At night the Abbot called me, made me kneel before him, and gave me a long lecture.
"It is written that I shall crush the teeth of the sinner and bend his back in the yoke."
I was silent and controlled my heart. The peacemaker, Father Anthony, stood before me, and stilled my evil mouth with his affectionate look. Suddenly the Abbot softened.
"We value you, you fool," he said. "We think of you. We have noticed your zeal in work and wish to reward your intelligence. I even place before you a choice of two duties. Do you want to work in the office, or do you want to be a lay brother to Father Anthony?"
I felt as if I had been revived with warm water. I was stifled with joy and could hardly speak:
"Permit me to be a lay brother."
He frowned, became thoughtful, and looked at me curiously.
"If you go to the office," he said, "I will take away the stump digging; but if you go as a lay brother, I will increase the work in the woods."
"Permit me to be a lay brother."
He asked me sternly: