“The writing might have been nicer, too,” said Johnny apologetically, “but I had such a scratchy, bad pen.”
“I like it very much just as it is,” replied Uncle Isaac.
There came a little pause. Johnny felt somewhat abashed and scarcely knew what to talk about.
“Jeremias the wood-cutter is ill in bed, too,” he said suddenly.
“Is that one of your acquaintances?”
“Yes. I know him very well. I go in to see him almost every day.”
“Tell me a little about him.”
“He has pains in his back—right there—tearing his back to pieces, he says; and he lies there alone all day except when Maria Kopp or I go to see to him. His house is never locked; any one can go right in. I’ve just been there with a Christmas present for him.”
“What did you give him, little John?”
“A Bible text in a frame and with a cord to hang it by. This was the text, ‘God will never, never forsake thee.’”