,illustration3 ,dear me6 how stiff and proper they both were4--,page #bce4 ,,the ,,chautauqua ,,girls ,,at ,,home ,,by ,,pansy ,,author ,,of ,,four ,,girls ,,at ,,chautauqua1 ,,ester ,,ried1 ,,links ,,in ,,rebecca',s ,,life1 ,,julia ,,ried1 ,,household ,,puzzles1 ,,ruth ,,erskine',s ,,crosses1 ,,the ,,randolphs1 ,,wise ,,and ,,otherwise1 ,a ,,new ,,graft ,,on ,,the ,,family ,,tree1 ,,what ,,she ,,said1 ,,and ,,what ,,she ,,meant1 ,,the ,,pocket ,,measure1 ,,hall ,,in ,,the ,,grove1 ,,some ,,young ,,heroines1 ,,five ,,friends1 ,,mrs4 ,,solomon ,,smith ,,looking ,,on1 ,,etc4 ,,toronto ,,william ,,briggs1 #gh #hj ,,king ,,st4 ,,east ,,montreal3 ,c4 ,w4 ,,coates ,,halifax3 ,s4 ,f4 ,,huestis ,,contents4 ,,page ,,chapter ,i4 ,,treading ,,on ,,new ,,ground #g ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,flossy ,,begins #cj ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,burdens #di ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,col4 ,,baker',s ,,sabbath ,,evening #gb ,,chapter ,v4 ,,new ,,music #hg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,disturbing ,,elements #ajb ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,prayer-,,meeting ,,and ,,tableaux #aah ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,dr4 ,,dennis' ,,study #acd ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,a ,,white ,,sunday #aej ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,rainy ,,evening #aff ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,next ,,thing #aha ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,settling ,,questions #aig ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,looking ,,for ,,work #baa ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,an ,,unarmed ,,soldier #bbg ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,marion',s ,,plan #bdc ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,theory ,,versus ,,practice #beh ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,discussion #bge ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,result #bia ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,keeping ,,the ,,promise #cjg ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,how ,,it ,,was ,,done #cbb ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,harold #ccg ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,revival #cee ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,strange ,,story #cfh ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,loneliness #che ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,added ,,name #dja ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,learners #dah ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,flossy',s ,,party #dce ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,a ,,parting ,,glance #dea ,illustration ,,the ,,chautauqua ,,girls ,,at ,,home4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,treading ,,on ,,new ,,ground4 ,,that last ,sabbath of ,august was a lovely day2 it was the first ,sabbath that our girls had spent at home since the revelation of ,chautauqua4 ,it seemed lovely to them4 ,the world looks as though it was made over new in the night1 ,eurie had said1 as she threw open her blinds1 and drew in whiffs of the sweet1 soft air4 ,and the church1 whither these girls had so often betaken themselves on summer mornings1 just like this one--how could two or three weeks have changed it8 ,they could not feel that it was the same building4 ,hitherto it had been to them simply the ,first ,church2 grander1 by several degrees1 than any other church in the city1 having the finest choir1 and the finest organ1 and the most elegant carpets1 and making the grandest floral display of all the temples1 as became the ,first ,church1 of course2 but to-day1 this glowing1 glorious ,august day1 it was something infinitely above and beyond all this2 it was the visible temple of the invisible ,god1 their ,saviour1 and they were going up to worship--aye1 really and truly to worship4 ,they1 in their different ways1 according to their very different natures1 felt this and were thrilled with it as their feet trod the aisles4 ,people can feel a great many things1 and not show them to the casual observer4 ,sitting in their respective pews1 they looked in no sense different from the way they had looked on a hundred different ,sabbaths before this4 ,ruth ,erskine1 in the corner of her father's pew1 attired1 as she had often been before1 in the most delicate and exquisite of summer silks1 with exactly the right shade of necktie1 gloves and sash1 to set off the beauty of the dress1 with the soft and delicate laces about her white throat1 for which she was especially noted1 looked not one whit different from the lady who sat there three weeks before4 ,you wouldn't have known that her heart was singing for joy4 ,flossy ,shipley1 aglow with elegance1 as she always was1 looked the same airy butterfly that had flitted in and out of that church on many a summer day before2 and ,marion1 in her corner in the gallery1 was simply the grave1 somewhat weary-looking school-teacher at one of the wards--a girl with infidel tendencies1 that is all the great congregation knew about her2 in fact1 comparatively few of them knew even that4 ,eurie ,mitchell was the doctor's eldest daughter1 and had in no sense improved as to her toilet--a thing which could hardly be expected1 since she had thrown away so much money on that wild scheme of living in the woods2 that was what some of the congregation thought about her4 ,dr4 ,dennis saw all these girls1 and looked gloomy over them2 he was in the mood to need sympathetic hearers1 to long to be in accord with his audience1 and feel that they could sympathize with him in his reach after a higher type of religion4 ,what could these four girls know about a higher type1 when they had no religion at all1 and had been spending two lawless weeks in looking at the subject1 till their hearts were either attuned to ridicule or disgusted1 according to their several temperaments8 ,that was what the faces of our four girls said to him4 ,yet how they listened to his sermon4 ,i shall be satisfied when ,i awake with thy likeness4 ,these were the words on which he spoke2 and the burden of his thought was that satisfaction was not to be sought for here2 nothing less than the absolute likeness should give absolute satisfaction2 and this likeness was to be forever eagerly1 earnestly1 constantly1 sought for1 striven after1 until some day would come that blessed awakening1 and the picture would be found to be complete6 ,was it the best sermon that had ever been preached8 ,was it the only spiritual sermon that the ,first ,church people had ever heard1 or was it that four girls had been to ,chautauqua1 and there learned how to listen8 ,their cheeks glowed1 and their eyes dilated over the wonderful thoughts that the subject presented1 the endless possibility for climbing6 ,marion ,wilbur had been counted ambitious2 she had longed for a chance to reach high2 here was her chance2 she felt it1 and gloried in it2 she meant to try4 ,every nerve quivered with the determination1 and the satisfaction of realizing that she belonged to the great royal family4 ,no more obscurity for her4 ,she was a child of the ,king1 and the kingdom was in view4 ,a crown1 aglow with jewels--nothing less must satisfy her now4 ,the sermon over1 the hymn sung1 and amid the pealing of the organ1 as it played the worshipers down the aisles1 our four girls met4 ,they knew each other's determination4 ,the next thing to do was to go to ,sunday-school4 ,but ,i suppose you have no idea how strangely they felt2 how much it seemed to them as if they were children who had come to a party uninvited1 and as if they must at this last minute hide their heads and run home4 ,the very effort to go up to the ,sunday-school room seemed too much a cross to undertake4 ,there were so many to stare1 and look their amazement2 there was no one to go with2 nobody to think of such a thing as asking them to go4 ,it would have been so much less awkward if they could have followed in the lead of one who had said1 ,won't you come up and see our ,sunday-school8 ,the superintendent passed them as they stood irresolute2 he bowed courteously1 and no more thought of asking them to join him than though they had been birds of brilliant plumage flying by4 ,dr4 ,dennis passed them2 he said good-morning1 not gladly1 not even graciously2 he dreaded those girls1 and their undoubted influence4 ,they had not the least idea how much mischief they had done him in the way of frittering away his influence heretofore4 ,how should they know that he dreaded them8 ,on the other hand how was he to know that they absolutely longed for him to take them by the hand1 and say1 ,come8 ,they looked at him curiously as he passed1 and ,eurie said3 ,doesn't it make your heart beat to think of going to him in his study1 and having a private talk8 ,dear me6 said ,flossy1 ,i never shall think of such a thing4 ,i couldn't do it any more than ,i could fly4 ,there are harder things than that to do1 ,i suspect2 and it will come to a visit to his study if we are to unite with the church2 don't you know that is what he always asks of those8 ,and then these girls looked absolutely blank1 for to two of them the thought of that duty had never occurred before2 they did not understand it well enough to know that it was a privilege4 ,well1 said ,eurie1 rallying first1 of course1 are we to stand here gazing around us all day1 because nobody knows enough to invite us to go up-stairs8 ,it is clear that we are not to be invited4 ,they are all come--all the ,sabbath-school people2 and1 hark6 why1 they are singing4 ,dear me6 said ,flossy2 then it is commenced2 ,i hate to go in when it is commenced4 ,how very unfortunate this is6 ,serves us right1 said ,marion4 ,we ought to be in a condition to invite others1 instead of waiting here to be invited4 ,i'll tell you what1 girls1 if we ever get to feel that we do belong1 let's constitute ourselves a committee to see after timid strangers1 like ourselves1 and give them a chance in1 at least4 ,well1 said ,ruth1 speaking for the first time1 shall we go home and wait till next ,sunday1 and take a fair start1 as ,flossy says1 it isn't pleasant to go in after the exercises have fairly opened8 ,as she said this1 for the first time in her life ,miss ,ruth ,erskine began to have a dim idea that possibly she might be a coward2 this certainly sounded a little like it4 ,each waited to get a bit of advice from the other4 ,both ,marion and ,eurie1 it must be confessed1 bold spirits that they were1 so dreaded this ordeal1 that each hoped the other would advise retreat as the wisest thing to be done next4 ,it was ,flossy who spoke3 ,i am going up now2 it won't be any easier next ,sunday1 and ,i want to begin4 ,there6 said ,eurie1 that is just what ,i needed to shame me into common sense4 ,what a company of idiots we are6 ,marion1 what would you think of a day-scholar who would stand shivering outside your doors for this length of time8 ,now come on1 all of you2 and she led the way up-stairs4 ,how very awkward it was6 ,it was during the opening prayer that they arrived1 and they had to stand by the door and be peeped at by irreverent children2 then they had to invite themselves to a vacant seat near the door4 ,the superintendent came that way presently1 and said3 ,good-morning1 young ladies2 so you have come in to visit our school8 ,glad to see you2 it is a pleasant place1 ,i think you will find4 ,that is extremely doubtful1 ,eurie said1 in undertone1 as he passed on4 ,how the children did stare6 ,they are certainly unused to visitors1 ,ruth said1 growing uncomfortable under such prolonged gazing4 ,what is the use of all this1 girls8 ,we might better be at home4 ,if we had grown up here1 ,eurie said1 bravely1 we should probably have our place by this time4 ,it all comes of our graceful lives4 ,but ,i must say they make it very easy for people to stay away4 ,why on earth don't they invite us to go into ,bible classes8 ,what right have they to take it for granted that we came out of pure curiosity8 ,the business of the hour went on1 and our girls were still left unmolested4 ,as the newness wore somewhat away1 the situation began to grow funny4 ,they could see that the pastor and the superintendent were engaged in anxious conversation1 to judge by the gravity of their faces2 and as their eyes occasionally roved in that direction1 it was natural to suppose they were discussing the unexpected visitors4 ,could they have heard the anxious talk it would have been a solemn comment on their reputations4 ,that ,morris class is vacant again to-day1 the superintendent was saying2 ,i don't know what we are to do with that class2 no one is willing to undertake it4 ,the pastor looked toward his own large class waiting for him1 and said1 with a weary sigh3 ,i believe ,i shall have to give up my class to some one and take that4 ,i don't want to2 it is a class which requires more nervous energy than ,i have at command at this hour of the day4 ,but what is to be done with them to-day8 ,would it do to ask one of the young ladies on the visitors' seat8 ,and then the eyes of the two men turned toward the girls4 ,they are afraid of us1 whispered ,eurie1 her propensity to see the ludicrous side of things in no whit destroyed by her conversion4 ,look at their troubled faces2 they think that we are harbingers of mischief4 ,oh me6 ,what a reputation to have6 ,but ,i declare it is funny4 ,whereupon she laughed softly1 but unmistakably4 ,it was at this moment that ,dr4 ,dennis' eyes rested on her4 ,oh1 they are only here for material to make sport of1 he said1 gloomily2 ,miss ,erskine might keep the boys quiet for awhile if she chose to do so1 ,i suppose4 ,or ,miss ,wilbur4 ,some of the boys in that class are in school1 in her ward2 they say she has grand order4 ,dr4 ,dennis' face grew stern4 ,no1 he said1 don't ask her2 at least we will not put them in a way to learn error1 if we can teach them nothing good4 ,miss ,wilbur is an infidel4 ,i don't know what is to be done with that class1 as you say4 ,poor ,morris1 ,i am afraid1 will never be able to take it again2 and he was utterly discouraged with them1 anyway4 ,they get no good here that ,i can see2 and they certainly do infinite mischief to the rest of the school4 ,but at the same time ,i suppose we cannot send them away8 ,oh1 certainly not4 ,well1 suppose you try if ,miss ,erskine will sit there1 and try to awe them by her dignity for awhile4 ,and this week we must see what can be done2 she won't try it1 though1 ,i presume4 ,it ended in the superintendent coming toward them at last4 ,he didn't like to be too personal in his request1 so he took the general way of putting a question1 resting in the belief that each would refuse1 and that then he could press the task on ,miss ,erskine4 ,we are short of teachers to-day2 would one of you be willing to sit with that class at your right1 and try to interest them a little8 ,they are a sad set2 very little can be done with them1 but we have to try4 ,i shall have to confess that both ,ruth and ,marion were appalled4 ,the one shrank as much as the other4 ,if it had been a class in mathematics or philosophy ,marion would have been confident of her powers2 but she felt so very ignorant of the ,bible4 ,she had come in1 hoping and expecting a chance to slip into a grand ,bible class1 where she might learn some of the inner truths of that glorious lesson that she had been