A merry time they had of it that afternoon. Some wonderful acrostics were read. Ellis Holbrook had a very clever one, arranged from his lesson in Virgil. Howard Minturn had borrowed from his father's library a copy of Shakespeare, and worked hard over his; the boys and their teacher thought it a success.
Even Bob Turner had written; the idea had happened to strike him as a very funny one, and Bob always did everything that he thought funny. He had found three lines in rhyme which just suited him, and by the time the eager boys had spelled out B O B,—which was the only name the boy saw fit to own,—the schoolroom fairly shook with their laughter.
Next to his lay a paper which Tip knew, and his heart beat so loudly when Mr. Burrows took it up, that he thought every one in the room must notice.
The room had now grown quiet, and Mr. Burrows, after opening the paper, announced the title,—
"WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS."
Then read slowly and reverently, while the wondering scholars spelled out the name.
"E Even the night shall lie light about thee.
D Depart from evil and do good.
W Whosoever cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.
A A new heart will I give you.
R Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
D Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to thee.
"L Lo, I am with you always.
E Ever follow that which is good.
W Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not.
I I will go before thee, and make the crooked paths straight.
S So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper."
What a silent and astonished company listened to this reading, and spelled the name "Edward Lewis!"
"Edward," Mr. Burrows said at last, "who found those verses for you?"
"I found them, sir, in my Bible. I've got them all marked!" speaking eagerly, willing this time to bring proof that he was telling the truth.