"I must prove that I can conquer," he said--"I yielded to the
temptation once, and now I must face it."
"But, Samuel," protested the doctor, "it is no man's duty to starve.
You must let me help you, and find some useful work for you, and some
people who will be your friends."
"Don't think I am ungrateful," cried the boy--"but why should I be
favored? There are so many others starving, right here in this town.
And if I am going to love them and serve them, why should I have more
than they have? Wouldn't that be selfish of me? Why, sir, I'd be
making profit out of my repentance!"
"I don't quite see that," said the other--
"Why, sir! Isn't it just because I've been so sorry that you are
willing to help me? There are so many others who have not been helped-
-some I know, sir, that need it far more than I do, and have deserved
it more, too!"
"It seems to me, my boy, that is being too hard upon yourself--and on
me. I cannot relieve all the distress in the world. I relieve what I
find out about. And so I must help you. And don't you see that I wish
to keep you near me, so that I can watch after your welfare? And
perhaps--who knows--you can help me. The harvest is plenty, you have
heard, and the laborers are few. There are many ways in which you
could be of service in my church."
"Ah, sir!" cried Samuel, overwhelmed with gratitude--"if you put it
that way--"
"I put it that way most certainly," said Dr.
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