trying to study4 ,but to teach it6 ,this seemed impossible4 ,as for ,ruth1 no thought of such an experience had as yet come to her4 ,they1 therefore1 maintained a dismayed silence4 ,eurie was frank4 ,i can't teach1 she said2 ,i don't understand it myself4 ,i shouldn't have the least idea what to say to anyone about the ,bible lesson4 ,and then they all turned and stared in a maze of surprise and perplexity at little fair-haired ,flossy4 ,i would like to try1 she said1 simply2 ,i have thought about the lesson all the week2 ,i am not sure that ,i can teach anything1 but ,i should like to talk the story over with them if they will let me4 ,there was nothing for it but to lead this exquisite bit of flesh and blood1 in her dainty summer toilet1 before that rough and rollicking class of boys1 old enough1 some of them1 to be called young men1 but without an idea as to the manner of conduct that should honor that name4 ,it would be hard to tell which was the most amazed and embarrassed1 the superintendent or the girls whom ,flossy left looking after her4 ,they were quite sobered now2 they did not want ,flossy to come to grief4 ,a tender feeling that was new and sweet had sprung up in the heart of each of them toward her4 ,that innocent little kitten knows no more what she has undertaken than if she were a dove1 said ,marion1 dismay and discomfort struggling in her face4 ,why1 she might as well be ,daniel in the den of lions4 ,well1 said ,eurie1 speaking gravely1 he came out all right1 you know4 ,then she hailed the passing superintendent3 ,mr4 ,stuart1 isn't there a ,bible class that we can go in8 ,we didn't come to look on4 ,we want to study the lesson4 ,oh1 why1 yes1 certainly1 ,mr4 ,stuart said1 stammering and looking unutterable astonishment4 ,where would they like to go8 ,there were two vacant seats in ,mr4 ,pembrook's class1 and one in ,judge ,elmore's4 ,ruth instantly chose ,judge ,elmore's1 and left ,marion and ,eurie to make their way to the vacant places in ,mr4 ,pembrook's class4 ,the young ladies of the class moved along and made room for the new comers1 and the teacher carefully told them what chapter and verse were being studied4 ,they found their places1 and ,mr4 ,pembrook searched laboriously for his4 ,he had lost the spot on his lesson leaf where he had read the last question1 and he was all at sea4 ,let me see1 he said1 where were we8 ,none of them seemed to know2 at least they gave him no information4 ,one of them tried to button a glove that was too small for her2 one yawned behind her ,bible1 and the most utter indifference in regard to the lesson or the school seemed to prevail4 ,oh1 said4 ,mr4 ,pembrook1 here is where we were4 ,i was just reading the thirtieth verse3 ',as he spake these words many believed on him4' ,who spake them8 ,jesus1 one answered1 speaking the word with a yawn4 ,what did ,jesus say next8 ,the next young lady thus appealed to1 hurriedly looked up the place in her ,bible and read3 ',then said ,jesus to those ,jews which believed on him1 if ye continue in my word1 then are ye my disciples indeed4' ,well1 said ,mr4 ,pembrook1 after a thoughtful pause1 there doesn't seem to be anything to say on that verse2 it is all there4 ,will you read the next verse8 ,now the you whom he timidly addressed was our ,marion4 ,she doesn't understand even now why her heart should have throbbed so strangely2 and her voice trembled as she read aloud the simple words3 ',and ye shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4' ,free from what8 she asked abruptly4 ,the class stared4 ,clearly the art of asking questions was an unknown accomplishment in that class4 ,mr4 ,pembrook looked at her through his glasses2 then he pushed his glasses up on his forehead4 ,finally he took them off1 and rubbed them carefully with the skirt of his coat before he essayed to answer4 ,why1 my dear young lady1 ,i suppose it means free from sin4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ was speaking to his people1 you know1 to ,christian people4 ,are ,christian people free from sin8 ,there was no note of cavil in ,marion's voice4 ,her eyes were earnest and serious2 and she waited1 as one waits in honest perplexity1 to have a puzzle solved4 ,but she was known as one who held dangerous1 even infidel notions1 and ,mr4 ,pembrook1 bewildered as to how to answer her1 seemed to feel that probably a rebuke was what she needed4 ,it is not for us to find fault with the words of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 my dear young lady4 ,he spoke them1 and they must mean what they say4 ,we are to accept them in all sincerity and humility1 remembering that what we know not now we shall know hereafter4 ,that is the ,christian way to do4 ,and then he cleared his throat and asked the next young lady to read the next verse4 ,two bright spots glowed on ,marion's cheeks4 ,she bent her head low over her ,bible1 and it was with difficulty that she kept a rush of tears from filling her eyes4 ,had she seemed to cavil at the words of her ,lord when she simply longed with all her soul to understand8 ,did the promise mean1 ,you shall be free from sin8 ,had she a right to look forward to and hope for the time when sin should have no more dominion8 ,then that other sentence3 ,continue in my work4 ,just what did it mean8 ,could one who was searching it eagerly and prayerfully1 and trying to abide by its directions1 be said to be continuing in it8 ,there were a dozen questions that she longed to ask4 ,she had sought the ,sabbath-school this morning in search of help4 ,she felt blind and lame1 unable to take a step in any direction lest in her ignorance she should err1 as already she had4 ,something in her way of speaking of these things must be radically wrong4 ,she had misled this good man4 ,it was no use to ask him questions4 ,as the lesson progressed there appeared other reasons why she need not question him4 ,clearly the good man knew nothing about his lesson save the questions contained on the bit of paper before him4 ,it was entirely evident that he had not looked at the verses1 nor thought of them until he came before his class4 ,it was equally plain that his scholars were entirely accustomed to this state of things1 and were careful to follow his example4 ,he could read a question at them from his lesson paper1 and they could read an answer back to him from their ,bibles1 and this was all that either party expected of the other4 ,why these young ladies continued to come ,sabbath after ,sabbath1 and go over this weary routine of question and answer was a mystery to ,marion4 ,she came away from the school in a most uncomfortable frame of mind4 ,that to which she had looked forward all the week had proved a disappointment and a failure4 ,she was almost inclined to say that she would have no more to do with ,sunday-schools2 that they really were the humbug that she had always supposed them4 ,imagine my going to a philosophy class1 knowing no more about the lesson than that old man did to-day6 she said to ,eurie1 as they walked down to the corner of ,elm ,street together4 ,i know1 said ,eurie1 speaking with unusual thoughtfulness2 but suppose you were dull in the class1 if it were known after all that you could make the most brilliant philosophical experiments you would probably be listened to with respect4 ,what do you mean8 asked ,marion bewildered4 ,why1 ,i mean that ,deacon ,pembrook can perform the experiments successfully4 ,in other words1 to come down to your comprehension1 he succeeds in living so pure and careful a ,christian life that he has the respect and confidence of everybody4 ,what if he can't preach8 ,he can practice4 ,however1 ,i am willing to admit that the dear old man would be more edifying if he would study his lesson a little4 ,wasn't it funny to think of calling that 'teaching8' ,and then this volatile young lady laughed4 ,but her moralizing had done ,marion good4 ,she said good-morning more cheerily1 and went on her way thinking over the many things that she had heard in honor of ,deacon ,pembrook2 so that by the time she had reached her boarding-house1 although his teaching would certainly make a very poor show1 yet his sweet ,christian life had come up to plead for him1 and ,marion was forced to feel that the truth had made him free4 ,but it is a real pity not to study his lesson1 she said1 as she went about her gloomy-looking room4 ,those girls didn't get a single idea to help them in any way4 ,some of them need ideas badly enough4 ,two or three of them are members of the church1 ,i am sure4 ,that ,allie ,march is1 but she has no ideas on any subject2 you can see that in the grammar class4 ,and then ,marion remembered that ,allie ,march was in her grammar class2 and ,allie was a professed ,christian4 ,could she help her8 ,it was not pride in ,marion1 but she had to smile at the thought of herself being helped by so very third-rate a brain as that which ,allie ,march possessed4 ,and then she paused1 with her hand on the clothes-press door1 and her face glowed at the new and surprising thought that just then came to her4 ,would it not be possible for her1 ,marion ,wilbur1 to help ,allie ,march1 even in her ,christian life6 ,all that afternoon1 though1 she went about or sat down in her room with a sense of loneliness4 ,no one to speak to who could understand and would believe in her1 even in the ,sunday-school they were afraid of her4 ,how could she help or be helped1 while this state of things lasted8 ,it was in the early twilight that1 as she sat with her hat and sack on1 waiting for ,eurie1 who had engaged to call for her to go to church1 she strayed across a verse or two in her new possession1 the ,bible1 that touched the point4 ,it was where ,saul essayed to join himself to the disciples2 but they were all afraid of him1 and believed not that he was a disciple4 ,her experience precisely6 ,they were afraid of her influence2 afraid of her tongue2 afraid of her example2 and1 indeed1 what reason had they to feel otherwise8 ,but she read on1 that blessed verse wherein it says3 ,but ,barnabas took him1 and brought him to the apostles1 and declared unto them how he had seen the ,lord in the way1 and that he had spoken to him4 ,she was reading this for the second time1 when ,eurie came4 ,see here1 ,eurie1 read this1 she said1 as she passed her the ,bible and made her final preparations for church4 ,isn't that our experience8 ,i mean ,i think it is to be ours4 ,judging from to-day as a foretaste1 they will be afraid of us and believe not that we are disciples4 ,eurie laughed1 a quick little laugh that had an undertone of feeling in it1 as she said3 ,well1 then1 ,i hope we shall find a ,barnabas to vouch for us before long4 ,and ,marion knew that she1 too1 felt the loneliness and the sense of belonging to no one4 ,we must help each other very much1 we girls4 ,this she said to herself as they went down the steps together4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,flossy ,,begins4 ,,flossy ,,shipley',s first day at ,sabbath-school was different4 ,she went over to the class of boys1 who were almost young men1 with trepidation indeed1 and yet with an assured sort of feeling that they would be quiet4 ,just how she was going to accomplish this she was not certain4 ,she had studied the words of the lesson most carefully and prayerfully2 indeed1 they had been more in her mind all the week than had anything else4 ,at the same time1 she by no means understood how to teach those words and thoughts to the style of young men who were now before her4 ,still1 there was that in ,flossy which always held the attention of the young men2 she knew this to be the case1 and1 without understanding what her peculiar power was1 she felt that she had it1 and believed that she could call it into service for this new work4 ,they stared at her a little as she took her seat1 then they nudged each other1 and giggled1 and looked down at their dusty boots1 guiltless of any attempt at being black1 and shuffled them in a way to make a disagreeable noise4 ,they knew ,flossy--that is1 they knew what street she lived on1 and how the outside of her father's house looked1 and what her standing in society was2 they knew nothing of her in the capacity of a ,sunday-school teacher2 and1 truth to tell1 they did not believe she could teach4 ,she was a doll set up before them for them to admire and pretend to listen to2 they did not intend to do it2 she had nothing in common with them2 they had a right to make her uncomfortable if they could1 and they were sure that they could4 ,this was the mood in which she found them4 ,good-morning1 she said1 brightly2 and they glanced at each other1 and shuffled their feet louder1 and some of them chuckled louder1 while one of them said3 ,it's rather late in the morning1 ain't it8 ,we got up quite a spell ago4 ,this passed for a joke1 and they laughed aloud4 ,at this point ,flossy caught ,dr4 ,dennis' distressed face turned that way4 ,it was not reassuring2 he evidently expected disastrous times in that corner4 ,flossy ignored the discourteous treatment of her good-morning1 and opened her ,bible4 ,do you know1 she said1 with a soft little laugh1 that ,i haven't the least idea how to teach a ,sunday-school lesson8 ,i never did such a thing in my life2 so you mustn't expect wisdom from me4 ,the very most ,i can do is to talk the matter over with you1 and ask you what you think about it4 ,whereupon they looked at each other again and laughed2 but this time it was a puzzled sort of laugh4 ,this was a new experience4 ,they had had teachers who knew extremely little about the lesson1 and proved it conclusively1 but never once did they own it4 ,their plan had rather been to assume the wisdom of ,solomon1 and in no particular to be found wanting in information4 ,they did not know what answer to make to ,flossy4 ,have you ,bibles8 she asked them4 ,no4 ,well1 here are ,lesson ,leaves4 ,these are pieces of the ,bible1 ,i suppose4 ,are they nice8 ,i don't know anything about them4 ,i have never been in ,sunday-school1 you see2 not since ,i was a little girl4 ,what are these cards for1 please8 ,now1 they understood all about the management of the library cards1 and the method of giving out books by their means1 and ,flossy was so evidently ignorant1 and so puzzled by their attempts at explanation1 and asked so many questions1 and took so long to understand it1 that they really became very much interested in making it clear to her1 and then in helping her carry out the programme which they had explained2 and everyone of them had a queer sense of relationship to the school that they had not possessed before4 ,they knew more than she did1 and she was willing to own it4 ,now about this lesson1 she said1 at last4 ,i really don't see how people teach such lessons4 ,they don't1 said one whom they called ,rich4 ,johnson4 ,they just pretend to1 and they go around it1 and through it1 and ask baby questions1 and pretend that they know a great deal2 that's the kind of teaching that we are used to4 ,flossy laughed4 ,you won't get it to-day1 she said1 for ,i certainly don't know a great deal1 and ,i don't know how to pretend that ,i do4 ,but ,i like to read about this talk that ,christ had with the people2 and ,i should have liked of all things to have been there and heard him4 ,i would like to go now to the place where he was4 ,wouldn't you like to go to ,jerusalem8 ,what an awkward way they had of looking from one to the other1 and nudging each other4 ,rich4 ,johnson seemed to be