\"FinallytherewasCochrane’sarrestandexamination，theorderforhimtoappearattheSupremeCourt，hisfailuretodoso，hisrecaptureandtrial，andhissentenceoffouryearsimprisonmentonseveralcounts，inallofwhichhewasprovedguilty。CochranehadallalongsaidthattheAnointedoftheLordwouldneverbeallowedtoremaininjail，buthewasmistaken，forhestayedintheState’sPrisonatCharlestown，Massachusetts，forthefulldurationofhissentence。Here（Iamagaintryingtopleadthecauseofmyfatherandmother），herehereceivedmuchsympathyandsomefewvisitors，oneofwhomwalkedallthewayfromEdgewoodtoBoston，ahundredandfifteenmiles，withapetitionforpardon，apetitionwhichwasdelivered，andrefused，attheBostonStateHouse。Cochraneissuedfromprisonabrokenandhumiliatedman，butifreportsaystrue，isstillliving，faroutofsightandknowledge，somewhereinNewHampshire。Heoncesentmyfatheranepitaphofhisownselection，askinghimtohaveitcarveduponhisgravestoneshouldhediesuddenlywhenawayfromhisfriends。Mymotheroftenrepeatsit，notrealizinghowfarfromthepointitsoundstouswhoneverknewhiminhisglory，butonlyinhisdownfall。
\"’HespreadhisarmsfullwideabroadHisworksareeverbeforehisGod，Hisnameonearthshalllongremain，Throughenvioussinnersfretinvain。’\"
\"Wearecertain，\"concludedIvory，\"thatmyfatherpreachedwithCochraneinLimington，Limerick，andParsonsfield；healsowrotefromEnfieldandEffinghaminNewHampshire；afterthat，allissilence。VariousreportsplacehiminBoston，inNewYork，evenasfarwestasOhio，whetherasCochraniteevangelistorwhatnot，alas！wecanneverknow。Idespairofevertracinghissteps。Ionlyhopethathediedbeforehewanderedtoowidely，eitherfromhisbeliefinGodorhisfidelitytomymother’slong—sufferinglove。\"
Waitstillreadthelettertwicethroughandreplaceditinherdresstoreadagainatnight。ItseemedtheonlytangibleevidenceofIvory’slovethatshehadeverreceivedandshewarmedherheartwithwhatshefeltthathehadputbetweenthelines。
\"WouldthatIwerefreetotellyouhowIvalueyourfriendship！\"
\"Mymother’sheartfeedsonthesightofyou！\"\"Iwantyoutoknowsomethingofthecircumstancesthathavemademeaprisonerinlife，insteadofafreeman。\"\"Yoursisthemostundauntedheartinalltheworld！\"ThesesentencesWaitstillrehearsedagainandagainandtheyranginherearslikemusic，convertingallthetasksofherlongdayintoadeepandsilentjoy。
XIX
ATTHEBRICKSTORE
THEREweretwograndplacesforgossipinthecommunity；theoldtavernontheEdgewoodsideofthebridgeandthebrickstoreinRiverboro。ThecompanyattheEdgewoodTavernwouldbeatrifledifferentincharacter，morepicturesque，imposing，andeclecticbecauseofthetransientgueststhatgaveitchangeandvariety。
Heremightbefoundajudgeorlawyeronhiswaytocourt；asheriffwithahandcuffedprisoner；afarmerortwo，stoppingontheroadtomarketwithacartfulofproduce；andanoccasionalteamster，peddler，andstage—driver。Onwinternightschampionstory—tellerslikeJedMorrillandRishBixbywoulddropinthereandhangtheirwoollenneck—comfortersonthepegsalongthewall—side，wheretherewerealreadyhats，topcoats，andfurmufflers，aswellasstacksofwhips，canes，andox—goadsstandinginthecorners。Theywouldthenentertheroom，rubbingtheirhandsgenially，and，noddingtoCompanionPike，CephasCole，PhilPerryandothers，ensconcethemselvessnuglyinthegroupbythegreatopenfireplace。Thelandlordwasalwaysgladtoseethementer，fortheirstories，thougholdtohim，werenewtomanyoftheassembledcompanyandhadaremarkablegreetontheconsumptionofliquidrefreshment。
