Samuel went back in great excitement to the Stedmans', to tell them of his good fortune. And the family sat about in a circle and listened to the recital in open-eyed amazement. It was a wonderful thing to have an adventurer like Samuel in one's house!
But the boy noticed that Sophie did not seem as much excited as he had anticipated. She sat with her head resting in her hands. And when the others had left the room—“Oh, Samuel,” she said. “I feel so badly to-day! I don't see how I'm going to go on.”
“Listen, Sophie,” he said quickly. “That's one of the first things I thought about—I can give you a chance now.”
“How do you mean?”
“I can get Dr. Vince to help you find some better work.”
“Did he say he would?” asked the child.
“No,” was the reply—“but he is so good to everyone. And all the rich people go to his church, you know. He said he wanted me to help him; so I shall find out things like that for him to do.”
And Samuel went on, pouring out his praises of the kind and gentle clergyman, and striving to interest Sophie by his pictures of the new world that was to open before her. “I'm going to see him again to-morrow,” he said. “Then you'll see.”
“Samuel,” announced the doctor when he called the next morning, “I have found a chance for you.” And Samuel's heart gave a great leap of joy.
It appeared that the sexton of St. Matthew's was growing old. They did not wish to change, but there must be some one to help him. The pay would not be high; but he would have a chance to work in the church, and to be near his benefactor. The tears of gratitude started into his eyes as he heard this wonderful piece of news.
“I'll see more of Miss Gladys!” the voice within him was whispering eagerly.
“Doctor,” he said after a pause, “I've some good news for you also.”
“What is it?” asked the other.
“It's a chance for you to help some one.”
“Oh!” said the doctor.
“It's little Sophie Stedman,” said Samuel; and he went on to tell how he had met the widow, and about her long struggle with starvation, and then of Sophie's experiences in the cotton mill.
“But what do you want me to do?” asked the other, with a troubled look.
“Why,” said Samuel, “we must save her. We must find her some work that will not kill her.”
“But, Samuel!” protested the other. “There are so many in her position—and how can I help it?”
“But, doctor! She can't stand it!”
“I know, my boy. It is a terrible thing to think of. Still, I can't undertake to find work for everyone.”
“But she will die!” cried the boy. “Truly, it is killing her! And, doctor, she has never had a chance in all her life! Only think—how would you feel if Ethel had to work in a cotton mill?”
There was a pause. “I honestly can't see—” began the bewildered clergyman.
“It will be quite easy for you to help her,” put in the boy; “because, you see, Mr. Wygant belongs to your church!”
“But what has that to do with it?”
“Why—it's Mr. Wygant's mill that she works in.”
“Yes,” said the doctor. “But—I—-”
“Surely,” exclaimed Samuel, “you don't mean that he wouldn't want to know about it!”
“Ahem!” said the other; and again there was a pause.
It was broken by Ethel, who had come in and was listening to the conversation. “Papa!” she exclaimed, “wouldn't Miss Gladys be the one to ask?”
Samuel gave a start. “The very thing!” he said.
And Dr. Vince, after pondering for a moment, admitted that it might be a good idea.
“You will come to church with me to-morrow,” said Ethel. “And if she is there we'll ask her.”
And so Samuel was on hand, trembling with excitement, and painfully conscious of his green and purple necktie. He sat in the Vince's pew, at Ethel's invitation; and directly across the aisle was Miss Wygant, miraculously resplendent in a springtime costume, yet with a touch of primness, becoming to the Sabbath. She did not see her adorer until after the service, when they met face to face.
“Why, Samuel!” she exclaimed. “You are here?”
“Yes, Miss Gladys,” he said. “I'm to work in the church now.”
“You don't tell me!” she responded.
“I'm to help the sexton,” he added.
“And he belongs to the church, too,” put in little Ethel. “And oh, Miss Gladys, won't you please let him tell you about Sophie!”
“About Sophie?” said the other.
“She's a little girl who works in your papa's mill, Miss Gladys. And her family's very poor, and she is sick, and Samuel says she may die.”
“Why, that's too bad!” exclaimed Miss Gladys. “Tell me about her, Samuel.”
And Samuel told the story. At the end a sudden inspiration came to him, and he mentioned how Sophie had received her Christmas present from Miss Gladys, and how she had kept her pictures in her room.
And, of course, Miss Wygant was touched. “I will see what I can do for her,” she said. “What would you suggest?”
“I thought,” said he boldly, “that maybe there might be some place for her at your home. That would make her so happy, you know.”
“I will see,” ............