“Are you not afraid to come here, John?” replied the old man, sternly.

“I am ashamed to come, but not afraid.  You will not harm me, I know.”

“Don’t trust to that, John.  Did you not steal, ay, that is the word—­did you not steal from me the last time I employed you?” The old man was stern and energetic in his manner.

“I was so wicked as to take a couple of skins, Mr. Lankford, but I did very wrong, and am willing to repay you for them, if you will give me work.  I was in liquor when I did it, and, when in liquor, I have no distinct consciousness of the evil of any action.”

“Give you work, indeed!  O, no!  John; I cannot give you another chance to rob me.”

“But I will not get drunk any more.  And you know, Mr. Lankford, that while I was a sober man, and worked for you, I never wronged you out of a sixpence worth.”

“Won’t get drunk any more!  Ah!  John, I have lived too long in. the world, and have seen too much, to heed such promises.”

“But I am in earnest, Mr. Lankford.  I signed the pledge this morning.”

“You!” in a tone of surprise.

“Yes, I signed it.”

“Ah, John,” after a pause, and shaking his head. incredulously, “I cannot credit your word, and I am sorry for it.”

“If I have signed the pledge, and if I am really determined to be a reformed man, will you give me work, Mr. Lankford!”

The old man thought for a few moments, and then said, half-sorrowfully—­

“I am afraid of you, John.  You are such an old offender on the score of drunkenness, that I have no confidence in your power to keep the pledge.”

“Then what shall I do!” the poor wretch exclaimed, in tones that made the heart of the old man thrill—­for nature and pathos were in them.  “Now that I am trying in earnest to do better, no one will give me a word of encouragement, nor a helping hand.  Heaven help me!—­for I am forsaken of man.”

Mr. Lankford stood thoughtful and irresolute for some moments.  At length, he said—­

“John, if you will bring me a certificate from Mr. R—­, that you have signed the total-abstinence pledge, I will give you another trial.  But if you disappoint me again, you and I are done for ever.”

The countenance of Jarvis brightened up instantly.  He turned quickly away, without reply, and hurried off to the store of Mr. R—­, the secretary of the society he had joined.  The certificate was, of course, obtained.

“And you have joined, sure enough, John,” Mr. Lankford said, in a changed tone, as he glanced over the certificate.

“Indeed I have, Mr. Lankford.”

“And you seem in earnest.”

“If I was ever in earnest about any thing in my life, I am in earnest now.”

“Keep to your pledge, then, John, and all will be well.  While you were a sober man, I preferred you to any journeyman in my shop.  Keep sober, and you shall never want a day’s work while I am in business.”