Onsummereveningsgossipwaslanguidinthevillage，andifanyoccurredatallitwouldbeontheloafer’sbenchatoneortheothersideofthebridge。WhencoolerweathercamethegroupoflocalwitsgatheredinRiverboro，eitheratUncleBart’sjoiner’sshoporatthebrickstore，accordingtofancy。ThelatterplacewasperhapsthefavoriteforRiverborotalkers。Itwasalarge，two—story，square，brickbuildingwithabig—mouthedchimneyandanopenfire。Wheneveryhouseinthetwovillageshadsixfeetofsnowaroundit，roadswouldalwaysbebrokentothebrickstore，andacrowdoftenorfifteenmenwouldbegatheredtheretalking，listening，betting，smoking，chewing，bragging，playingcheckers，singing，and\"swappingstories。\"
SomeofthemenhadbeenthroughtheWarof1812andcoulddisplaywoundsreceivedonthefieldofvalor；otherswerestillprouderofscarswoninencounterswiththeIndians，andtherewasoneoldcodger，aRevolutionaryveteran，BillDunhambyname，whowouldaddbloodytalesofhisencounterswiththe\"Husshons。\"
HiscouragehadbeensoextraordinaryandhisslaughtersocolossalthathishearersmarvelledthattherewasaHessianlefttotellhissideofthestory，andBillhimselfdoubtedifsuchwerethecase。
\"’Tisanawfulsintohaveonyoursoul，\"Billwouldsayfromhisplaceinadarkcorner，wherehewouldsitwithhishatpulleddownoverhiseyestillthepsychologicalmomentcameforthe\"Husshons\"tobetrottedout。\"’Tisanawfulsintohaveonyoursoul，——theextumminationofaraceo’men；eveniftheywa’n’tnothin’more’nsomanyignorantcockroaches。Themwasthegreatdaysforfightin’！TheHusshonswasthebiggestmenIeverseenonthefield，mostof’emstandin’sixfeeteightintheirstockin’s，——butLord！howwewalloped’em！Oncewehadacannonmountedan’loadedfor’emthatwassolargewehadtodrawtheballintoitwithayokeofoxen！\"
Billpausedfromforceofhabit，justashehadpausedforthelasttwentyyears。Therehadbeentimeswhenroarsofincredulouslaughterhadgreetedthisboast，butmostofthisparticulargrouphadheardtheyarnmorethanonceandletitpasswithasmileandawink，rememberingthenightthatAbelDayhadaskedoldBillhowtheygottheoxenoutofthecannononthatmostmemorableoccasion。
\"Oh！\"saidBill，\"thatwaseasyenough；wejestunyoked’eman’
turned’emouto’theprimin’—hole！\"
ItwasonlyearlyOctober，buttherehadbeenakillingfrost，andEzraSimms，whokeptthebrickstore，flungsomeshavingsandsmallwoodonthehearthandlightedablaze，justtoinducealittletradeandstartconversationonwhatthreatenedtobeadullevening。PeterMorrill，Jed’seldestbrother，hadlatelyreturnedfromalongtripthroughthestateandintoNewHampshire，andhisadventuresbyfieldandfloodwerealwaysworthlisteningto。Hewentaboutthecountrymendingclocks，andmanyanoldtime—piecestillbearshisname，withthedateofrepairing，writteninpencilontheinsideofitsdoor。
Therewasneveranylackofsubjectsatthebrickstore，theidiosyncrasiesoftheneighborsbeingthemostprolificsourceofanecdoteandcomment。Ofscandalaboutwomentherewaslittle，thoughtherewouldbeoccasionalharmlesspleasantriesconcerningvillageloveaffairs；propheciesofwhatcouplewouldbenext\"published\"intheblack—walnutframeupatthemeeting—house；agenialcommentonthenumberandchancesofPatienceBaxter’svariousbeaux；andwheneverallelsefailed，thelateststoryofDeaconBaxter’sparsimony，inwhichthevillagetracedtheinfluenceofheredity。
\"Hecan’thardlyhelpit，inheritin’itonbothsides，\"wasAbelDay’sopinion。\"TheBaxterswasallerssnug，fromtime’memorial，andFoxy’sthesnuggestof’em。WhenIlookathisuglymugan’
