58 SOBER JOHN.

“When he did any thing for them, how-
ever, he was very strict in his conditions.”

“Conditions?” said Rollo. “What con-
ditions ?”’

‘“‘ Why, he never allowed them to play in
his room, or talk loud there. When they
came in to see him, he always made them
be still, and stand quietly, and talk one at a
time. ‘Then he was very particular about
their obeying his directions exactly, when-
ever he gave them any thing to do.”

“Why, did he make them work?” said
Rollo, with a tone of some surprise.

“No,” said Jonas; ‘I mean when he
undertook to plan any amusement for them.
he was very particular in having each do
just what he said, in executing it. If they
made any objections or complaints, or if any
one did not like to do his part, he would
stop at once, and leave them to find their
own amusement.

“ But I must come to my story. One
winter evening, the boys came in from their
play about dark, and as it was a little before
tea-time, they sat down in a corner by the
fire. John was sitting on the other side
telling a story to his little sister, about two