the speaker for the class4 ,he spoke now in a gruff1 unprepossessing voice2 ,i'd enough sight rather go to ,california4 ,the others thought this a joke1 and laughed accordingly4 ,flossy caught at it4 ,california1 she said1 brightly4 ,oh1 ,i've been there4 ,i don't wonder that you want to go4 ,it is a grand country4 ,i saw some of those great trees that we have heard about4 ,illustration3 ,flossy laid her ,bible in her lap1 and began4--,page #ce4 ,and forthwith she launched into an eager description of the mammoth tree2 and as they leaned forward1 and asked now and then an intelligent question1 ,flossy blessed the good fortune that had made her her father's chosen companion on his hasty trip to ,california the year before4 ,what had all the trees in ,california to do with the ,sabbath-school lesson8 ,nothing1 of course2 but ,flossy saw with a little thrill of satisfaction that the boys were becoming interested in her4 ,but for all that1 she said1 coming back suddenly1 ,i should like ever so much to go to ,jerusalem4 ,i felt so more and more1 after ,i went to that meeting at ,chautauqua1 and saw the city all laid out and a model of the very temple1 you know1 where ,jesus was when he spoke these words4 ,they did not laugh this time2 on the contrary1 they looked interested4 ,she could describe a tree1 perhaps she had something else worth hearing4 ,what's that8 said ,rich4 ,that's something ,i never heard of4 ,and then ,flossy laid her ,bible in her lap1 and began to describe the living picture of the ,holy ,land1 as she had seen and loved it at ,chautauqua4 ,of course you know that she did that well4 ,was not her heart there8 ,had she not found a new love1 and life1 and hope1 while she walked those sunny paths that led to ,bethany1 and to the ,mount of ,olives8 ,every one of the boys listened1 and some of them questioned1 and ,rich4 said1 when she paused3 ,well1 now1 that's an idea1 ,i declare4 ,i wouldn't mind seeing it myself4 ,and to each one of them came a glimmering feeling that there actually was such a city as ,jerusalem1 and such a person as ,jesus ,christ did really live1 and walk1 and talk here on the earth4 ,then ,flossy took up her ,bible again4 ,but1 of course1 the next best thing to going to places1 and actually seeing people1 is to read about them1 and find out what the people said and did4 ,i like these verses especially1 because they mean us as well as those to whom they were spoken4 ,look at this verse4 ,i have been all the week over it1 and ,i don't see but ,i shall have to stay over it all my life4 ',then said ,jesus1 ,if ye continue in my word1 then are ye my disciples indeed4' ,just think how far that reaches6 ,all through the words of ,jesus4 ,so many of them1 so many things to do1 and so many not to do2 and then not only to begin to follow them1 but to continue2 day after day getting a little farther1 and knowing a little more4 ,after all1 it's very fascinating work1 isn't it8 ,if it is hard1 like climbing a mountain1 one gets nearer the top all the while2 and when you do really reach the top1 how splendid it is6 ,or1 doing a hard piece of work1 it's so nice to get nearer and nearer to the end of it1 and feel that you have done it4 ,one of the boys yawned4 ,it was not so interesting as the description of the miniature ,jerusalem4 ,one of them looked sarcastic4 ,this was ,rich4 ,do you suppose there ever was anybody like that8 he asked1 and the most lofty incredulity was in his voice4 ,like what8 ,why1 that followed out that kind of talk4 ,i know enough about the ,bible to know they are mighty scarce4 ,i'd go to ,jerusalem on foot to see a real one4 ,where's the folks1 ,i'd like to know1 that live up to half of the things it says in the ,bible8 ,why1 they even say it can't be done1 and that's why it seems all bosh to me4 ,what was the use of putting it in there if it can't be done8 ,here was one who had evidently thought1 and thought seriously about these things4 ,is there a boy of seventeen in our country who has not8 ,flossy felt timid4 ,how should she answer the sharp1 sarcastic words8 ,he had been studying inconsistencies1 and had grown bitter4 ,the others looked on curiously2 they had a certain kind of pride in ,rich4 ,he was their genius who held all the teachers at bay with his ingenious tongue4 ,but ,flossy had been at a morning meeting in ,chautauqua where there was talk on this very subject4 ,it came back to her now4 ,as for being able to do it1 she said1 quickly1 ,i don't feel sure that we have anything to do with that1 until we have convinced ourselves that we have been just as good as we possibly could4 ,honestly1 now1 do you think you have been8 ,no1 said ,rich41 promptly2 of course not4 ,and1 what is more1 ,i never pretended that ,i was4 ,well1 ,i know ,i haven't been2 ,i am perfectly certain that in a hundred ways ,i could have done better4 ,why1 there is nothing that ,i could not have improved upon if ,i had tried4 ,so by our own confessions what right have you and ,i to stumble over not being able to be perfect1 so long as we have not begun to be as near it as we could8 ,how was he to answer this8 ,oh1 well1 he said1 ,i haven't made any pretensions2 ,i'm talking about those who have4 ,that's exactly like myself2 and1 as nearly as ,i can see1 we both belong to the class who knew our duty1 and had nothing to do with it4 ,now1 ,i want to tell you that ,i have decided not to stand with that class any longer4 ,flossy paused an instant1 caught her breath1 and a rich flush spread over her pretty face4 ,this was her first actual witnessing outside of the narrow limits of her intimate three friends who all sympathized4 ,i gave myself to this ,jesus when ,i was at ,chautauqua1 ,i said to him2 that ,i had stood one side1 and had nothing to do with his words all my life2 just taken his favors in silence and indifference1 but that for the future ,i was to belong to him4 ,now1 of course1 ,i don't know how many times ,i shall fail1 nor how many things ,i shall fail in4 ,the most ,i know is1 that ,i mean to 'continue4' ,after all1 don't you see that the verse doesn't say1 ,if you are perfect1 but simply1 ',if you continue4' ,now1 if ,i am trying to climb a hill1 it makes a difference with my progress1 to be sure1 whether ,i stumble and fall back a few steps now and then4 ,but for all that ,i may continue to climb2 and if ,i do ,i shall be sure to reach the top4 ,so now my resolution is to 'continue' in his words all the rest of my life4 ,she did not ask ,rich4 to do the same4 ,she said not a word to him about himself4 ,she said not a personal word to one of them1 but every boy there felt himself asked to join her4 ,more than that1 not a boy of them but respected her4 ,it is wonderful1 after all1 how rarely in this wicked world we meet with other than respect in answer to a frank avowal of our determination to be on the ,lord's side4 ,they were all quiet for an instant2 and again ,flossy caught a glimpse of ,dr4 ,dennis' face4 ,it looked perplexity and distrust4 ,was she telling them a fairy story1 or teaching them a new game of whist8 ,then there is such a grand promise in this lesson1 ,flossy went on4 ,i like it ever so much for that4 ',and ye shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4' ,free from what8 asked ,rich41 abruptly4 ,the very question that ,miss ,marion ,wilbur had asked in such anxiety4 ,but ,flossy was in a measure prepared for him4 ,it chanced that she had asked ,evan ,roberts that self-same question4 ,why1 free from the power and dominion of ,satan2 not belonging to him any more1 and having a strength that is beyond and above anything earthly to lean upon1 stronger than ,satan's power can ever be4 ,rich4 gave a scornful little laugh4 ,he is an old fellow that ,i don't particularly believe in1 he said1 loftily1 as though that forever settled the question as to the existence of such a person4 ,i think a fellow is a silly coward who lays the blame of his wickedness off on ,satan's shoulders2 just as if ,satan could make him do what he didn't choose to do6 always supposing that there is such a creature4 ,oh wise and wily ,flossy6 ,she knew he was wrong4 ,she knew he had contradicted his own logic1 used but a few minutes before1 but she did not attempt to prove it to him2 for1 in the first place1 she felt instinctively that the most difficult thing in the world is to convince an ignorant person that he has been foolish and illogical in his argument4 ,you may prove this to an intelligent mind that is accustomed to reason1 and to weigh the merits of questions1 but it is a rare thing to find an uncultured brain that can follow you closely enough to be convinced of his own folly4 ,flossy did not understand herself well enough to reason this out4 ,it was simply a fine instinct that she had1 perhaps it ought to be called tact1 that led her to be careful how she tried anything of this sort4 ,besides1 there was another reason4 ,she did not know how to set about doing it4 ,it is one thing to see a sophistry1 and another to take to pieces the filmy threads of which it is composed4 ,she waived the whole subject1 and jumped to one on which there could be but one opinion4 ,well1 then1 suppose you were right1 and every one were free to be perfect if he would2 that only reaches to the end of this life4 ,we surely haven't been perfect1 you and ,i1 for instance1 so our perfection cannot save us from the penalty of sin1 and that is death4 ,what a grand thing it would be to be free from that6 ,you believe in death1 don't you8 and ,i suppose1 like every other sensible person1 you are afraid of death1 unless you have found something that makes you free from its power4 ,rich4 was still in a scornful mood4 ,should like to see anybody that is free from that6 he said1 sneeringly4 ,as near as ,i can make out1 those persons who think they are good are just as likely to die as the rest of us4 ,ah1 yes1 but it isn't just that little minute of dying that you and ,i are afraid of2 it is afterward4 ,we are afraid of what will come next4 ,you see1 ,i know all about it1 for ,i was awfully afraid2 ,i had such a fear as ,i suppose you know nothing about4 ,when it thundered ,i shivered as if ,i had a chill1 and it seemed to me as if every flash of lightning was going to kill me2 and when ,i went on a journey ,i could enjoy nothing for the fear that there might be an accident and ,i might be killed4 ,but ,i declare to you that ,i have found something that has taken the fear away4 ,i do not mean that ,i would like to be killed1 or that ,i am tired of living1 or anything of the sort4 ,i like to live a great deal better than ,i ever did before2 ,i think the world is twice as nice1 and everything a great deal pleasanter2 but when ,i was coming home from ,chautauqua ,i would waken in the night in the sleeping-car1 and ,i found to my surprise that1 although ,i thought of the same thing1 the possibility that there might be an accident that would cost me my life1 yet ,i felt that horrible sense of fear and dread was utterly gone4 ,i could feel that though death in itself might be sad and solemn1 yet it was1 after all1 but the step that opened the door to joy4 ,in short--and here ,flossy's face shone with a rare sweet smile--,i know that the truth as it is in ,jesus has made me free4 ,rich4 was utterly silent4 ,what could he reply in the face of this simple1 quiet ,i know8 ,to say1 ,i don't believe it1 would be the height of folly1 and he realized it4 ,as for the rest1 they had listened to this talk with various degrees of interest2 the most of them amused that ,rich4 should be drawn into any talk so serious1 and be evidently so earnest4 ,let me tell you a little about these young men4 ,they were not from the very lowest depths of society2 that is1 they had homes and family ties1 and they had enough to eat and to wear2 in fact they earned these latter1 each for himself4 ,there were two of them who had the advantage of the public schools1 and were fair sort of scholars4 ,rich4 ,johnson was one of these1 and was therefore somewhat looked up to and respected by those1 even1 who would not have gone to school another day if they could4 ,but they were far enough out of the reach of ,flossy ,shipley2 so far that she had never come in contact with one of them before in her life4 ,she had no idea as to their names1 or their homes1 or their lives4 ,she had no sort of idea of the temptations by which they were surrounded1 nor what they needed4 ,perhaps this very fact removed all touch of patronage from her tone2 as1 when the bell rang1 she found1 to her great surprise1 that the lesson hour was over1 she turned back to them for a moment and said with that sparkling little smile of hers3 ,i'm real sorry you hadn't a teacher to-day4 ,i should have been glad to have taught the lesson if ,i had known how2 but you see how it is2 ,i have all these things to learn4 ,now1 ,rich4 ,johnson rather prided himself on his rudeness2 a strange thing to pride one's self on1 to be sure4 ,but pride takes all sorts of curious forms1 and he had actually rather gloried in his ability to say rude and cutting things at a moment's notice2 words1 you know1 that the boys in his set called 'cute4' ,but he was at this time actually surprised into being almost gallant4 ,we never had a better teacher1 he said1 quickly4 ,if you are only just learning you better try it again on us2 we like the style enough sight better than the finished up kind4 ,and then ,flossy smiled again1 and thanked them1 and said she had enjoyed it4 ,and then she did an unprecedented thing4 ,she invited them all to call on her1 in a pretty1 graceful way1 precisely as she would have invited a gentleman friend who had seen her home from a concert1 the quiet1 courteous invitation to her father's house1 which is a mere matter of form among the young ladies of her set1 but which to these boys was as astonishing as an invitation to the ,garden of ,eden4 ,they had not the slightest intention of accepting the invitation1 but they felt1 without realizing what made them feel so1 a sudden added touch of self-respect4 ,i almost think they were more careful of their words during the rest of that day than they would have been but for that invitation4 ,isn't ,sunday-school splendid8 ,flossy said to ,ruth ,erskine1 as1 with her cheeks in a fine glow of glad satisfaction that she had begun1 she joined ,ruth in the hall4 ,it was very interesting1 said ,ruth1 in her more quiet1 thoughtful way4 ,she was thoughtful during the entire walk home4 ,it was her lot to slip into one of those grand classes where ,bible teaching means something more than simply reading over the verses4 ,there had been good seed sown with a lavish hand1 and there had been careful probing to see if it had taken root4 ,ruth had some stronger ideas about the importance of continuing4 ,she had a renewed sense of the blessedness of being made free4 ,she went home with a renewed desire to consecrate herself1 and not only to enjoy1 but to labor1 that others might enter into that rest4 ,blessed are those teachers whose earnest ,sabbath work produces such fruit as this6 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,burdens4 ,,under the influence of the sermon1 and the prayers1 and the glorious music1 life grew to be rose-color to ,marion before she reached home that ,sabbath evening4 ,she came home with springing step1 and with her heart full of plans and possibilities for the future4 ,not even the dismalness of her unattractive room and desolate surroundings had power to drive the song from