As he lifted the latch of the door and heard the voices within, he heaved a little sigh, wished for an hour’s quiet study with Martha, and then resolutely stepped within the room.
There were a number gathered as usual, and they were very busily talking about something, yet they all looked up when Tom came in.
“Ah! here he is now,” some one remarked.
“Tom,” said one of the men, whose voice he had heard as he came in, “we’ve been talking about you. You see, we’ve come to the conclusion that you knows a heap more’n the rest of us, and we’s been studyin’ as to how maybe you’d be willin’ to teach us a little of nights, after you gets through up to the great house.”
“I would very gladly teach you any time, Uncle Silas,” replied Tom, thinking that any hold on their hearts was a gain, “but the trouble here, just as in another plan of mine, is that we have no books.”
“But some of us has got books, honey,” said one old woman, “and we’ll lend ’em to those as has none of their own. Now there’s eight of us here to-night, and plenty more that wants to come. What do you say?”
What do you think he said, reader? Can you imagine how his face brightened, or can you hear the heartiness of his consent to their plan? This new work, sent him, as he believed, by God, was entered upon immediately with a great deep joy and a silent thanksgiving in his heart. He gave his first lesson that very night, listening to the slowly-spelled words of those who were proud to say they had commenced to learn, and to the rest showing the first letters of the alphabet. He did not confine himself to these, however, but as he went the rounds from one to another, he would lead the talk from some word in the book to something he had heard or read elsewhere, putting them in a way, while they were learning their letters, to store their minds from his with many better things.
“Such an opportunity to work for Jesus!” his heart cried exultingly, and so when the clock struck nine, as he told them they had learned enough for one evening, he added that “he would like to read to them before they went.”
They were very well content; so he opened his Bible and read to them—with such an interest in the words himself that the listening was pleasant—the story of the Good Samaritan; and then, closing the book, he repeated it again in words which were better understood by them, enforcing the lesson which is among the most beautiful taught by our Saviour in his parables: “Go and do thou likewise.”
Then he dismissed them, saying that on the next evening they should meet again, and that they might bring as many of their friends as chose to come.