New Life

Oh, mighty perseverance!
Oh, courage, stern and stout!
That wills and works a clearance
Of every troubling doubt,
That cannot brook denial
And scarce allows delay,
But wins from every trial
More strength for every day!

--M.F. Tupper.

When the judge met his daughter at dinner that evening, he informed her
of the new arrangement affected with Ishmael Worth.

Miss Merlin listened in some surprise, and then asked: "Was it well done, papa?"

"What, Claudia?"

"The making of that engagement with Ishmael."

"I think so, my dear, as far as I am interested, at least, and I shall
endeavor to make the arrangement profitable also to the youth."

"And he is to remain with us until we go to town?"

"Yes, my dear; but you seem to demur, Claudia. Now what is the matter?
What possible objection can there be to Ishmael Worth remaining here as
my assistant until we go to town?"

"Papa, it will be accustoming him to a society and style that will make
it very hard for him to return to the company of the ignorant men and
women who have hitherto been his associates," said Claudia.

"But why should he return to them? Young Worth is very talented and well
educated. He works to enable him to study a profession. There is no
reason on earth why he should not succeed. He looks like a gentleman,
talks like a gentleman, and behaves like a gentleman! And there is
nothing to prevent his becoming a gentleman."