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The inevitable happened, of course: Billy the Beast, whose pocket was smoking with his wages, proposed the baby’s health, and there was an uproarious rush for the bar.

“Just a minute, boys!” John Fairmeadow drawled.

It was an awkward moment: but the jacks were by this time used to being bidden by this man who was a man, and the rush was forthwith halted.

“Just a minute, boys,” John Fairmeadow repeated, “for your minister!”

The baby was then held aloft in John Fairmeadow’s big, kind, sensitive hands, and from this safe perch softly smiled upon the crowd of flushed and bearded faces all roundabout.

“Boys,” John Fairmeadow drawled, significantly, “this is the only sort of church we have in these woods.”

There was a laughing stir and shuffling: but presently a tolerant silence fell, in obedience to the custom John Fairmeadow had established; and caps came off, and pipes were smothered.

“A little away from the bar, please,” the big preacher suggested.

Pale Peter nodded to Charlie the Infidel; and the clink of glasses ceased–and the bottles were left in peace–and the hands of the bartender rested.

“Now, boys,” said John Fairmeadow, letting the foundling fall softly into his arms, “I’m not going to preach to you to-night, though God knows you need it! I’m just going to pray for the baby. Dear Father of us wilful Children of the Vale,” he began, at once, lifting a placid, believing face above the smiling child in his arms, ” we ask Thy guardianship of this child. In us is no perfect counsel for him nor any help whatsoever that he may surely apprehend. In Thine acceptable wisdom Thou settest Thy little ones in a world where presently only Thou canst teach them: teach Thou then this little one. Thou alone knowest the right path for a little boy’s inquiring feet: lead then this little boy. Thou alone art saving helper to an adventuring lad: help then this lad. Thou alone art all-perceiving and persuasive, alone art Truth Teller to a bewildered youth and Good Example in his wondering sight: be then Good Example and Teller of Truth to this youth. Thou alone art in the fashioning ways of Thine own world a Maker of Men: make then of this little child a Man. We ask no easy path for him–no unmanly way–no indulgent tempering of the winds. We pray for no riches–for no great deeds of his doing–for no ease at all nor any satisfaction. We ask of Thee in his behalf good Manhood. Lead him where true men must go: lead him where they learn the all of life; lead him where they level down and build again; lead him where in righteous strength his hands may lift the fallen; lead him where in anger he may strike; lead him where his tears may fall; lead him where his heart may find a pure desire. O Almighty God, Lover of children, Father of us all alike, make of this child, in the measure of his service and in the stature of his soul, a Man. Amen. “

Amen, indeed!