PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES: 77, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS; AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. MR. FRASER'S GARDEN. CHAPTER I. THE weather was unusually hot for May. In the daytime the sun was scorching, and after it had sunk down in a crimson blaze behind the hills, the air was still sultry. One Sunday evening, when the congregations streamed out of the several churches in Perchester after the late services, many persons amongst them went down to the river side to try to get cool before returning to their homes. Men, women, and children might have been seen strolling by the water's edge, or seated on benches, some with seriousness and real interest, some lightly and idly, talking over the sermon they had heard, whilst others spoke only of their everyday concerns and cares, or by trifling gossip seemed to have forgotten that they had been to church at all. And there was one-a young man looking quite as much in need of rest and refreshment as any of the others--who bent his steps in a contrary direction. Turning from the shady path which skirted the ancient ivied castle and led down to the shore, he pursued his way through some of the principal streets of the old town, then passed into smaller thoroughfares, and finally turned up into an alley leading from one of them, and stopped before a neat but humble dwelling. 66 I want to speak to Sam, if you please, Mrs. Tozer," he said to the woman who opened the cottage door. "Yes! thank you, sir," she replied civilly, but with some hesitation-" leastways, if you'll excuse me, sir, I'll go and see if he be anywhere about; he was here but a bit while ago." "I know he was," returned Mr. Fraser, "and, if you will allow me, I think I can easily find him ;" and suiting his actions to his words, he passed by the woman as she stood on the threshold, went through the kitchen out into the little back garden, and presently returned with a boy of about thirteen, who looked anything but pleased at being thus caught. In the meanwhile Mrs. Tozer had disappeared. Why do you hide from me, Sam?" asked Mr. Fraser. "You need not be fright ened. I have not come to scold you, only to have a little quiet talk with you.' Sam made no answer. ور "I come as a friend and one like yourself, full of faults and failures, but who, having had more advantages and experience, would gladly be a help to you from following wrong ways. Sam raised his head a little higher, but was still silent. Why, my boy, do you not try to do better? Why avoid and despise good and holy things, stay away from church and school, and spend your time in idleness and folly? Do you know Mr. Benson told me this morning, that unless you are more regular in your attendance on Sundays, and come to school on week-days when you are not really prevented by any work, and behave better when you are being taught, he must forbid your coming at all; for as you are going on now, you do no good to yourself, and much harm to others who are interrupted in their lessons, or led away by your bad example. You may not consider this any punishment at first," continued Mr. Fraser, seeing that it was useless to expect a reply, "since you have stayed away so often for your own pleasure, but you would find it different in the end. Those wild, silly fellows with whom you now |