away, or look sulky, as he used to do.  The minister desired him once more to go.

“Sir,” said the boy, “I can’t go; I am so big I am ashamed.”

“The bigger you are, the less time you have to lose.”

“But, sir, I can’t read.”

“Then it is high time you should learn.”

“I should be ashamed to begin to learn my letters.”

“The shame is not in beginning to learn them, but in being contented never to know them.”

“But, sir, I am so ragged.”

“God looks at the heart, and not at the coat.”

“But, sir, I have no shoes and stockings.”

“So much the worse; I remember who gave you both.”  Here Dick colored.  “It is bad to want shoes and stockings; but still, if you can drive your asses a dozen miles without them, you may certainly walk a hundred yards to school without them.”

“But, sir, the good boys will hate me, and wont speak to me.”

“Good boys hate nobody; and as to not speaking to you, to be sure they will not keep you company while you go on in your present evil courses; but as soon as they see you wish to reform, they will help you, and pity you, and teach you; so come along.”  Here Mr. Wilson took this dirty boy by the hand, and gently pulled him forward, kindly talking to him all the way.

How the whole school stared to see Dick Giles come in!  No one, however, dared to say what he thought.  The business went on, and Dick slunk into a corner, partly to hide his rags, and partly to hide his sin; for last Sunday’s transactions sat heavy on his heart, not because he had stolen the apples, but because Tom Price had been accused.  This, I say, made him slink behind.  Poor boy, he little thought there was One saw him who sees all things, and from whose eye no hole or corner can hide the sinner; for he is about our bed, and about our paths, and spieth out all our ways.