her heart4 ,she went about humming the grand tune with which the evening service had closed3 ,in the cross of ,christ ,i glory1 ,towering o'er the wrecks of time4 ,as she sang1 her whole soul thrilled with the joy of glorying in such a theme1 and her last thought1 as she closed her eyes for the night1 was about a plan of work that she meant to carry out4 ,what could have happened in the night to so change the face of the world for her6 ,it looked so utterly different in the morning4 ,school was to open1 and she shrank from it1 dreaded it4 ,the work looked all drudgery1 and the plans she had formed the night before seemed impossibilities4 ,the face of nature had changed wonderfully4 ,in place of radiant sunshine there was falling a steady1 dismal rain2 the clouds bent low1 and looked like lead2 the wind was moaning in a dismal way1 that felt like a wail2 and nothing but umbrellas1 and water-proofs1 and rubber over-coats1 and dreariness1 were abroad4 ,the pretty1 summery school dress that ,marion had laid out to wear was hung sadly back in her wardrobe1 and the inevitable black alpaca came to the surface4 ,it seemed to her the symbol of her old life of dreariness1 which she imagined had gone from her4 ,it was not that she felt utterly dismal and desolate2 it was not that she had forgotten her late experiences2 it was not that she did not know that she had the ,friend who is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever2 it was simply that she could not feel it1 and joy in it as she had done only yesterday2 and her religious life was too recent not to be swayed by feeling and impulse4 ,the fact that there was a clear sun shining above the clouds1 and a strong and firm mountain up in the sunshine1 on which it was her privilege to stand1 despite what was going on below1 she did not understand4 ,she did not know what effect the weather and the sense of fatigue were having on her1 and she felt not only mortified1 but alarmed1 that her joy had so soon gone out in cloud and gloom4 ,if she could only just run around the corner to see ,eurie a minute1 or up the hill to ,flossy's home1 how much it would help her2 and the thought that she was actually looking to ,flossy ,shipley and ,eurie ,mitchell for help of any sort brought the first smile that she had indulged in that morning2 she was certainly changed when she could look to them for comfort or sympathy4 ,is there anyone reading this account of an every day life who does not understand1 by past experience1 just how trying a first day at school is1 when teachers and scholars have come out from the influence of a long summer vacation8 ,next week1 or even to-morrow1 they will have battled with1 and1 in a measure1 choked the spirit of disgust1 or homesickness1 or weariness1 with which they come back from play to work2 but to-day nothing seems quite so hard in all the world as to turn from the hundred things that have interested and delighted them1 and settle down to grammar1 and philosophy1 and algebra4 ,teachers and scholars alike are apt to feel the depression of such circumstances2 and when you add to the other discomforts1 that of a steady1 pouring rain1 with a sound of fall in every whiff of wind1 you will understand that ,marion was to have comparatively little help from outside influences4 ,she felt the gloom in her heart deepen as the day went on4 ,she was astonished and mortified at herself to find that the old feelings of irritability and sharpness still held her in grasp2 she was not free from them1 at least4 ,her tongue was as strongly tempted to be sarcastic1 and her tone to be stern1 as ever they had been4 ,none of the scholars helped her4 ,those of them who were neither gloomy1 nor listless1 nor inclined to be cross1 were simply silly2 they laughed on every possible occasion1 with or without an excuse2 they devised ways and means to draw off the attention of these who made faint efforts to be studious2 and1 in short1 were decidedly the most provoking of all the elements of the day4 ,marion found herself more than once curling her lip in the old sarcastic way at the inconsistencies and improprieties of those among her pupils who bore the name of ,christian4 ,during the long recess she tried to go away by herself1 in the hope that her heart might quiet down1 and rest itself on some of the new and solid ground on which she had so lately learned to tread4 ,but they followed her3 several of the teachers1 in a gayety of mood1 that was half affected to hide the homesickness of their hearts1 and therefore infected no one else with a cheerful spirit4 ,they were armed with a package of examination papers1 given in by those scholars who aspired to a higher grade4 ,they loudly called on ,marion for assistance4 ,you haven't had a single examination class yet2 then it is clearly your duty to help the afflicted4 ',bear ye one another's burdens1' you know4 ,it was ,miss ,banks who said this1 and she had barely escaped being ,marion's intimate friend2 as it was1 she came nearer being familiar with her than with any other4 ,she wondered now how it could have been that she had liked her6 ,her voice sounded so shrill and unwinning1 and the quotation that she so glibly uttered was such a jar4 ,however1 she turned back with a wan attempt at a smile1 and said3 ,i shall have enough examination papers of my own before night4 ,how do yours range8 ,and she took half a dozen that were reached out to her4 ,they range precisely as if we had a parcel of idiots in our care4 ,the blunders that these aspiring young ladies and gentlemen make in orthography are enough to set one's teeth on edge4 ,orthography6 said ,marion1 with a curling lip4 ,they are years too old for any such common-place as that2 it must be history1 at least4 ,here is ,allie ,march struggling for the advanced history class1 and ,i venture to say she doesn't know who was ,president four years ago4 ,and then ,marion suddenly remembered that ,allie ,march was the one whom1 in her glorified moments of only the day before she had aspired to help forward in her ,christian life4 ,if she had seen that sneer and heard those sharp words would it have helped her1 or inclined her ever to look that way for help8 ,then ,marion and the rest gave themselves to silence and to work4 ,what is the prospect for promotion8 ,prof4 ,easton said1 as he came and leaned over the desk before which they worked4 ,miss ,banks looked up with a laugh4 ,it reminds one of one's childhood and ,scripture learning days3 ',many are called1 but few are chosen4' ,there will be exceedingly few chosen from this class4 ,why did those ,bible quotations so jar ,marion8 ,it had been one of her weak points to quote them aptly1 and with stinging sarcasm4 ,perhaps that was one reason why she so keenly felt their impropriety now2 she had been so long among the called1 and so very recently among the chosen4 ,the possibility of having spent a lifetime without ever becoming one of those chosen ones1 seemed so fearful to her1 and she felt that she had so narrowly escaped that end1 that she shivered and drew her little shawl around her as she glanced up quickly at ,prof4 ,easton4 ,he was a ,christian man1 a member of the ,first ,church--would he have any reply to make to this irreverent application of solemn truth8 ,no1 he had only a laugh for reply2 it might have been at ,miss ,banks' rueful face that he laughed2 but ,marion would have liked him better if he had looked grave4 ,miss ,banks at that moment caught a glimpse of ,marion's grave face4 ,miss ,wilbur1 she said1 quickly1 what on earth can have happened to you during vacation8 ,i never in my life saw you look so solemn4 ,didn't ,i hear something about your going to the woods to camp-meeting8 ,how was that8 ,i verily believe you spent your time on the anxious-seat1 and have caught the expression4 ,did you find anyone to say to you1 ',come unto me8' ,i'm sure you 'labor' hard enough1 and look 'heavy laden1' doesn't she1 ,prof4 ,easton8 ,i really think we shall have to start a prayer-meeting over her4 ,marion threw down the paper she was correcting with a nervous start1 and her voice sounded sharper than she meant4 ,how is it possible1 ,miss ,banks1 that you can repeat those words in such a shockingly irreverent way8 ,surely you profess to have at least a nominal respect for the ,one who first uttered them6 ,really6 said ,miss ,banks1 with an embarrassed laugh1 astonishment and confusion struggling for the mastery on her flushed face4 ',is ,saul also among the prophets8' ,there6 ,i declare1 ,i am quoting again4 ,is that wicked1 too8 ,prof4 ,easton1 how is that8 ,miss ,wilbur has been to camp-meeting1 and is not responsible for her words1 but you ought to be good authority4 ,is it wicked for me to quote ,scripture8 ,haven't ,i as good a right to ,bible verses as any of you8 ,here has ,miss ,wilbur been giving us lessons in that art for the last two years1 and she suddenly deserts and takes to preaching at us4 ,is that fair1 now8 ,if it were not wicked ,i might say to her1 ',physician1 heal thyself4' ,marion bestowed a quick1 searching1 almost pleading glance on ,prof4 ,easton1 and then looked down with a flushed and disappointed face4 ,he was not equal to a bold spreading of his professed colors4 ,he laughed1 not easily1 or as if he enjoyed the sharp words veiled so thinly by pleasantry1 but as if he were in an awkward position1 and did not see his way out4 ,you were just a little hard on ,miss ,wilbur in your selections1 you must remember1 he said at last4 ,people can always be excused for more or less sombreness on the first day of the term4 ,and then he went away hurriedly1 as if he desired to avoid anything further in that strain4 ,hard on ,miss ,wilbur8 ,did he suppose she cared for such vapid nonsense8 ,what surprised and hurt her was that he so utterly ignored the question at issue4 ,did he1 a professed ,christian of many years' standing1 see no impropriety in this manner of quoting the very words of the ,lord himself6 or hadn't he sufficient moral courage to rebuke it8 ,either conclusion was distasteful2 especially distasteful to her1 ,marion found1 because the one in question was ,prof4 ,easton4 ,hitherto she had held him a little above the ordinary4 ,was he then so very common after all8 ,this little occurrence did not serve to sweeten her day4 ,the more so1 that after she had quieted down a little1 at noon1 she tried to join the other teachers as usual1 and felt an air of stiffness1 or embarrassment1 or unnaturalness1 of some sort1 in their manner to her4 ,twice1 as she came toward them1 ,miss ,banks1 who was talking volubly1 hushed into sudden and utter silence4 ,after that1 ,marion went into the upper hall and ate her lunch by herself4 ,matters grew worse1 rather than better1 as the afternoon session dragged its slow hours along4 ,the air of the school-room seemed close and unbearable1 and the moment a window was raised the driving rain rushed in and tormented the victim who sat nearest to it4 ,poor ,marion1 who was as susceptible to the temperature of rooms as a thermometer1 tried each window in succession during the afternoon1 and came to the desperate conclusion that the rain came from all quarters of the leaden sky at once4 ,the spirit of unrest that pervaded the room grew into positive lawlessness as the day waned1 and ,marion's tone had taken even unusual sharpness2 her self-command was giving way4 ,instead of helping1 she had been positively an injury to ,allie ,march2 first by the sharpness of her reprimands1 and then by sarcastic comments on her extreme dullness4 ,but the girl who had tried her the most during the entire day was the most brilliant1 and1 as a rule1 the most studious scholar in her room4 ,every teacher knows that the good scholar who occasionally makes a failure is the one who exasperates the most2 you are so utterly unprepared for anything but perfection on that one's part4 ,not that ,gracie ,dennis was perfect2 she was by far too noisy and decided for that2 but she was1 as a rule1 lady-like in her manners and words1 showing her careful teaching and her own sense of self-respect4 ,there had been little sympathy1 however1 between ,marion and herself4 ,she was too much like ,marion in a haughty independence of manner to ever become that lady's favorite4 ,why1 as to that1 ,i am not sure that she had a favorite2 there were many who liked her1 and all respected her1 but no one thought of expressing outright affection for ,miss ,wilbur4 ,as for ,grace ,dennis1 she had come nearer to outwitting her teacher than had any other young lady in the room1 and she stood less in awe of her4 ,on this particular day the spirit of disquiet seemed to have gotten entire possession of the girl2 she had not given fifteen minutes to downright work1 but had dawdled and lounged in a most exasperating manner1 and at times exhibited a dullness that was very hard to bear patiently1 because ,marion felt so certain that it was either feigned or the result of willful inattention4 ,several times had ,marion to speak decidedly to the young ladies in her seat1 once or twice directly to ,grace herself1 and at last1 losing all patience with her1 she took decided measures4 ,miss ,dennis1 ,i really have something to do besides watch you all the time4 ,if you please you may bring your book to the desk and take the seat beside me2 then if you must whisper1 ,i can afford you a special audience4 ,what an unheard of thing6 ,grace ,dennis actually called to the platform1 to the post of disgrace6 ,the leading young lady in the school6 and ,rev4 ,dr4 ,dennis' only daughter6 ,some of the scholars looked aghast2 some of the class who had long envied her were rude and cruel enough to indulge in an audible giggle4 ,as for ,grace herself1 hardly any one could have been more amazed4 ,it was many a day since1 with all her love of fun1 and her dangerous position as a leader1 she had been obliged to receive a public reprimand2 she had never in her life been called to that public seat1 which was but one remove from being sent to ,prof4 ,easton's private office6 ,her great handsome eyes dilated and flashed1 and her cheeks glowed like fire4 ,she half arose1 then sat down again1 and the school waited breathlessly1 being about equally divided as to whether she would obey or rebel4 ,marion herself was somewhat in doubt1 and in her excitement over the unwonted scene1 concluded to make obedience a necessity4 ,on the second thought1 you may have your choice1 ,miss ,dennis2 you may come to the desk or repair at once to ,prof4 ,easton's room1 and state the cause of your appearance4 ,again the hateful giggle6 ,there were those who knew why being sent to ,prof4 ,easton was the worst thing that ,gracie ,dennis thought could happen to her4 ,she arose again1 and now she had the advantage of her teacher1 for there were dignity and composure in her voice as she said3 ,i believe ,i have never disobeyed your orders1 ,miss ,wilbur2 ,i certainly do not propose to do so now4 ,then she came with composed step and took her seat beside ,marion3 but her eyes still glittered1 and1 as the business of the hour went on more quietly than any hour that had preceded it1 ,marion1 as she caught glimpses now and then of the face bent over her ,latin ,grammar1 saw that it was flushed almost to a purple hue1 and that the intense look in those handsome eyes did not quiet4 ,she had roused a dangerous spirit4 ,to add to the embarrassment and the keenness of her rebuke1 the door leading from the recitation room1 behind the platform1 