hearhissnarlin’voice，Ithinkstomyself，he’sgoin’thesamewayhisfatherdid。WhenoldLeviBaxterwasleftawidder—maninthathouseo’his’nupriver，hegrewwussan’wuss，ifyouremember，tillhewa’n’thardlyhumanatthelast；andIdon’tbelieveFoxyevenwentuptohisownfather’sfuneral。\"
\"’Twould’a’servedoldLevirightifnobodyelsehadgone，\"
saidRishBixby。\"Whenhiswifediedherefusedtocomeintothehousetillthelastminute。Hestayedtoworkinthebarnuntilallthefolkshadassembled，andeventhemenwereallsettin’
downonbenchesinthekitchen。Theparsonsentmeoutforhim，andI’mblestiftheoldskunkdidn’tcomeinthroughthecrowdwithhissleevesrolledup，——wenttothesinkandwashed，andthensetdownintheroomwherethecoffinwas，ascoolasacowcumber。\"
\"Irememberthatfuneralwell，\"corroboratedAbelDay。\"An’Mis’
DayheerdLevisaytohisdaughter，assoonasthey’dputpooroldMrs。Baxterint’thegrave：’Comeon，Marthy；there’snousecryin’overspiltmilk；we’dbettergohomean’huskouttheresto’thatcorn。’OldFoxycouldhaveinheritedplentyo’meannessfromhisfather，that’scertain，an’he’saddedtohisinheritancerightalong，likethethriftymanheis。Ihatetothinko’themtwofinegirlswearin’theirfingerstotheboneforhisbenefit。\"
\"Oh，well！’twon’tlastforever，\"saidRishBixby。\"They’rethehandsomestcoupleo’girlsontheriveran’they’llgethusbandsaforemanyyears。Patience’llhaveoneprettysoon，bythelooks。
SheneverbudgesaninchbutMarkWilsonorPhilPerryarefollerin’behind，withCephasColewatchin’hischancerightalong，too。Waitstilldon’tseemtohavenobeaux；whatwithflyin’aroundtokeepupwiththeDeacon，an’bein’amothertoPatience，herhandsisfull，Iguess。\"
\"Ifthingswasalittlemitedif’rentallround，IcouldprognosticatewhoWaitstillcouldkeephousefor，\"wasPeterMorrill’sopinion。
\"YoumeanIvoryBoynton？Well，iftheDeaconwasaskedhe’dnevergivehisconsent，that’scertain；an’Ivoryain’tinnopositiontokeepawifeanyways。Whatwasityouheerd’boutAaronBoyntonuptoNewHampshire，Peter？\"askedAbelDay。
\"Consid’able，onewayan’another；an’noneofitwould’a’beenanycomforttoIvory。IguessAaron’n’JakeCochranewasbothof’emmoreinterestedinsavin’thesisters’soulsthanthebrothers’！Aaronwasafine—appearin’man，andsowasJakeforthatmatter，’n’theybothhadthegifto’gab。There’snothin’
likealimbertongueifyouwanttopleasethewomen—folks！Ifreportsaystrue，AarondiedofafeveroutinOhiosomewheres；
Cortland’stheplace，Ib’lieve。Seems’sifhehidhistrailallthewayfromNewHampshiresomehow，forasausualthing，amano’book—larnin’likehimwouldberememberedwhereverhewent。
Wouldn’tyoucallAaronBoyntonaturriblelarnedman，Timothy？\"
TimothyGrant，theparishclerk，hadjustenteredthestoreonanerrand，butbeingdirectlyaddressed，andjudgingthatthesubjectunderdiscussionwasadiscreetone，andthatitwastooearlyintheeveningfordrinkingtobegin，hejoinedthegroupbythefireside。HehadpreachedinVermontforseveralyearsasanitinerantMethodistministerbeforesettlingdowntofarminginEdgewood，onlygivinguphisprofessionbecausehisquiverwassofulloflittleGrantsthatawanderinglifewasdifficultandundesirable。WhenUncleBartColehadremarkedthatMis’Granthadalittleofeverythinginthewayofbaby—stocknow，——black，red，an’yaller—haired，darkandlightcomplected，fatan’lean，tallan’short，twinsan’singles，——JedMorrillhadobserveddryly：\"Yes，Mis’Grantkindo’remindsmeofcharity。\"
