It was positive the bones of his legs were not broken, for he stood erect without difficulty, and, this having been ascertained, Aunt Nancy proceeded to make a careful examination of his arms and chest.
"I do not believe you are seriously injured, William," she said with a sigh of relief. "There can be no doubt but that you will be very lame for a few days; you must bear with it, and thank your Father it is no worse."
"My father didn't have anything to do with it. He'd given me Jesse if he knowed I was here cuttin' down the tree."
"I mean your Father in heaven, William, who watches over even the sparrow's fall."
Bill looked rather shamefaced at having made such a mistake, and said as he turned half away from his rescuers,—
"I told Hunchie I wouldn't bother him any more if he'd help me out, an' I'm goin' to stick to my promise."
"It would have been much better if you had arrived at that conclusion before you were in need of assistance," Aunt Nancy replied gravely. "One should do right because it is his duty, and not as a reward to others."
"What's the matter now?" Bill asked in surprise. "Do you want me to keep on roughin' it into him?"
"Certainly not, and I am glad you made the promise. What I meant was that it would have been better had you done so because you wished to."