suddenly opened1 and ,prof4 ,easton himself came around to speak to ,marion4 ,he paused in astonishment as he caught sight of the culprit beside her1 and for an instant was visibly embarrassed2 then he rallied1 and1 bowing slightly and very gravely1 passed her by1 and addressed ,marion in a low voice4 ,as for ,gracie1 she did not once lift her eyes after the first swift glance had assured her who the caller was4 ,i have made an enemy1 thought ,marion to herself1 as1 her own excitement beginning to subside1 she had time to reflect on whether she had done wisely4 ,she will never forgive me this public insult1 as she will choose to call it4 ,i see it in her handsome1 dangerous eyes4 ,and1 yet1 ,i can hardly see how ,i could have done otherwise8 ,if almost any of the others had given me half the provocation that she has to-day1 ,i should have sent them to ,prof4 ,easton1 without question4 ,why should ,i hesitate in her favor8 ,oh1 me1 what a miserable day it has been6 and ,i meant it to be such a good one6 ,i wonder if my ,christian life must be marked by such weary and ignominious failures as this8 ,gracie ,dennis is one of the ,christian 787 young ladies4 ,a lovely ,christian she has shown1 and1 if ,i am not mistaken1 will continue to show to me6 ,i wonder if it amounts to nothing but a name1 after all1 with the most of them8 ,and here ,marion stopped this train of thought1 because she suddenly remembered that she was now numbered among those on whom others were looking and wondering if their religion meant anything but name4 ,suppose that some had been looking at her in that light this day8 ,how would they have decided8 ,she found that she was not willing to be judged by the same rule that she was almost unconsciously applying to ,gracie ,dennis4 ,then she went back over the day1 and tried to discover wherein she had failed1 and how she might have done what would have been better4 ,could she not1 after all1 have gotten along without so severe and public a rebuke to this young girl at her side8 ,she knew her temperament well4 ,indeed it was--she confessed it to herself--a good deal like her own4 ,what would be a trifle to half the girls in the school1 what would be forgotten by the best of them in a day or two1 would burn in this girl's memory1 and affect her after life and manner1 almost in spite of herself--the more so1 because of that unfortunate call from ,prof4 ,easton4 ,marion knew by the swift glance which he gave at this strange situation that it meant something to him4 ,then it was doubly hard for ,gracie4 ,she began to feel sorry for her2 to wish that she might in some way smooth over the chasm that she had builded between them4 ,she is very young1 she said to herself1 with a little sigh4 ,i ought not to have expected such wonderful things of her4 ,i wish ,i had managed differently2 it is too late now2 ,i wonder how ,i shall get out of it all8 ,shall ,i just let her go home without saying anything8 ,all these troubled thoughts wandered through ,marion's brain during the intervals of quiet1 when nothing was heard save the scratch of pens1 for the entire room was engaged in a dictation exercise1 which was to determine their standing in the writing class4 ,at last there was quiet4 ,the demon of inattention had seemingly been exorcised or subdued1 for all were industriously at work1 and ,marion had a chance to rest from the alert watchfulness which had characterized the day4 ,all at work but ,gracie4 ,she still bent over her ,latin grammar4 ,she had not asked permission to join the dictation class1 and ,marion had not volunteered it4 ,truth to tell1 she hardly dared venture to address her at all4 ,the eyes had lost none of their keen flash1 and the color seemed to be deepening1 instead of subsiding on her pretty soft cheeks4 ,marion1 as her eyes roved over the exercise book in her hand1 felt her heart arrested by these words among the selections for dictation3 ,bear ye one another's burdens1 and so fulfill the law of ,christ4 ,they smote her like a blow from an unseen hand4 ,what burdens of homesickness and ennui and weariness might not all these girls have had to bear to-day6 ,had she helped them8 ,had her manner been winning and hopeful and invigorating8 ,had her words been gentle and well chosen1 as well as firm and decisive8 ,her answers to these questions stung her4 ,moved by a sudden impulse1 and not giving herself time to shrink from the determination1 she bent forward a little and addressed ,gracie3 ,read that1 ,gracie4 ,i have not obeyed its direction to-day2 have you8 ,do you think you have helped me to bear my burdens8 ,would ,gracie answer her at all8 ,would her answer be cold and haughty2 as nearly rude as she had dared to make it8 ,marion felt her heart throb while she waited4 ,and she had to wait1 for ,gracie was utterly silent4 ,at last her teacher stole a glance at her4 ,the great beautiful eyes were lifted to her face4 ,the flash was passing out of them4 ,in its place there was a puzzled1 wondering1 questioning look4 ,and1 when at last she spoke1 her voice was timid1 as if she were half frightened at her own words1 and yet eager as one who must know3 ,miss ,wilbur1 you don't mean--oh1 do you mean that you want to fulfill the law of ,christ2 that you own him8 ,that ,i own him and love him1 ,marion said1 her cheeks glowing now as ,gracie's did1 and that ,i want above all things1 to fulfill his law1 and yet that ,i have miserably failed1 even this first day4 ,among ,marion's sad thoughts that day had been3 ,there is no one to know1 or to care1 whether ,i am different or not4 ,if ,i could only tell some one--some ,christian who would be glad--but who is there to tell8 ,prof4 ,easton is a ,christian1 but he doesn't care enough about the ,lord ,jesus to rebuke those who profane his name2 he has let me do it in his presence1 and smiled at my wit4 ,and these girls 7and here ,marion's lip had curled71 they don't know what they mean by their professions4 ,she was unprepared for what followed4 ,gracie ,dennis1 graceful1 queenly in her dignity1 and haughty1 even in her mirth1 said1 suddenly1 in a voice which quivered with gladness3 ,oh1 ,i am so glad2 so glad6 ,oh1 ,miss ,wilbur1 ,i don't know how to be thankful enough6 ,and then she raised her head suddenly1 and her glowing lips just touched ,marion's cheek4 ,it was so unusual for ,marion to be kissed4 ,her friends at ,chautauqua had been those who rarely indulged in that sort of caress--never1 at least1 with her4 ,and1 while1 as ,i told you1 many of them liked1 and all of them respected her1 it was yet an unheard of thing for the scholars to caress ,miss ,wilbur4 ,and then1 too1 ,gracie ,dennis was by no means lavish of her kisses4 ,this made the token seem so much more4 ,it felt almost like a benediction4 ,gracie's next words were humbling to her3 ,miss ,wilbur1 will you forgive me8 ,i didn't mean to annoy you4 ,i don't know what has been the matter with me4 ,but1 long before this1 the last laggard had finished her line1 and was staring in undisguised astonishment at the scene enacted on the platform4 ,marion rallied her excited thoughts4 ,dear child1 she said1 we have each something to forgive4 ,i think ,i have been too severe with you4 ,we will try to help each other to-morrow4 ,then she gave the next sentence as calmly as usual4 ,but she went home that night1 through the rain1 with a quick step and with joy in her heart4 ,it was not all profession4 ,it meant something to those girls2 to ,grace ,dennis it meant everything4 ,it was enough to make her forget her passion1 and her wounded pride1 and to make her face actually radiant with joy4 ,it should mean more to her4 ,she had failed that day4 ,she had not been1 in any sense1 what she meant to be2 what she ought to have been4 ,but there was a blessed verse3 ,who forgiveth all thine iniquities4 ,what a salvation6 ,able to forgive transgression1 to cover sin1 to remember it no more4 ,it all seemed very natural to her to-night2 very like an infinite ,saviour2 one infinitely loving4 ,she began to realize that even poor human love could cover a multitude of sins4 ,how easy it seemed to her that it would be to overlook the mistakes and shortcomings of ,gracie ,dennis1 after this6 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,col4 ,,baker',s ,,sabbath ,,evening4 ,,among ,marion ,wilbur's gloomy thoughts during that trying ,monday were these3 ,some lives are a good deal harder to bear than others4 ,it would be nonsense for some people to talk about crosses4 ,there are ,ruth and ,flossy2 what do they know about annoyances or self-denials8 ,such homes as theirs and such occupations as theirs have very little in common with hard1 uncongenial work such as mine4 ,eurie ,mitchell has less easy times2 but then it is home1 and father1 and mother1 and family friends4 ,she isn't all alone4 ,none of them can sympathize with me4 ,i don't see how ,flossy ,shipley is ever to grow1 if 'crosses are a fruitful condition of the ,christian life4' ,i'm sure she can do as she pleases1 and when she pleases4 ,thus much ,marion knew about other lives than hers4 ,the actual truth was that ,flossy's shadows began on ,sabbath evening1 while ,marion was yet on the heights4 ,it was just as they stepped from the aisle of the church into the wide hall that ,col4 ,baker joined her4 ,this was not a new experience4 ,he was very apt to join her4 ,no other gentleman had been a more frequent or more enjoyable guest at her father's house4 ,indeed1 he was so familiar that he was as likely to come on the ,sabbath as on any other day1 and was often in the habit of calling to accompany ,flossy to any evening service where there was to be a little grander style of music than usual1 or a special floral display4 ,in fact he had called this very evening on such an errand1 but it was after ,flossy had gone to her own church4 ,so her first meeting with him since ,chautauqua experiences was in that hall belonging to the ,first ,church4 ,good-evening1 he said1 joining her without the formality of a question as to whether it would be agreeable2 his friendship was on too assured a footing for the need of that formality4 ,you are more than usually devoted to the ,first ,church1 are you not8 ,i saw you in the family pew this morning4 ,i felt certain of being in time to take you to the ,south ,side to-night4 ,st4 ,stephen's ,church has a grand choral service this evening4 ,i was in at one of the rehearsals1 and it promised to be an unusually fine thing4 ,i am disappointed that you did not hear it4 ,here began ,flossy's unhappiness4 ,neither ,marion nor ,ruth could have appreciated it4 ,to either of those it would have been an actual satisfaction to have said to ,col4 ,baker1 in a calm and superior tone of voice3 ,thanks for your kindness1 but ,i have decided to attend my own church service regularly after this1 and would therefore not have been able to accompany you if ,i had been at home4 ,but for ,flossy such an explanation was simply dreadful4 ,it was so natural1 and would have been so easy1 to have murmured a word of regret at her absence1 and expressed disappointment in having missed the choral4 ,but for that address to the children1 given under the trees at ,chautauqua1 by ,dr4 ,hurlbut1 she would have said these smooth1 sweet-sounding words as sweetly as usual1 without a thought of conscience4 ,but had not he shown her1 as plainly as though he had looked down into her heart and seen it there1 that these pleasant1 courteous phrases which are so winning and so false were among her besetting sins8 ,had he not put her forever on her guard concerning them8 ,had she not promised to wage solemn war against the tendency to so sin with her graceful tongue8 ,yet how she dreaded the plain speaking6 ,how would ,marion's lips have curled over the idea of such a small matter as that being a cross6 ,and yet ,flossy could have been sweet and patient and tender to the listless1 homesick school-girls1 and kissed away half their gloom1 and thought it no cross at all4 ,verily there is a difference in these crosses1 and verily1 every heart knoweth its own bitterness4 ,col4 ,baker was loth to leave the subject3 ,aren't you being unusually devout to-day8 he asked4 ,i heard of you at ,sabbath-school ,i was certain after that effort1 ,i should find you at home1 resting4 ,what spell came over you to give the ,first ,church so much of your time8 ,one would think1 to hear you1 that ,i never went to church on ,sabbath evening1 ,flossy said4 ,and then to a certain degree conscience triumphed4 ,i have not been very often1 it is true2 but ,i intend to reform in that respect in the future4 ,i mean to go whenever ,i can1 and ,i mean to go always to the ,first ,church4 ,col4 ,baker looked at her curiously in the moonlight4 ,is that an outgrowth of your experience in the woods8 he asked4 ,yes1 ,flossy said simply and bravely4 ,he longed to question further1 to quiz her a little1 but something in the tone of the monosyllable prevented4 ,so he said3 ,i am at least surprised at part of the decision4 ,i thought part of the work of those gatherings was to teach fellowship and unity4 ,why should you desert other churches8 ,there is no desertion about it4 ,i do not belong to other churches1 and nobody has reason to expect me at any of them2 but my pastor has a right to expect me to be in my pew4 ,oh2 then it is the accident of the first choice that must determine one's sitting in church for all future time8 ,with me it has been only an accident1 she said1 simply4 ,i suppose there are people who had better reasons for selecting their church home4 ,but ,i am very well satisfied with my place4 ,and then ,flossy was very glad that they were nearing her father's house4 ,the gladness did not last1 however4 ,there hung over it another cross4 ,this ,col4 ,baker had been in the habit of being invited to enter1 and of spending an hour or more in cosy chat with the family4 ,nothing confidential or special in these ,sabbath evening calls2 they seemed simply to serve to pass away a dull hour4 ,they had been pleasant to ,flossy4 ,but it so happened that the hours of the ,sabbath had grown precious to her2 none of them were dull2 every moment of them was needed4 ,besides1 in their walk up the hill from the auditorium one evening1 ,evan ,roberts had said in answer to a wonderment from her that so little was accomplished by the ,sabbath services throughout the land3 ,i think one reason is the habit that so many people have of frittering a way any serious impression or solemn thought they may have had by a stream of small talk in which they indulge with their own family or their intimate friends1 after what they call the ,sabbath is past4 ,do you know there are hundreds of people1 good1 well-meaning--in fact1 ,christians--who seem to think that the old ,puritan rules in regard to hours hold yet1 in part4 ,it begins at eight or nine o'clock1 when they have their nap out2 and at the very latest it closes with the minister's benediction after the second service2 and they laugh and talk on the way home and at home as if the restraints of the day were over at last4 ,how precisely he had described the ,sabbath day of the ,shipley family4 ,with what a sense of relief had she often sat and chatted with ,col4 ,baker at the close of what had been to her an irksome day1 and felt that at last the sense of propriety would not be shocked if they laughed and bantered each other as usual4 ,things were different now4 ,but poor ,flossy's face flushed1 and her heart beat hard over the