\"How’sthat？\"inquiredUncleBart。
\"Shebearethallthings，\"chuckledJed。
\"AaronBoyntonwas，indeed，amanofmostadhesivelarnin’，\"
agreedTimothy，whohadthereputationofthelargestandmostunusualvocabularyinEdgewood。\"NexttoJacobCochraneIshouldsayAaronhadmoregrandeloquenceasanoratorthananymanwe’veeverhadintheseparts。Itdon’tseem’sifIvorywasgoin’
totakeafterhisfatherthatway。Thelittlefeller，now，issmart’sawhip，an’couldtalkthetailoffabrassmonkey。\"
\"Yes，butRodmanain’tnokintotheBoyntons，\"Abelremindedhim。\"Heinhailsfromtheothersideo’thehouse。\"
\"That’sso；well，Ivorydoes，forcertain，an’takesafterhismother，rightenough，forshehain’tspokenadozenwordsinasmanyyears，Iguess。Ivory’sgotasighto’book—knowledge，though，an’theydosayhecouldtalkGreekan’Latinboth，ifwehadanyof’eminthecommunitytoconversewith。I’veneverpaidnointentiontothedeadlanguages，bein’soocker—piedwithotherstudies。\"
\"Whydotheycall’emthedeadlanguages，Tim？\"askedRishBixby。
\"Becauseallthemthateverspoke’emhasperishedoffthefaceo’theland，\"Timothyansweredoracularly。\"Deadan’gonetheybe，lock，stock，an’barrel；yettherewasatimewhenLatinsan’
Crustaceansan’Hebrewsan’Prooshiansan’Australiansan’
Simesianswaschatterin’awayintheirowntongues，an’sopow’fulthattheywaswallopin’thewholeearth，youmightsay。\"
\"IbetyertheynevertriedtowallopthesehereUnitedStates，\"
interpolatedBillDunhamfromthedarkcornerbythemolasseshogs—head。
\"IsIvoryinhere？\"ThedooropenedandRodmanBoyntonappearedonthethreshold。
\"No，sonny，Ivoryain’tbeeninthiseveningrepliedEzraSimms。
\"Ihopethereain’tnothin’thematterovertoyourhouse？\"
\"No，nothingparticular，\"theboyansweredhesitatingly；\"onlyAuntBoyntondon’tseemsowellascommonandIcan’tfindIvoryanywhere。\"
\"Comealongwithme；I’llhelpyoulookforhiman’thenI’llgoasfurasthelanewithyerifwedon’tfindhim。\"AndkindlyRishBixbytooktheboy’shandandleftthestore。
\"Mis’Boyntonhadaspell，Iguess！\"suggestedthestorekeeper，peeringthroughthedoorintothedarkness。\"’Tain’tlikeIvorytobeoutnightsandleavehertoRod。\"
\"Shedon’thavenospells，\"saidAbelDay。\"UncleBartseesconsid’ableofIvoryan’hesayshismotherisasquietasalamb。——Couldn’tyougitnokindofacertif’cateofAaron’sdeathouto’thatEnfieldfeller，Peter？Seems’sifthatpoorwoman’doughterbestoppedwatchin’foradeadman；tuckerin’herselfallout，an’keepin’Ivoryan’theboyallnervedup。\"
\"I’vetoldIvoryeverythingIcouldgetherupinthewayofinformation，andgivehimthenamesofthefolksinOhiothathadwritbacktoNewHampshire。Ididn’tdialateonAaron’sgoin’s—oninEffinghaman’Portsmouth，causeIdassay’twasnothin’butscandal。ThemashatestheCochranites’llneverallowthere’sanygoodin’em，whereasI’vemetsomeasisservin’theLordgoodan’constant，an’indulgin’innokindoffoolishnessan’
deviltrywhatsoever。\"
\"Speakin’o’Husshons，\"saidBillDunhamfromhiscorner，\"I
remember——\"
\"Wewa’n’talludin’tonoHusshons，\"retortedTimothyGrant。\"Wewasdealin’withthemisfortunesofAaronBoynton，whoneverfitvaloriouslyonthefieldo’battle，butperishedoutinOhioofscarlitfever，ifwhattheysayinEnfieldistrue。\"
\"Tisaneasydeath，\"remarkedBillargumentatively。\"Scarlitfeverdon’tseemlikenothin’tome！Many’sthetimeI’vebeencloseenoughtofireattheeyeballofaHusshon，an’runtheresko’bein’blowntosmithereens！——calmandcoolIalterswas，too！Scarlitfeverisaneasydeathfromawarrior’sp’into’
