148 The Love of God.

of eradicating the bad habits the boy had acquired.
I fay habits, rather than difpofitions, for there was
indeed nothing mean or f{neaking about his cha-
racter. On the contrary, he was both courageous
and generous in the turn of his mind, and, after
his health improved, his manners partook of the
fame freedom and candour.

To fchool therefore poor Reuben went; and
Theodore was almoft aftonifhed himfelf at the
blank which his abfence created.

But having defired that continued reports fhould
be fent to him of his conduct, he meanwhile began
ferioufly to think what was to become of him here-
after. At laft it occurred to him that he might
employ him in fome way or other about his pro-
perty; and with a view to this, Theodore himfelf
began to take more intereft in his eftate than he
had had the energy to beftow before, and made
himfelf more intimately acquainted with the wants
and modes of life of thofe under his control.

Thus another year pafled away in quiet but con-
{tant occupation; and the many opportunities
Theodore now had of doing good, foftened and
cheered his mind. But he was not quite cured.
For of all things in the world whims are the very
hardeft to cure, becaufe, reafon as you will, peo-
ple ftill ftick to their whims. Reuben was not
allowed to return once during that year to the old
hall. During the laft few months, however, his
progrefs had been mott fatisfa€tory, and the Mafter
confidered that the evil was overcome; and fo, at

,