trial of not asking ,col4 ,baker to come in4 ,silly child6 ,ruth would have said1 and her calm1 clear voice would not have hesitated over the words2 ,col4 ,baker1 ,i can not ask you in this evening1 because ,i have determined to receive no more calls1 even from intimate friends1 on the ,sabbath4 ,on any other evening ,i shall be happy to see you4 ,as for ,marion1 she would have decidedly enjoyed saying it4 ,but ,flossy1 she could never have explained it to him4 ,her voice would have trembled too much1 and her heart beat too hard4 ,the very most that she could do was to keep her lips closed4 ,no invitation from her should pass them1 and this in itself was five times more of a cross than it would have been for either of the others to have spoken4 ,however1 it did no good4 ,col4 ,baker's friendship was on too assured a footing to wait for ceremony4 ,he had received too many invitations of that nature to even notice the omission now4 ,though ,flossy paused and turned toward him he did not notice it1 but himself opened the door for her and passed in at her side1 talking still about some matter connected with his plans for the evening1 that had been overthrown by her strange propensity for church4 ,she did not hear him at all2 she was both grieved and annoyed4 ,if only she dared go directly to her room6 ,if she had been ,ruth ,erskine it would have been done in a moment4 ,they sat down in the back parlor1 and it was made evident to ,flossy that the entertainment of ,col4 ,baker would be considered her special duty4 ,the library door was closed1 and the sound of subdued voices there told that ,kitty ,shipley and her suitor were having a confidential talk4 ,kitty wouldn't help1 then4 ,mrs4 ,shipley had retired1 and ,mr4 ,shipley sat at the drop light reading the journal4 ,he glanced up at their entrance1 gave ,col4 ,baker the courteous and yet familiar greeting that welcomed him as a special friend of the house1 and then went on with his reading4 ,as for her brother ,charlie1 he had not come in1 and probably would not for hours to come4 ,what was there for ,flossy to do but to take a seat and talk to ,col4 ,baker8 ,yet how she shrank from it6 ,she wanted to be alone1 to go over in her heart all the sweet and blessed experiences of the day1 for this day had helped her much4 ,she wanted to think about those boys in the school1 and form plans for their future1 and try to decide whether it could be that they would really like her for a teacher1 and whether ,dr4 ,dennis would let her undertake the class4 ,why would not ,col4 ,baker go home8 ,what is the matter with you8 he asked1 studying her face curiously1 and with a doubtful sound in his voice4 ,i don't believe that strange freak of yours did you any good4 ,it did me more good than anything that ever happened to me in my life1 ,flossy said1 positively4 ,if she could only have explained to him just what the nature of that good was6 ,possibly she might have tried1 only there sat her father4 ,who could tell when his interest in the ,times would cease1 and he give attention to her8 ,flossy could not understand why she should be so afraid of her father in this matter2 but she was very much afraid4 ,the talk they had was of that kind known as small4 ,to ,flossy it seemed exceedingly small1 and she did not know how to make it otherwise4 ,she began to wonder if she and ,col4 ,baker really had any ideas in common2 yet ,col4 ,baker could talk with gentlemen1 and talk well4 ,it was simply the habit of being frippery with the ladies that made his words seem so foolish to ,flossy4 ,contrary to her expectation1 her brother ,charlie suddenly appeared on the scene2 and for a time she was privileged to slip into the background4 ,charlie had been to hear the choral1 and ,col4 ,baker was very anxious to know as to its success4 ,you would have supposed them to be talking about a prima donna concert4 ,at last ,charlie turned to ,flossy with the trying question3 ,sis1 why didn't you go to the choral8 ,i thought you were coming for her1 ,baker4 ,didn't you tell me so8 ,i came1 but was too late4 ,miss ,flossy had already betaken herself to the ,first ,church4 ,so you missed the choral8 ,well1 only part of it4 ,i went for an hour2 then ,i left1 and went in search of your sister1 to discover if ,i could what special attractions ,first ,church had for her to-night4 ,now this fashion of going to one service until he was tired1 and then quietly slipping out in search of something more attractive1 was peculiar to ,col4 ,baker4 ,flossy had known of his doing it on several different occasions4 ,the very most that she had thought about it had been1 that it was making one's self very conspicuous4 ,she didn't believe she would like to do it1 even if she were a man4 ,but to-night the action had taken an irreverent shade that it never had before4 ,she discovered that she utterly disapproved of it4 ,there seemed to be many things in ,col4 ,baker that met with her disapproval4 ,meantime the talk went on4 ,did you find the attraction8 ,charlie asked4 ,col4 ,baker shrugged his handsome shoulders4 ,i confess ,i couldn't find it in the sermon4 ,it was one of the ,doctor's sharpest and bluest efforts4 ,that poor man has the dyspepsia1 ,i feel certain4 ,seems to me he develops an increased ability for making people miserable4 ,now1 ,col4 ,baker fully expected to draw forth by this remark one of ,flossy's silvery laughs1 which1 to tell the truth1 were becoming sweeter to his ears than any choral4 ,he was surprised and annoyed at the steady look of thoughtful1 not to say distressed gravity that she gave him out of those soft blue eyes of hers4 ,he did not know what to make of this ,flossy2 he was feeling the change in her more decidedly than anyone else had done4 ,he waited for ,flossy's answer1 and she gave it at last1 in a grave1 rebuking tone of voice3 ,i liked the sermon very much4 ,did you1 indeed8 ,i confess ,i am astonished4 ,i gave you the credit of possessing a more tender heart4 ,frankly1 then1 ,i didn't4 ,i must say ,i don't like to go to church to be made uncomfortable4 ,did you find that sentence in the paper8 ,flossy asked1 a little gleam of mischief in her eyes4 ,because1 if you did1 ,i should have thought you would have considered it answered very well by the comments4 ,as a rule1 ,i am not obliged to resort to the papers to find remarks to quote1 ,col4 ,baker said1 with an attempt at gayety1 which but half concealed the evident annoyance that he felt4 ,but ,i judge the paper found some one suffering in the same way4 ,pray1 what was the answer8 ,why1 the writer said that he supposed no one liked to be uncomfortable2 but whether it was the sermon that should change1 or the life1 in order to remove the discomfort1 was a question for each to decide for himself4 ,sharp6 said ,charlie1 laughing2 you've got hit1 ,baker4 ,oh1 no1 he said1 not at all4 ,don't you see1 the author kindly accorded permission for each person to decide the question for himself8 ,now ,i have it decided so far as ,i am concerned4 ,i prefer a change in the sermon4 ,oh1 ,dr4 ,dennis is a good man2 no one doubts it2 but he is too severe a sermonizer4 ,his own church officers admit that4 ,he is really driving the young people away from the church4 ,i should not be greatly surprised if there had to be a change in that locality very soon4 ,the spirit of the times demands more liberality1 and a larger measure of ,christian charity4 ,col4 ,baker was really too well educated a man to have allowed himself to use these terms parrot-like1 without knowledge or thought as to their meaning2 but the truth was1 he cared so little about church and ,christian charity1 and all those phrases1 as to have very little idea of what he meant himself when he used them4 ,but pretty little ,flossy had never argued with him1 never been known to argue with anybody4 ,why should he not occasionally awe her with his high sounding words8 ,it is a pity that ,ruth or ,marion had not been there to take up the theme2 and yet it is doubtful if arguments would have had any weight with him4 ,the truth was1 he did not need to be convinced4 ,probably ,flossy's perfect gravity1 and dignity1 and silence1 did more to answer him than any keen words could have done4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,v4 ,,new ,,music4 ,,charlie arose suddenly and went toward the piano4 ,things were becoming uncomfortably grave4 ,sis1 he said1 can't you give us some new music8 ,try this new piece2 ,baker hasn't heard you sing it4 ,i don't think it is remarkable1 but it is better than none4 ,we seem to have a very small list of music that will pass the orthodox line for ,sunday use4 ,both he and ,flossy had sighed over the dearth of pretty things that were suited to ,sunday4 ,the one in question was one of the worst of its kind--one of that class which ,satan seems to have been at work getting up1 for the purpose of lulling to rest weak consciences4 ,sickly1 sentimental ideas1 expressed in words that are on the very verge of silly2 and yet1 with just enough solemn sounding phrases in them1 thrown in here and there1 to allow them to be caught up by a certain class1 and pronounced sacred song4 ,flossy had herself selected this one1 and before her departure for ,chautauqua had pronounced it very good4 ,she had not looked at it since she came home4 ,charlie spread it open for her on the piano1 then returned to the sofa to enjoy the music4 ,flossy's voice was sweet and tender2 no power in it1 and little change of feeling1 but pleasant to listen to1 and capable of being tender and pathetic4 ,she looked over the sacred song with a feeling of aversion almost amounting to disgust4 ,the pitiful attempts at religion sounded to her recently impressed heart almost like a caricature4 ,on the piano beside her lay a copy of ,gospel ,songs2 open1 so it happened 7871 at the blessed and solemn hymn1 ,how much owest thou8 ,now a coincidence that seemed remarkable1 and at once startled and impressed ,flossy1 was that ,dr4 ,dennis' text for the evening had been the words1 ,how much owest thou unto my ,lord8 ,she hesitated just a moment1 then she resolutely pushed aside the sheet music1 drew the book toward her1 and without giving herself time for a prelude1 gave herself to the beautiful and well-remembered words3 ,how much owest thou8 ,for years of tender1 watchful care1 ,a father's faith1 a mother's prayer-- ,how much owest thou8 ,how much owest thou8 ,for calls1 and warnings loud and plain1 ,for songs and sermons heard in vain-- ,how much owest thou8 ,how much owest thou8 ,thy day of grace is almost o'er1 ,the judgment time is just before-- ,how much owest thou8 ,how much owest thou8 ,oh1 child of ,god1 and heir of heaven1 ,thy soul redeemed1 thy sins forgiven-- ,how much owest thou8 ,flossy had heard ,mr4 ,bliss1 with his grand and glorious voice1 ring that out on a certain evening at ,chautauqua1 where all the associations of the hour and place had been solemn and sacred4 ,it might have been in part these memories1 and the sense of something missed1 that made her have a homesick longing for the place and song again1 that gave to her voice an unusually sweet and plaintive sound4 ,every word was plain and clear1 and wonderfully solemn2 but when she reached the words1 ,oh1 child of ,god1 and heir of heaven1 ,thy soul redeemed1 thy sins forgiven1 ,there rang out a note of triumph that filled the room1 and made the hearts of her listeners throb with surprise and wonder4 ,long before the song was closed her father had laid aside the ,times1 and1 with spectacles pushed above his eyes1 was listening intently4 ,absolute silence reigned for a moment1 as ,flossy's voice died out in sweetness2 then ,charlie1 clearing his throat said3 ,well1 ,i van6 ,i said ,i didn't consider the song remarkable4 ,but ,i take it back2 it is certainly remarkable4 ,did you ever hear anything that had so changed since you last met it8 ,col4 ,baker did not at once reply4 ,the very first line had struck him1 for the reason that above most men1 he had reason to remember a mother's prayer4 ,there were circumstances connected with that mother of his that made the line doubly startling to him4 ,he was agitated by the wonderful directness of the solemn words1 and he was vexed that they agitated him2 so when he did speak1 to conceal his feeling1 he made his voice flippant4 ,it is a remarkable production1 worthy of camp-meeting1 ,i should say4 ,but1 ,miss ,flossy1 allow me to congratulate you4 ,it was sung with striking effect4 ,flossy arose suddenly from the piano1 and closed the book of hymns4 ,col4 ,baker1 she said1 may ,i ask you to excuse me this evening8 ,i find ,i am not in a mood to enjoy conversation2 my brother will entertain you1 ,i am sure4 ,and before ,col4 ,baker could recover from his astonishment sufficiently to make any reply at all1 she had given him a courteous bow for good-night1 and escaped from the room4 ,the situation was discussed by the ,shipley family at the next morning's breakfast table4 ,flossy had come down a trifle late1 looking pale and somewhat sober1 and was rallied by ,kitty as to the cause4 ,her conscience is troubling her a little1 ,i fancy1 her father said1 eyeing her closely from under heavy brows4 ,weren't you just a little hard on the colonel1 last night1 daughter8 ,he is willing to endure considerable from you1 ,i guess2 but ,i wouldn't try him too far4 ,what was the trouble1 father8 ,what has ,flossy done now8 ,i thought she was going to be good at last8 ,done6 ,you may well ask what1 ,miss ,kitty4 ,suppose the friend you had shut up in the library had been informed suddenly that you were not in a mood to talk with him1 and then you had decamped and left him to the tender mercies of two men8 ,why1 ,flossy ,shipley6 you didn't do that1 did you8 ,really1 if ,i were ,col4 ,baker ,i would never call on you again4 ,i don't see the harm1 ,flossy said1 simply4 ,father and ,charlie were both there4 ,surely that was company enough for him4 ,i hadn't invited him to call4 ,oh1 undoubtedly he calls on purpose to see father and ,charlie6 ,he has not been so attentive to the family during your absence1 ,i can assure you4 ,we haven't so much as had a peep at him since you went away4 ,flossy1 ,i hadn't an idea you could be so rude4 ,i declare1 ,i think that ,wilbur girl is demoralizing you4 ,they say she has no idea of considering people's feelings2 but then1 one expects it of her class4 ,mrs4 ,shipley came to ,flossy's aid3 ,poor child1 ,i don't blame her for slipping away4 ,she was tired4 ,she had been to church twice1 and to ,sunday-school at noon1 without any lunch1 too4 ,flossy1 you mustn't indulge in such an absurd freak another ,sunday4 ,it is too much for you4 ,i am sure it is not strange that you wanted to get away to rest4 ,then the father3 ,i dare say you were tired1 as your mother says2 in fact1 though1 ,i must say ,i think ,i never saw you looking better than you were last evening4 ,but it was a trifle thoughtless1 daughter1 and ,i want you to be more careful in the future4 ,col4 ,baker's father was my oldest and most valued friend1 and ,i want his son to be treated with the utmost consideration1 and to feel that he is always welcome4 ,since he has so special a friendship for you1 you must just remember that his position in society is one of the highest1 and that you are really decidedly honored4 ,not that ,i am rebuking you1 ,flossy dear1 only putting you on your guard2 for remember that you carry a very thoughtless little head on your pretty shoulders4 ,and then