Eben threw himself on his knees by the bedside and prayed as he had never done before, with tears and sobs and almost groans of anguish. It was his first great spiritual conflict, and a hard one, but he took the right way to conquer by fleeing from his enemy to his best and all-powerful Friend, and leaving that Friend to fight for him. He did not feel, even when he lay down, that the victory was gained, but cried himself to sleep as he had not done since his father died. When he woke in the morning, however, he found that all was well. His faith was once more clear, and he felt that he was quite ready to serve his Master in the way that Master chose for him.
[CHAPTER IV.]
EBEN DISPLAYS HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
"WELL, as Mrs. Antis has no girl," said Eben to himself while dressing, "I suppose she would like to have me come up and make a fire for her. I will just lay everything ready for Flora and bring in a pail of water, and then be off."
Eben was so early that he found the house and barn locked, and nobody stirring.
"What shall I do now?" said he, after he had knocked once or twice without receiving any answer. "Well, here is a hoe, and here are some potatoes that clearly need hoeing, and that, as Miss Hilliard would say, naturally suggests the idea of going to work to hoe them. So here goes."
Mr. Antis, roused by the sound of Eben's hoe, and looking out of the window, saw what the boy was about. He opened the window and called to him:
"Never mind the potatoes now, Eben. I'll throw you out the key of the stable, so you can water and feed the horses, and by that time I will be down stairs."
"Very well, sir," said Eben, picking up the key. "I only went at the potatoes because there didn't seem to be anything else to do. I guess I haven't done them any harm."
"I guess not, by the looks. He'll do," said Mr. Antis as he finished dressing. "A boy that goes to hoeing potatoes, because he can't find anything else to do, will make his way in the world. However, new brooms sweep clean, and it is early time yet."