If a boy is well stuffed with good things and then wo n't listen to advice , you might as well stop wasting your breath on him , because there is something radically wrong with him . Probably his grandfather had dyspepsia . And a dyspeptic ancestor is worse for a boy than predestination , in my opinion . Anyway , most of my boys took to going to church and Bible class of their own accord , after I 'd been their aunt for awhile . The young minister thought it was all his doings , and I let him think so to keep him cheered up . He was a nice boy himself , and often dropped in of an evening too ; but I never would let him talk theology until after supper . His views always seemed so much mellower then , and did n't puzzle the other boys more than was wholesome for them . This went on for five glorious years , the only years of my life I 'd ever lived , and then came , as I thought , the end of everything . John Henry took typhoid and died . At first that was all I could think of ; and when I got so that I could think of other things , there was , as I have said , nothing for me to do but go back east . The boys , who had been as good as gold to me all through my trouble , felt dreadfully bad over this , and coaxed me hard to stay . They said if I 'd start a boarding house I 'd have all the boarders I could accommodate ; but I knew it was no use to think of that , because I was n't strong enough , and help was so hard to get . No , there was nothing for it but Northfield and stagnation again , with not a stray boy anywhere to mother . I looked the dismal prospect square in the face and made up my mind to it . But I was determined to give my boys one good celebration before I went , anyway . It was near Thanksgiving , and I resolved they should have a dinner that would keep my memory green for awhile , a real old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner such as they used to have at home . I knew it would cost more than I could really afford , but I shut my eyes to that aspect of the question . I was going back to strict eastern economy for the rest of my days , and I meant to indulge in one wild , blissful riot of extravagance before I was cooped up again . I counted up the boys I must have , and there were fifteen , including the minister . I invited them a fortnight ahead to make sure of getting them , though I need n't have worried , for they all said they would have broken an engagement to dine with the king for one of my dinners .
The XXXXX said he had been feeling so homesick he was afraid he would n't be able to preach a real thankful sermon , but now he was comfortably sure that his sermon would be overflowing with gratitude .
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