he leaned over and patted the thoughtless head1 and gave the glowing cheek such a loving1 fatherly kiss4 ,as for poor ,flossy1 the bit of steak she was trying to swallow seemed to choke her2 she struggled bravely to keep back the tears that she felt were all ready to fall4 ,the way looked shadowy to her2 she felt like a deceitful coward4 ,here were they1 making excuses for her--tired1 thoughtless1 and the like4 ,oh1 for courage to say to them that she had not been tired at all1 and that she thought about that action of hers longer than she had thought about anything in her life1 up to a few weeks ago4 ,if she could only tell them out boldly and plainly that everything was changed to her1 that she looked at life from a different standpoint2 and that1 standing where she did now1 it looked all wrong to spend the last hours of the ,sabbath in entertaining company4 ,but her poor little tongue1 all unused to being brave1 so shrank from this ordeal1 and the lump in her throat so nearly choked her1 that she made no attempt at words4 ,so the shadows that had fallen on her heart grew heavier as she went about her pretty room4 ,she foresaw a troubled future4 ,not only must the explanation come1 but she foresaw that her changed plans would lie right athwart the views and plans of her father4 ,what endless trouble and discomfort would this occasion6 ,also1 there were her pet schemes for ,sunday-school1 including those boys for whom she had already planned a dozen different things4 ,her mother had frankly expressed her opinion1 and1 although it is not the age when parents say1 nor were ,flossy's parents of the sort who would ever have said1 ,you must do thus1 and you shall not do so1 still1 she foresaw endless discussions2 sarcastic raillery from ,kittie and ,charlie2 persuasions from her mother2 earnest protests from her father1 and a general air of lack of sympathy or interest about them all4 ,these things were to ,flossy almost more than1 under some circumstances1 the martyr's stake would have been to ,marion ,wilbur4 ,then she1 too1 as she went about doing sundry little things toward making her room more perfect in its order1 took up ,marion's fashion of pitying herself1 and looking longingly at the brightness in some other life4 ,not ,marion's1 for she was all alone1 and had great responsibilities1 and no one to shield her or help her or comfort her2 that was dreadful4 ,not ,ruth's1 for her life was so high up among books and paintings and grandeur1 that it looked like cold elegance and nothing else4 ,she wouldn't have lived that life2 but there was ,eurie ,mitchell1 in a little home that had always looked sunny and cheerful when she had taken occasional peeps into it--somewhat stirred up1 as became a large family and small means1 but with a cleanly1 cheery sort of stir that was agreeable rather than otherwise4 ,and there were little children to love and care for--children who put their arms around one's neck and said1 ,i love you1 a great many times in a day4 ,flossy1 having never tried it1 did not realize that if the fingers had been sticky or greasy or a trifle black1 as they were apt to be1 it would be an exceeding annoyance to her4 ,she saw what people usually do see about other people's cares and duties1 only the pretty1 pleasant side4 ,to have felt somewhat of the other side she should have spent that ,monday with ,eurie4 ,to ,eurie a ,monday rain was a positive affliction2 it necessitated the marshaling of tubs and pails into the little kitchen1 and the endurance of ,mrs4 ,maloney's presence in constant contact with the dinner arrangements--on pleasant days ,mrs4 ,maloney betook herself to the open air4 ,then1 in the ,mitchell family there was that trial to any woman of ordinary patience1 a small girl who helped--worked for her board mornings and evenings1 and played at school the rest of the time4 ,sallie ,whitcomb1 the creature who tried ,eurie1 was rather duller than the most of her class and had her days or spells when she seemed utterly incapable of understanding the ,english language4 ,this day was very apt to be ,monday2 and on the particular ,monday of which ,i write1 the spell was on her in full force4 ,to add to the bewilderments of the day1 ,dr4 ,mitchell1 after a very hurried breakfast1 had departed1 taking the household genius with him1 to see a patient and friend1 who was worse4 ,i don't know how you will manage1 ,mrs4 ,mitchell had said1 as she paid a hasty visit to the kitchen4 ,there is bread to mix1 you know1 and that yeast ought to be made to-day2 and then the starch you must look after or it will be lumpy2 and oh1 ,eurie1 do see that your father's handkerchiefs are all picked up1 he leaves them around so4 ,you must keep an eye on the baby1 for he is a trifle hoarse this morning2 and ,robbie mustn't go in the wind--mustn't eat a single apple1 for he isn't at all well2 you must see to that1 ,eurie--,i wouldn't have you forget him for anything4 ,see here1 when the baby takes a nap1 see that the lower sash is shut--there is quite a draught through the room4 ,i don't know how you are to get through4 ,you must keep ,jennie from school to take care of the children1 and do the best you can4 ,if ,mrs4 ,craymer hadn't sent for me ,i wouldn't go this morning1 much as ,i want to see her1 but ,i think ,i ought to1 as it is4 ,of course1 ,eurie said1 cheerily4 ,don't worry about us1 mother2 we'll get through somehow4 ,i'll see to ,mrs4 ,maloney and all the rest4 ,well1 be careful about the bread2 don't let it get too light1 and don't for anything put it in too soon3 it was a trifle heavy last week1 you know1 and your father dislikes it so4 ,never mind much about dinner2 your father will have to go to two or three places when he gets back from the ,valley1 and ,i can get up a warm bite for him while he is gone4 ,and with a little sigh1 and a regretful look back into the crowded1 steamy kitchen1 ,mrs4 ,mitchell answered her husband's hurried call and ran4 ,so ,eurie was left mistress of the occasion4 ,it looked like a mountain to her4 ,the dishes were piled higher than usual1 for the ,sabbath evening lunch had made many that had not been washed4 ,and ,sallie1 who should have been deep into them already1 was at that moment hanging on the gate she had gone to shut1 and watching the retreating tail of the doctor's horse4 ,sallie6 ,eurie called1 and ,sallie came1 looking bewildered and indolent1 eating an apple as she walked4 ,now1 ,sallie1 you must hurry with the dishes1 see how soon you can get them all out of the way4 ,i have the bread to mix and a dozen other things to do1 and ,i can't help you a bit4 ,at the same time she had an inward consciousness that the great army of dishes would never marshal into place till she came to their aid4 ,this was the beginning1 not a pleasant one1 and the bewilderments of the morning deepened with every passing half hour4 ,what happened8 ,dear me1 what didn't8 ,inexperienced ,eurie1 who rarely had the family bread left on her hands1 went to mixing it before getting baking tins ready1 and ,sallie left her dishes to attend to it1 and dripped dish-water over them and the molding-board and on ,eurie's clean apron1 in such an unmistakable manner1 that the annoyed young lady washed her hands of dough and dumped the whole pile of tins unceremoniously into the dish-water4 ,they are so greasy ,i can't touch them6 she said in disdain1 and have drops of dish-water all over them1 and besides here is the core of an apple in one4 ,i wonder1 ,sallie1 if you eat apples while you are washing the dishes6 ,put some wood in the stove4 ,jennie1 can't you come here and wipe these dishes8 ,we won't get them out of the way before mother comes home4 ,jenny appeared at the door1 book in hand4 ,how can ,i leave the baby1 ,eurie8 ,robbie says he can't play with him--he feels too sick4 ,i think something ought to be done for ,robbie2 his cheeks are as red as scarlet4 ,whereupon ,eurie left dishes and bread and went in to feel of ,robbie's pulse1 and ask how he felt1 and get a pillow for him to lie on the lounge2 and the baby cried for her and had to be taken a minute2 so the time went--time always goes like lightning in the kitchen on ,monday morning4 ,when that bread was finally set to rise1 ,eurie dismissed ,sallie from the dish-pan in disgust1 with orders to sweep the room1 if she could leave her apple long enough4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,disturbing ,,elements4 ,,the next anxiety was the baby1 who contrived to tumble himself over in his high chair1 and cried loudly4 ,eurie ran4 ,dr4 ,mitchell was always so troubled about bumps on the head4 ,she bathed this in cold water1 and in arnica1 and petted1 and soothed1 and pacified as well as she could a child who thought it a special and unendurable state of things not to have mamma and nobody else4 ,between the petting she administered wholesome reproof to ,jennie4 ,if you hadn't been reading1 instead of attending to him this would not have happened ,i wish ,i had told mother to lock up all the books before she went4 ,you are great help2 worth while to stay from school to bury yourself in a book4 ,i haven't read a dozen pages this morning1 ,jennie said1 with glowing cheeks4 ,he was sitting in his high chair1 just as he always is1 and ,i had stepped across the room to get a picture-book for ,robbie4 ,how could ,i know that he was going to fall8 ,i don't think you are very kind1 anyway1 when ,i am helping all that ,i can1 and losing school besides4 ,and ,miss ,jennie put on an air of lofty and injured innocence4 ,i believe she is sweeping right on the bread1 said ,eurie1 her thoughts turned into another channel4 ,go and see1 ,jennie4 ,jennie went1 and returned as full of comfort as any of ,job's friends4 ,she swept right straight at it2 and she left the door open1 and the wind blew the cloth off1 and a great hunk of dust and dirt lies right on top of one loaf1 and the clothes are boiling over on the others4 ,nice bread you'll have6 ,before this sentence was half finished1 ,eurie sat the baby on the floor and ran1 stopping only to give orders that ,jennie should not let him go to sleep for anything4 ,the door-bell was the next sound that tried her nerves4 ,the little parlor where they had lingered late1 she and ,nellis1 last evening1 when they had a pleasant talk together1 the pleasantest she had ever had with that brother2 now she remembered how it looked2 how he had said1 as he glanced back when they were leaving3 ,eurie1 ,i hope you won't have any special calls before you get around to this room in the morning2 it looks as though there had been an upheaval of books and papers here4 ,books1 and papers1 and dust1 and her hat and sack1 and ,jennie's gloves1 and ,robbie's play-things2 she had forgotten the parlor4 ,meantime1 ,jennie had rushed to the door1 and now returned1 holding the kitchen door open1 and talking loud enough to be heard distinctly in the parlor4 ,eurie1 ,leonard ,brooks is in the parlor4 ,he says he wants to see you for just a minute1 and ,i should think that is about as long as he would care to stay2 it looks like sixty in there4 ,oh1 dear me6 said ,eurie1 and she looked down at her dress4 ,it had long black streaks running diagonally across it1 and dish-water and grease combined on her apron2 a few drops of arnica on her sleeves and hands did not improve the general effect4 ,jennie1 why in the world didn't you tell him that ,i was engaged1 and couldn't see him this morning8 ,why1 how should ,i know that you wanted me to say so to people8 ,you didn't tell me4 ,he said he was in a hurry4 ,he isn't alone1 either2 there is a strange gentleman with him4 ,worse and worse4 ,i won't go1 said ,eurie4 ,but you will have to4 ,i told him you were at home1 and would be in in a moment4 ,go on1 what do you care8 ,there was no way but to follow this advice2 but she did care4 ,she set the starch back on the stove1 and washed her hands1 and waited while ,sallie ran up-stairs and hunted a towel2 then she went1 flushed and annoyed1 to the parlor4 ,leonard ,brooks was an old acquaintance1 but who was the stranger8 ,mr4 ,holden1 of ,new ,york1 ,leonard said4 ,they would detain her but a moment1 as she was doubtless engaged2 and then ,leonard looked mischievously down at the streaked dress4 ,he was not used to seeing ,eurie look so entirely awry in the matter of her toilet4 ,mr4 ,holden was going to get up a tableau entertainment1 and needed home talent to help him2 he1 ,leonard1 had volunteered to introduce him to some of the talented ladies of the city1 and had put her first on the list4 ,eurie struggled with her embarrassment1 and answered in her usual way3 ,he can see at a glance that ,i merit the compliment4 ,if myself and all my surroundings don't show a marked talent for disorder1 ,i don't know what would4 ,mr4 ,holden was courteous and gallant in the extreme4 ,he took very little notice of the remark2 ignored the state of the room utterly2 apologized for the unseemly hour of their call1 attributing it to his earnest desire to secure her name before there was any other engagement made2 might he depend on her influence and help8 ,eurie was in a hurry4 ,she smelled the starch scorching2 ,robbie was crying fretfully1 and the baby was so quiet she feared he was asleep2 the main point was1 to get rid of her callers as soon as possible4 ,she asked few questions1 and knew as little about the projected entertainment as possible1 save that she was pledged to a rehearsal on the coming ,wednesday at eight o'clock4 ,then she bowed them out with a sense of relief2 and1 merely remarking to ,jennie that she wished she could coax ,robbie and the baby into the parlor1 and clear it up a little before anybody more formidable arrived1 she went back to the scorched starch and other trials4 ,from that time forth a great many people wanted ,dr4 ,mitchell4 ,the bell rang1 and rang1 and rang4 ,jennie had to run1 and ,eurie had to run to baby4 ,then came noon bringing the boys home from school1 hungry and in a hurry2 and ,eurie had to go to ,sallie's help1 who was struggling to get the table set1 and something on it to eat4 ,whereupon the bread suddenly announced itself ready for the oven by spreading over one-half of the bread cloth1 with a sticky mass4 ,then the bell rang again4 ,i hope that is some one who will send to the ,valley for father right away2 then we shall have mother again4 ,this was ,eurie's half aloud admission that she was not equal to the strain4 ,then she listened for ,jennie's report4 ,the parlor door being opened1 and somebody being invited thither2 and that room not cleared up yet6 ,then came ,jennie with her exasperating news4 ,it is ,dr4 ,snowdon1 from ,morristown1 and he wants father for a consultation2 says he is going to take him back with him on the two o'clock train1 and he wants to know if you could let him have a mouthful of dinner with father8 ,he met father at the crossing half a mile below1 and he told him to come right on4 ,and where is mother8 said ,eurie1 pale and almost breathless under this new calamity4 ,why1 he didn't say2 but ,i suppose she is with father4 ,he stopped to call at the ,newton's4 ,i guess you will have to hurry1 won't you8 ,jennie was provokingly cool and composed2 no sense of responsibility rested upon her4 ,hurry6 said ,eurie4 ,why1 he can't have any dinner here4 ,we haven't a thing in the house for a stranger4 ,well1 said ,jennie1 balancing herself on one foot1 shall ,i go and tell him that he must take himself off to a hotel8 ,nonsense6 said ,eurie2 you