Page:Stringer - Lonely O'Malley.djvu/222

 When Mr. Sampson was told of this sustained and serious interest in things eternal, he suggested to his wife that they have the lad in for supper, and do what they could to get on a more friendly basis with him.

"It would indeed be gratifying to feel that we were the instruments of leading this darkened boy out into the light!" said the man of the cloth, with a sigh.

"And I 'll have Leena make the freezer full of chocolate ice-cream," added his wife, inconsequentially. This stern but whole-souled woman had once been heard to confess that nothing gave her more joy than the sight of half a dozen hungry small boys devouring one of her dinners.

"He has been a wayward youth! But even the darkest mind seems to have its divine glimmer!"

"He 's a young rip!" said Mrs. Sampson, with quiet conviction, following her own line of thought. "And I fancy he will be a young rip, for many a day to come!"

"There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth—" began the clergyman, reprovingly.