wonder that bob is as good as what he is having such a mother i how is bob any way and does he like cod fish as well as ever don't by any means let him see this letter well grandma i'll not be home for about two weeks for nona wants me to go home with her for a visit my light has burned so low that i can't see the paper and so au revoir as soon as the letter was finished bob grabbed his cap and left the room he would not stop although he heard his grandmother say distinctly poor bob whither he was going he knew not or cared the thought uppermost in his mind was to get away from everything nothing mattered much now suddenly he stumbled over something and looking down he saw the steps of the village church completely exhausted he sank down on them and covered his face with his hands why mr lorimer however did you walk so far and what are you doing asked a child's clear voice and glancing up bob saw the little girl he had met several times by the sea shore in his evening walk i don't know how i walked so far and i don't know what i am doing said bob the girl opened her blue eyes in astonishment and then laughed well since you don't know what you are doing suppose you come into the church and hear me rehearse the song i am going to sing sunday she said i haven't been in church for so long that i wouldn't know how to act ' ' the more reason you should go in now and learn when there's nobody to see you cept the organist and me with a sudden feeling of awe bob sank into the seat and heard as in a dream the words of the song the lord is my shepherd no want shall i know through the valley and shadow of death though i stray since thou art my guardian no evil i fear thy rod shall defend me thy staff be my stay no harm can befall with my comforter near the music died away with a low sweet moan and clare stood beside bob asking him if he liked the song like it why i thought the angels were singing me back to life said bob with deep emotion i suppose you'll come to meeting now won't you you know i have asked you so many times yes i'll come said bob and sure enough the next sunday he was sitting beside his grandparents in the church true he never gave his strict attention to the preaching but when clare sung no word escaped him no one can repent all at once bob struggled long and earnestly to conquer his inner self and when he felt that at last he had succeeded he read the announcement of the marriage of nona everett and louis lorimer all the old bitterness and rebellion returned for a time but the words of the song came back with double meaning and he conquered the second time he still continues to live with his grandma although his parents recovered their wealth and his mother continually writes i don't see why you don't come home bob you must like cod-fish better than you thought you would i'm sure you don't get your plebian ideas from me lillian guthrie 09