view！\"
\"Speakin’ofeasydeath，\"continuedTimothy，\"youknowI’magreatoneforwords，bein’somethingofascholardinmysmallway。MebbeyounoticedthatElderBooneusedastrangewordinhissermonlastSunday？Nowan’then，whenthere’stoomanyyawnin’toonceinthecongregation，Parson’lloutwithareg’larjaw—breakertowake’emup。ThewordasnearasIcouldketchitwas’youthinasia。’Ikep’holtofittillnoontimean’thenIrunhomean’lookedthroughallthey’sinthedictionarywithoutfindin’it。Mebbeit’sHebrew，Ithinks，forHebrew’slikehismother’stonguetoParson，soIwentrightuptohimatafternoonmeetin’an’saystohim：’What’stheexactmeanin’of\"youthinasia\"？Thereain’tnosechwordintheY’sinmyWebster，’saysI。’LookintheE’s，Timothy；\"euthanasia\"’sayshe，’meanseasydeath’；an’now，don’titbeatallthatBillDunhamshouldhavebroughtthatexpressionof’easydeath’intothisevenin’stalk？\"
\"Iknowyouthan’IknowAshy，\"saidAbelDay，\"butblessedifI
knowwhytheyshouldmeaneasydeathwhentheyyoke’emtogether。\"
\"That’sbecauseyouain’tneverpaidno’tentiontoentomology，\"
saidTimothy。\"AaronBoyntonwasmastero’more’ologiesthanyoucouldshakeastickat，butheusedtosayIbeathimonentomology。Wordsaircur’ousthingssometimes，asIknow，hevin’
hadconsid’ableleisuretimetoreadwhenIwasjoggin’’boutthecountryan’bein’broughtintocontackwithmeno’learnin’。ThewayIworkeditout，notwishin’toaskParsonanymorequestions，bein’somethingofascholardmyself，isthis：TheyouthinAshyisapeculiarkindo’youth，’n’theirreligiondisposes’emtolaynokindo’stressonhuminglife。Whenanythinggoeswrongwith’eman’theygetaset—backinwar，orbusiness，oraffairswithwomen—folks，theywanttodierightoff；sotheytakeaswordan’stan’itstraightupwherevertheyhappentobe，intheshedorthebarn，orthehenhouse，an’theyp’intthesharpendrighttotheirwaist—line，wherethebowelsan’othervitalorganismsislowcated；an’thentheyfallontoit。Itruns’emrightthroughtothebackan’kills’emlikeashot，andthat’sthewayIcal’latetheyouthinAshydies，ifmyentomologyiscorrect，asitgen’allyis。\"
\"Don’tseemaneasydeathtome，\"arguedOkra，\"butIain’tnoscholard。Whatcollegedidthouattendto，Tim？\"
\"Idon’tholdnodiaploma，\"respondedTimothy，\"thoughIattendedtoWarehamAcademyquiteaspell，thesametimeasyoursisterwasgoin’toWarehamSeminarywhereeddicationisstillbein’
disseminatedthoughofanawfulpoorkind，comparedtotheoldtimes。\"
\"It’slivean’larn，\"saidthestorekeeperrespectfully。\"IneverthoughtofaSeminarybein’aplaceofdisseminationbefore，butyoucanseethetwowordsisnearkin。\"
\"Youcan’talterstellbythesound，\"saidTimothyinstructively。
\"Sometimestwowords’llstartfromthesameroot，an’branchoutdiff’rent，like’critter’an’’hypocritter。’A’hypocritter’mustnatcherallystartbybein’a’critter，’butacritterain’tobligedtobea’hypocritter’’thouthewantsto。\"
\"Ishouldhopenot，\"interpolatedAbelDay，piously。\"Entomologymustbeanawfulinterest—in’study，thoughIneverthoughtofobservin’wordsmyself，kepttoavoidvulgarlanguagean’
profanity。\"
\"Husshon’sacur’ouswordforaman，\"inter—jectedBillDunhamwithalastdespairingeffort。\"Irememberseein’aHusshononcethat——\"
\"Perhapsyouain’tonetoobserveclosely，Abel，\"saidTimothy，nottakingnoteofanyinterruption，simplyusingthetimetodirectastreamoftobaccojuicetoanincredibledistance，butlandingitneatlyintheexactspothehadintended。\"It’satradebyitself，youmightsay，observin’is，an’there’sanothersing’larcorraption！TheWhigsinforeignparts，sotheysay，buildstonetowerstoobservetheevilmachinationsoftheTories，an’sotheword’observatory’comeintogeneraluse！Allentomology；nothin’butentomology。\"
