“And he's so good and kind!” went on the other. “He loves everyone, and tries to help them. And if you had come to him and told him, he'd have found some work for you.”
“There are a great many people in Lockmanville out of work,” said Samuel gravely.
“Oh! but they don't come to my papa!” said the child. “You must come and let him help you. You must promise me that you will.”
“But how can I? I've tried to rob him!”
“But that won't make any difference! You don't know my papa. If you should tell him that you had done wrong and that you were sorry—you are sorry, aren't you?”
“Yes, I'm very sorry.”
“Well, then, if you told him that, he'd forgive you—he'd do anything for you, I know. If he knew that I'd helped to reform you, he'd be so glad!—I did help a little, didn't I?”
“Yes,” said Samuel. “You helped.”
“You—you weren't very hard to reform, somehow,” said the child hesitatingly. “The little girl in the story had to talk a good deal more. Are you sure that you are going to be good now?”
Samuel could not keep back a smile. “Truly I will,” he said.