"I feel an assurance," said she "that the many prayers which have been
offered to heaven on his behalf, are about to be answered."
It was even so. And they who feared a relapse into his former evil ways
were happily disappointed. He again punctually attended school, and
applied himself diligently to his neglected studies; and his teachers
were surprised, as well by the astonishing progress he made, as by his
correct exemplary deportment. As may be readily supposed, he had much to
contend with from the vicious boys who had been his former associates.
He shunned their company as much as possible, but he could not avoid
occasionally coming in contact with them, and I am happy to say, that
they found him immovable in his resolutions for good. They tried every
means again to entice him into evil ways, but without success. As a last
resort, they tried the effect of ridicule, but they learned now, that he
had allowed his better nature to assert its power, for he possessed a
spirit far above the influence of ridicule; and when they found they
could by no means induce him to mingle with them, they were forced to
give him up, and allow him to go his way in peace. When Mr. and Mrs.
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