\"Idon’tseewhereinthunderyoupickedupsomuchlarnin’，Timothy！\"ItwasAbelDay’sexclamation，buteveryoneagreedwithhim。
XX
THERODTHATBLOSSOMED
IVORYBOYNTONhadtakenthehorseandgonetothevillageonanerrand，ararethingforhimtodoafterdark，soRodwasthinking，ashesatintheliving—roomlearninghisSunday—Schoollessononthesameeveningthatthemenweregossipingatthebrickstore。Hisaunthadrequiredhim，fromthetimewhenhewasproficientenoughtodoso，toreadatleastapartofachapterintheBibleeverynight。BeginningwithGenesishehadreachedLeviticusandhadmadeuphismindthattheBiblewasamuchmoredifficultbookthan\"ScottishChiefs，\"notwithstandingthefactthatIvoryhelpedhimovermostofthehardplaces。Atthepresentjuncturehewasvastlyinterestedinthesubjectof\"rods\"asunfoldedinthebookofExodus，whichwasbeingstudiedbyhisSunday—Schoolclass。Whataddedtotheexcitementwasthefactthathisuncle’sChristianname，Aaron，keptappearinginthechronicle，asfrequentlyasthatofthegreatlawgiverMoseshimself；andthereweremanyversesaboutthewonder—workingrodsofMosesandAaronthathadastrangeeffectupontheboy’sear，whenhereadthemaloud，ashelovedtodowheneverhewasleftaloneforatime。Whenhisauntwasintheroomhisinstinctkepthimfromdoingthis，forthemerementionofthenameofAaron，hefeared，mightsaddenhisauntandprovokeinherthatdangerousveinofreminiscencethatmadeIvorysoanxious。
\"Itkindo’makesmenervoustobenamed’Rod，’AuntBoynton，\"
saidtheboy，lookingupfromtheBible。\"AlltherodsintheseExoduschaptersdosuchdreadfulthings！Theybecomeserpents，andoneofthemswallowsupalltheothers：andMosessmitesthewaterswitharodandtheybecomeblood，andthepeoplecan’tdrinkthewaterandthefishdie！Thentheystretcharodacrossthestreamsandpondsandbringaplagueoffrogsovertheland，withswarmsoffliesandhorribleinsects。\"
\"ThatwastoshowGod’spowertoPharaoh，andmelthishardhearttoobedienceandreverence，\"explainedMrs。Boynton，whohadknowntheBiblefromcovertocoverinheryouthandcouldstillgivechapterandverseforhundredsofherfavoritepassages。
\"Ittookanawfullotofmelting，Pharaoh’sheart！\"exclaimedtheboy。\"PharaohmusthavebeenworsethanDeaconBaxter！Iwonderiftheyevertriedtomakehimgoodbybeingkindtohim！I’vereadandread，butIcan’tfindtheyusedanythingonhimbutplaguesandfaminesandboilsandpestilencesandthunderandhailandfire！——HaveIgotamiddlename，AuntBoynton，forI
don’tlikeRodverymuch？\"
\"Ineverheardthatyouhadamiddlename；youmustaskIvory，\"
saidhisauntabstractedly。
\"DidmyfathernamemeRod，ormymother？’
\"Idon’treallyknow；perhapsitwasyourmother，butdon’taskquestions，please。\"
\"Iforgot，AuntBoynton！Yes，Ithinkperhapsmymothernamedme。
Mothers’mostalwaysnametheirbabies，don’tthey？Mymotherwasn’tlikeyou；shelookedjustlikethepictureofPocahontasinmyHistory。SheneverknewabouttheseBiblerods，Iguess。\"
\"Whenyougoalittlefurtheryouwillfindpleasanterthingsaboutrods，\"saidhisaunt，knitting，knitting，intensely，aswasherhabit，andtalkingasifhermindwereathousandmilesaway。
\"Youknowtheywerejustlittlebranchesoftrees，anditwasonlyGod’spowerthatmadethemwonderfulinanyway。\"
\"Oh！Ithoughttheywerelikethesinging—teacher’sstickhekeepstimewith。\"
