to have one."

Mark became thoughtful, but said nothing. From that day his conduct
was always regular, and his habits industrious, so much so, that his
father, who was never in the habit of showing him much kindness, said
to him, at the dinner table, and before all the rest of the family,
"Well, my good Mark, tell us what has happened to you; for it is very
pleasant to us to see how well you now behave. Tell us, my boy, what
has been the cause of this improvement."

"It was from this book," said Mark, drawing it out of his pocket,
where he always kept it.

"What book is it?" said his mother, scornfully. "Is it not some of
that horrid trash, that"...

"Be silent," cried the father. "If this book has done good, how can
it be horrid trash? Do sour grapes produce good wine?"

"But," replied the mother, bitterly, "I will not have any of those
books and tracts in this house."

"Well, for my part," said the vinedresser, "I will encourage all
that teach my children to do what is right. Mark has worked well for
the last eight days; he has not occasioned me a moment's vexation
during the whole of that time, and as he says that this book has been
the means of his improvement, I shall also immediately read it
myself. Come, Mark, let us hear it. You can read fluently; come, we
will all listen. Wife, do you be quiet, and you too, Peter; as for
Josephine she is quite ready."