“Let us settle one thing first,” I began.  “Do you think I am afraid of you?”

“S’pose not, with sich backin’ as yer got,” was the somewhat nervous reply.

“I told Mr. Jones after I came home last night that I should fight this thing alone if no one stood by me.  But you see that your neighbors have reached the limit of forbearance.  Now, Mr. Bagley, I didn’t remain to threaten you.  There has been enough of that, and from very resolute, angry men, too.  I wish to give you and yours a chance.  You’ve come to a place where two roads branch; you must take one or the other.  You can’t help yourself.  You and your children won’t be allowed to steal or prowl about any more.  That’s settled.  If you go away and begin the same wretched life elsewhere, you’ll soon reach the same result; you and your son will be lodged in jail and put at hard labor.  Would you not better make up your mind to work for yourself and family, like an honest man?  Look at these children.  How are you bringing them up?—­Take the road to the right.  Do your level best, and I’ll help you.  I’ll let bygones be bygones, and aid you in becoming a respectable citizen.”

“Oh, Hank, do be a man, now that Mr. Durham gives you a chance,” sobbed his wife; “you know we’ve been living badly.”

“That’s it, Bagley.  These are the questions you must decide.  If you’ll try to be a man, I’ll give you my hand to stand by you.  My religion, such as it is, requires that I shall not let a man go wrong if I can help it.  If you’ll take the road to the right and do your level best, there’s my hand.”

The man showed his emotion by a slight tremor only, and after a moment’s thoughtful hesitation he took my hand and said, in a hoarse, choking voice:  “You’ve got a claim on me now which all the rest couldn’t git, even if they put a rope around my neck.  I s’pose I have lived like a brute, but I’ve been treated like one, too.”

“If you’ll do as I say, I’ll guarantee that within six months you’ll be receiving all the kindness that a self-respecting man wants,” I answered.

Then, turning to his wife, I asked, “What have you in the house to eat?”

“Next to nothin’,” she said, drying her eyes with her apron, and then throwing open their bare cupboard.

“Put on your coat, Bagley, and come with me,” I said.

He and his wife began to be profuse with thanks.

“No, no!” I said, firmly.  “I’m not going to give you a penny’s worth of anything while you are able to earn a living.  You shall have food at once; but I shall expect you to pay for it in work.  I am going to treat you like a man and a woman, and not like beggars.”

A few minutes later, some of the neighbors were much surprised to see Bagley and myself going up the road together.

My wife, Merton, and tender-hearted Mousie were at the head of the lane watching for me.  Reassured, as we approached, they returned wonderingly to the house, and met us at the door.