"No, sir, not long."
"How long was it kept?"
"I don't know. I kept it pretty good for a while, I know; maybe till I went away to uncle's in March."
"What caused you to give it up?"
"I don't know, sir. I expect because Ben and Charley and the rest didn't care anything for their Bibles; so I gave up reading."
"Then you have not proved what Dr. S. said, have you?"
"No, sir."
"And you are no nearer being a Christian than you were last New Year's?"
"No, sir," replied Joel, feeling uncomfortable and mortified by these searching questions. His father proceeded:
"'Second: I am resolved to remember the Golden Rule in all my conduct toward my brothers and sisters.' Well, how has that fared?"