\"No；ifyoulookatyourConcordanceyou’llfindsitgivesyouachapterinNumberswherethere’ssomethingbeautifulaboutrods。
Ihaveforgottentheplace；ithasbeenmanyyearssinceIlookedatit。Finditandreaditaloudtome。\"TheboysearchedhisConcordanceandreadilyfoundthereferenceintheseventeenthchapterofNumbers。
\"Standnearmeandread，\"saidMrs。Boynton。\"IliketoheartheBiblereadaloud！\"
RodmantookhisBibleandread，slowlyandhaltingly，butwithclearnessandunderstanding：
1。ANDTHELORDSPAKEUNTOMOSES，SAYING，2。SPEAKUNTOTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，ANDTAKEOFEVERYONEOF
THEMARODACCORDINGTOTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERS，OFALLTHEIR
PRINCESACCORDINGTOTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERSTWELVERODS：
WRITETHOUEVERYMAN’SNAMEUPONHISROD。
Throughtheboy’smindtheredartedtheflashofathought，asadthought。HehimselfwasaRodonwhomnoman’snameseemedtobewritten，orphanthathewas，withnoknowledgeofhisparents！
Suddenlyhehesitated，forhehadcaughtsightofthenameofAaronintheversethathewasabouttoread，anddidnotwishtopronounceitinhisaunt’shearing。
\"Thischapterismosttoohardformetoreadoutloud，AuntBoynton，\"hestammered。\"CanIstudyitbymyselfandreadittoIvoryfirst？\"
\"Goon，goon，youreadverysweetly；IcannotrememberwhatcomesandIwishtohearit。\"
Theboycontinued，butwithoutraisinghiseyesfromtheBible。
3。ANDTHOUSHALTWRITEAARON’SNAMEUPONTHERODOFLEVI：FOR
ONERODSHALLBEFORTHEHEADOFTHEHOUSEOFTHEIRFATHERS。
4。ANDTHOUSHALTLAYTHEMUPINTHETABERNACLEOFTHE
CONGREGATIONBEFORETHETESTIMONY，WHEREIWILLMEETWITHYOU。
5。ANDITSHALLCOMETOPASSTHATTHEMAN’SROD，WHOMISHALL
CHOOSE，SHALLBLOSSOM：ANDIWILLMAKETOCEASEFROMMETHE
MURMURINGSOFTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，WHEREBYTHEYMURMURAGAINST
YOU。
Rodmanhadreadon，absorbedinthestoryandthepictureitpresentedtohisimagination。Helikedtheideaofalltheprinceshavingarodaccordingtothehouseoftheirfathers；helikedtothinkofthelittlebranchesbeinglaidonthealtarinthetabernacle，andaboveallhethoughtofthelongingofeachoftheprincestohavehisownrodchosenfortheblossoming。
6。ANDMOSESSPOKEUNTOTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL，ANDEVERYONEOF
THEIRPRINCESGAVEHIMARODAPIECE，FOREACHPRINCEONE，ACCORDINGTOTHEIRFATHER’SHOUSES，EVENTWELVERODS；ANDTHEROD
OFAARONWASAMONGTHEIRRODS。
Oh！howtheboyhopedthatAaron’sbranchwouldbetheonechosentoblossom！Hefeltthathisauntwouldbepleased，too；buthereadonsteadily，witheyesthatglowedandbreaththatcameandwentinaverypalpitationofinterest。
7。ANDMOSESLAIDUPTHERODSBEFORETHELORDINTHETABERNACLE
OFWITNESS。
8。ANDITCAMETOPASS，THATONTHEMORROWMOSESWENTINTOTHE
TABERNACLEOFWITNESS；AND，BEHOLD，THERODOFAARONWASBUDDED
ANDBROUGHTFORTHBUDS，ANDBLOOMEDBLOSSOMS，ANDYIELDED
ALMONDS。
ItwasAaron’srod，then，andwasanalmondbranch！Howbeautiful，fortheblossomswouldhavebeenpink；andhowthepeoplemusthavemarvelledtoseethelovelybloomingthingonthedarkaltar；firstbudding，thenblossoming，thenbearingnuts！Andwhatwastherodchosenfor？Hehurriedontothenextverse。
9。ANDMOSESBROUGHTOUTALLTHERODSFROMBEFORETHELORDUNTO
ALLTHECHILDRENOFISRAEL：ANDTHEYLOOKED，ANDTOOKEVERYMAN
HISROD。
10。ANDTHELORDSAIDUNTOMOSES，BRINGAARON’SRODAGAINBEFORE
THETESTIMONYTOBEKEPTFORATOKENAGAINSTTHEREBELS；ANDTHOU
SHALTQUITETAKEAWAYTHEIRMURMURINGSFROMME，THATTHEYDIE
NOT。