"In my class!" repeated Richard, in surprise.
"Yes, I thought I had mentioned to you that Mr. Benton was about to leave the city, and is obliged to give up his class. I would like to have you take it."
"But am I qualified to be a teacher?" asked Richard, who had never before thought of being invited to take a class.
"I think you have excellent qualifications for such a position. It speaks well for you, however, that you should feel a modest hesitation on the subject."
"I think Fosdick would make a better teacher than I."
"Oh, I intend to draft him into the service also. I shall ask him to take the next vacancy."
The class assigned to our friend Dick (we are sometimes tempted to call him by his old, familiar name) consisted of boys of from ten to eleven years of age. Among these Mark was placed. Although he had never before attended a Sunday school, his mother, who was an excellent woman, had given him considerable religious instruction, so that he was about as well advanced as the rest of the class.
Richard easily adapted himself to the new situation in which he was placed. He illustrated the lesson in a familiar and oftentimes quaint manner, so that he easily commanded the attention of the boys, who were surprised when the time came for the lesson to close.
"I am glad you are my teacher, Mr. Hunter," said one of the boys at the close of the service.
"Thank you," said Richard, who felt gratified at the compliment. "It's new business to me, but I hope I shall be able to interest you."