the day’s work was done, they went to bed, and, at four o’clock in the morning, they were up and ready for another day’s work. Thus it was through the whole busy season of the year. James kept abreast of them. “If I can’t do what other folks can, I’ll quit,” he said to himself more than once.

Nothing unusual occurred during the four months, excepting only two incidents, which we will narrate.

James was digging potatoes in October, and putting them into the cellar. On going to the house with a load one day, he found a neighbour discussing the subject of baptism with his employer’s daughter.

“Sprinkling is baptism,” James heard him say. “Immersion is no more. A drop of water is as good as a fountain.”

“Sprinkling is not baptism, according to Alexander Campbell,” replied the young woman; “and I don’t see how it can be.”

“I said, according to the Bible. I don’t care a fig for Alexander Campbell,” the neighbour rejoined.

“That makes your position harder to support,” interrupted James, with the design of affording relief to the farmer’s daughter, whom he very much respected.

“What do you know about it?” exclaimed the neighbour, somewhat annoyed at the boy’s interruption. “You know more about potatoes than the Scripters, according to my idee.”

“You can’t prove that sprinkling is baptism from the Bible,” added James.

“That’s all you know about it,” retorted the man.

“See here,” continued James, thinking he would surprise the disputant by his familiarity with the Scriptures; “how do you get along with this?” And he proceeded to quote from Hebrews: “Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.”

“There, you see it says ‘sprinkled,’ ” interrupted the neighbour, quite elated.

“But hold on!” replied James; “wait and hear the rest of it. You are in too big a hurry.” And James repeated the remainder of the text: “And our bodies washed with pure water.” He laid stress on the word “washed,” adding:

“Now tell me, if you can, how you can wash your body in a drop of water.”

Without waiting for a reply, he hurried away to the potato-patch.

The other incident relates to his desire to go to sea. He concluded to sound his employer one day, and he said:

“What do think about my goin’ to sea?”

“Goin’ to see what?” answered the farmer.

“To ship, and be a sailor,” answered James.

“Likely story that you would undertake that business.”

“I’m thinking of it.”

“I guess you’ll take it out in thinking.”

“Honest, though, I’m not joking. I want to command a ship.”