It is the
loss of those whom we are not required to give up for Christ's sake
which is really painful to us. Then there is a wrench in earnest.
Happily, no matter how light the task that is demanded from us, it
is enough if we do it; we reap our reward, much as though it were a
Herculean labour.
But to return, the conclusion Ernest came to was that he would be
a tailor. He talked the matter over with the chaplain, who told him
there was no reason why he should not be able to earn his six or seven
shillings a day by the time he came out of prison, if he chose to
learn the trade during the remainder of his term- not quite three
months; the doctor said he was strong enough for this, and that it was
about the only thing he was as yet fit for; so he left the infirmary
sooner than he would otherwise have done and entered the tailor's
shop, overjoyed at the thoughts of seeing his way again, and confident
of rising some day if he could only get a firm foothold to start from.
Everyone whom he had to do with saw that he did not belong to what
are called the criminal classes, and finding him eager to learn and to
save trouble always treated him kindly and almost respectfully.
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