know better4 ,then she whisked into the kitchen4 ,twenty minutes of one1 and the train went at ten minutes of two1 and nothing to eat1 and ,dr4 ,snowdon 7of all particular and gentlemanly mortals1 without a wife or a home1 or any sense of the drawbacks of ,monday7 to eat it6 ,is it hardly to be wondered at that the boys voted ,eurie awfully cross8 ,altogether1 it was just the most horrid time that ever anybody had4 ,that was the way ,eurie closed the account of it1 as she sat curled on the foot of ,marion's bed1 with the three friends1 who had been listening and laughing1 gathered around her in different attitudes of attention4 ,oh1 you can laugh1 and so can ,i1 now that it is over1 ,eurie said4 ,but ,i should just like to have seen one of you in my place2 it was no laughing matter1 ,i can tell you4 ,it was just the beginning of vexations1 though2 the whole week1 so far1 has been exasperating in every respect4 ,never anything went less according to planning than my programme for the week has4 ,each of her auditors could have echoed that1 but they were silent4 ,at last ,marion asked3 ,but how did you get out of it8 ,tell us that4 ,now1 a dinner of any kind is something that is beyond me4 ,i can imagine you transfixed with horror4 ,just tell us what you did4 ,why1 you will wonder who came to my rescue2 but ,i tell you1 girls1 ,nellis is the best fellow in the world4 ,if ,i was half as good a ,christian as he is1 without any of that to help him1 ,i should be a thankful mortal4 ,i didn't expect him1 thought he had gone away for the day2 but when he came he took in the situation at a glance4 ,half a dozen words of explanation set him right4 ',never mind4' he said4 ',tell him we didn't mean to have dinner so early1 but we flew around and got them a bite--then let's do it4' ',but what will the bite be8' ,i asked1 and ,i stood looking up at him like a ninny who had never gotten a meal in her life4 ',why1 bread1 and butter1 and coffee1 and a dish of sauce1 and a pickle1 or something of that sort2' and the things really sounded appetizing as he told them off4 ',come1' he said1 ',i'll grind the coffee1 and make it2 ,i used to be a dabster at that dish when ,i was in college4 ,jennie1 you set the table1 and ,ned will help2 he's well enough for that1 ,i know4' ,and in less time than it takes to tell it1 he had us all at work1 baby and all2 and1 really1 we managed to get up quite a decent meal1 out of nothing1 you understand2 had it ready when father drove up2 and he said it was as good a dinner as he had had in a week4 ,but1 oh1 me6 ,i'm glad such days don't come very often4 ,you see1 none of you know anything about it4 ,you girls with your kitchens supplied with first-class cooks1 and without any more idea of what goes on in the way of work before you are fed than though you lived in the moon1 what do you know about such a day as ,i have described8 ,here's ,marion1 to be sure1 who has about as empty a purse as mine2 but as for kitchens1 and wash days1 and picked-up dinners1 she is a novice4 ,i know all about those last articles1 so far as eating them is concerned1 ,marion said1 grimly4 ,i know things about them that you don't1 and never will4 ,but ,i have made up my mind that living a ,christian life isn't walking on a feather bed1 whether you live in a palace or a fourth-rate board-house1 and teach school4 ,i shouldn't wonder if there were such things as vexations everywhere4 ,i don't doubt it1 ,ruth ,erskine said1 speaking more quickly than was usual to her4 ,the others had been more or less communicative with each other4 ,it wasn't in ,ruth's nature to tell how tried1 and dissatisfied she had been with herself and her life1 and her surroundings all the week4 ,she was not sympathetic by nature4 ,she couldn't tell her inward feeling to any one2 but she could indorse heartily the discovery that ,marion had made4 ,well1 ,i know one thing1 said ,eurie1 it requires twice the grace that ,i supposed it did to get through with kitchen duties and exasperations and keep one's temper4 ,i shall think1 after this1 that mother is a saint when she gets through the day without boxing our ears three or four times around4 ,come1 let's go to meeting4 ,it was ,wednesday evening1 and our four girls had met to talk over the events of the week1 and to keep each other countenance during their first prayer-meeting4 ,it is almost worse than going to ,sunday-school1 ,eurie said1 as they went up the steps1 except that we can help ourselves to seats without waiting for any attentions which would not be shown4 ,now the ,first ,church people were not given to going to prayer-meeting4 ,it is somewhat remarkable how many ,first ,churches there are to which that remark will apply4 ,the chapel was large and inviting1 looking as though in the days of its planning many had been expected at the social meetings1 or else it was built with an eye to festivals and societies4 ,the size of the room only made the few persons who were in it1 seem fewer in number than they were4 ,flossy had been to prayer-meeting several times before with a cousin who visited them1 but none of the others had attended such a meeting since they could remember4 ,to ,eurie and ,ruth it was a real surprise to see the rows of empty seats4 ,as for ,marion she had overheard sarcastic remarks enough in the watchful and critical world in which she had moved to have a shrewd suspicion that such was the case4 ,i don't know where to sit1 whispered ,flossy1 shrinking from the gaze of several heads that were turned to see who the new comers were4 ,don't you suppose they will seat us8 ,not they1 said ,eurie1 ,don't you remember ,sunday8 ,we must just put the courageous face on and march forward4 ,i'm going directly to the front4 ,i always said if ever ,i went to prayer-meeting at all1 ,i shouldn't act as though ,i was ashamed that ,i came4 ,saying which she led the way to the second seat from the desk1 directly in line with ,dr4 ,dennis' eye4 ,that gentleman looked down at them with troubled face4 ,marion looked to see it light up1 for she said in her heart3 ,gracie has surely told him my secret4 ,she knew little about the ways in the busy minister's household4 ,the delightful communion of feeling that she had imagined between father and daughter was almost unknown to them4 ,very fond and proud of his daughter was ,dr4 ,dennis2 very careful of her health and her associations2 very grateful that she was a ,christian1 and so1 safe4 ,but so busy and harassed was his life1 so endless were the calls on his time and his patience and his sympathy1 that almost without his being aware of it1 his own family were the only members of his church who never received any pastoral calls4 ,consequently a reserve like unto that in too many households had grown up between himself and his child1 utterly unsuspected by the father1 never but half owned by the daughter4 ,he thought of her religious life with joy and thanksgiving2 when she went astray1 was careful and tender in his admonition2 yet of the inner workings of her life1 of her reaching after higher and better living1 of her growth in grace1 or her days of disappointment and failure and decline he knew no more than the veriest stranger with whom she never spoke4 ,for while ,grace ,dennis loved and reverenced her father more than she did any other earthly being1 she acknowledged to herself that she could not have told him even of the little conversation between her teacher and herself4 ,she could1 and did1 tell him all about the lesson in algebra1 but not a word about the lesson in ,christian love4 ,so on this evening his face expressed no satisfaction in the presence of the strangers4 ,he was simply disturbed that they had formed a league to meet here with mischief ahead1 as he verily believed4 ,he arose and read the opening hymn2 then looked about him in a disturbed way4 ,nobody to lead the singing4 ,this was too often the case4 ,the quartette choir rarely indeed found their way to the prayer-meeting2 and when the one who was a church-member occasionally came to the weekly meeting1 for reasons best known to herself1 apparently the power of song for which she received so good a ,sabbath-day salary had utterly gone from her1 for she never opened her lips4 ,i hope1 said ,dr4 ,dennis1 that there is some one present who can start this tune2 it is simple4 ,a prayer-meeting without singing loses half its spiritual force4 ,still everyone was dumb4 ,i am sorry that ,i cannot sing at all1 he said again1 after a moment's pause4 ,if ,i could1 ever so little1 it would be my delight to consecrate my voice to the service of ,god's house4 ,still silence4 ,all this made ,marion remember her resolves at ,chautauqua4 ,what tunes do people sing in prayer-meeting8 she whispered to ,eurie4 ,i don't know1 ,i am sure1 ,eurie whispered back4 ,and then the ludicrous side happened to forcibly strike that young lady1 just then she shook with laughter and shook the seat4 ,dr4 ,dennis looked down at her with grave1 rebuking eye4 ,well1 he began2 if we cannot sing-- ,and then1 before he had time to say further1 a soft1 sweet voice1 so tremulous it almost brought the tears to think what a tremendous stretch of courage it had taken1 quivered on the air4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,prayer-,,meeting ,,and ,,tableaux4 ,,it was ,flossy who had triumphed again over self and a strong natural timidity4 ,her voice trembled but for an instant1 then it was literally absorbed in the rich1 full tones which ,marion allowed to roll out from her throat--richer1 fuller1 stronger than they would have been had she not again received this sharp rebuke from the timid baby of their party4 ,but that voice of hers6 ,i wish ,i could describe it to you4 ,it is not often that one hears such a voice4 ,such an one had never been heard in that room1 and the few occupants were surely justified in twisting their heads to see from whence it came4 ,it was still a new thing to ,marion to sing such words as were in that hymn2 and in the beauty of them1 and the enjoyment of their richness1 she lost sight of self and the attention she was attracting1 and sang with all her heart4 ,it so happened that every one of the three friends could help her not a little1 so our girls had the singing in their own hands for the evening4 ,when the next hymn was announced1 ,marion leaned forward1 smiling a little1 and covered with her firm1 strong hand the trembling little gloved hand of ,flossy1 and herself gave the key-note in clear1 strong tones that neither faltered nor trembled4 ,you've taken up your little cross bravely1 she whispered afterward4 ,shown me my duty and shamed me into it2 the very lightest end of it shall not rest on you any more4 ,notwithstanding the singing1 and finding that it could be well done1 ,dr4 ,dennis took care to see that there should be much of it1 that meeting dragged4 ,the few who were in the habit of saying anything1 waited until the very latest moment1 as if hopeful that they might find a way of escape altogether1 and yet1 when once started1 talked on as though they had forgotten how to arrange a suitable closing1 and must therefore go on4 ,then the prayers seemed to our new-comers and new-beginners in prayer very strange and unnatural4 ,do you suppose ,mr4 ,helm really feels such a deep interest in everything under the sun8 queried ,eurie4 ,or did he pray for all the world in detail because that is the proper way to do8 ,someway1 ,i don't feel as if ,i could ever learn to pray in that way4 ,i believe ,i shall have to ask for just what ,i want and then stop4 ,if you succeed in keeping to the latter part of your determination you will do better than the most of them1 ,marion said4 ,i can't help thinking that the worst feature of it is the keeping on1 long after the person wants to stop4 ,now1 ,i tell you1 girls1 that is not the way they prayed at ,chautauqua1 is it8 ,well1 said ,flossy1 it is not the way ,dr4 ,dennis prays1 either2 but then1 he has a theological education2 that makes a difference1 ,i suppose4 ,no it doesn't1 you mouse1 make a speck of difference4 ,that old ,uncle ,billy1 as they call him1 who sat down by the door in the corner1 hasn't a theological education1 nor any other sort of education4 ,did he speak one single sentence according to rule8 ,yet1 didn't you notice his prayer8 ,different from most of the others4 ,he meant it4 ,but you wouldn't say that none of the others meant it8 ,ruth said1 speaking hesitatingly and questioningly4 ,no1 ,marion answered1 slowly4 ,i suppose not1 of course2 yet there is something the matter with them4 ,it may be that the ones who make them1 may feel them1 but they don't succeed in making me feel4 ,well1 honestly1 said ,eurie1 ,i'm disappointed4 ,i have heard that people who were really ,christians liked to go to prayer-meeting better than anywhere else1 but ,i feel awfully wicked about it4 ,but1 as true as ,i live1 ,i have been in places that ,i thought were ever so much pleasanter than it was there this evening4 ,now1 to tell the plain truth1 some of the time ,i was dreadfully bored4 ,i'm specially disappointed1 too1 for ,i had a plan to trying to coax ,nellis into going with me1 but ,i really don't know whether ,i want him to go or not4 ,but this talk was when they were on their way homeward4 ,before that1 as they went down the steps1 ,eurie said3 ,what plans have you for the evening1 girls8 ,won't you go with me8 ,and then she went back to that tormenting ,monday1 and told of ,leonard ,brooks' call with his friend ,mr4 ,holden1 and of the tableau entertainment to which she was pledged4 ,they had all heard more or less of it1 and all in some form or other had received petitions for help1 but none of them had come in direct contact with it1 save ,eurie1 and it appeared that the rest of them had given the matter very little attention4 ,still1 they were willing to go with ,eurie1 and see what was to be seen4 ,at least they walked on in that direction4 ,dr4 ,dennis and his daughter were directly behind them4 ,as they neared a brightly-lighted street corner1 he came up to ,eurie and ,marion1 who were walking together1 with a pleasant good-evening4 ,something in ,marion's manner of singing the hymn had interested him1 and also he was interested in learning1 if he could1 what motive had brought them to so unusual a place as the prayer-meeting4 ,it is a lovely evening for a walk1 he said4 ,but1 ,miss ,wilbur1 you don't propose to take it alone1 ,i hope6 ,isn't your boarding place at some distance8 ,she was not going directly home1 ,marion explained1 not caring to admit the loneliness1 and also what evidently seemed to ,dr4 ,dennis the impropriety of having to traverse the street alone so often that it had failed to seem a strange thing to her4 ,eurie volunteered further information3 ,we are going up to ,annesley's ,hall1 to make arrangements for the tableau entertainment4 ,now1 it so happened that ,dr4 ,dennis knew more about the tableau entertainment than ,eurie did1 and his few minutes of feeling that perhaps he had misjudged those girls1 departed at once2 so did his genial manner4 ,indeed6 he said1 in the coldest tone imaginable1 and almost immediately dropped back with his daughter4 ,there was a gentleman hurrying down the walk1 evidently for the purpose of overtaking him4 ,at this moment he pronounced the doctor's name4 ,walk on1 ,grace1 ,i will join you in a moment1 the girls heard ,dr4 ,dennis say1 and ,grace stepped forward alone4 ,marion glanced back4 ,but a few weeks ago it would have been nothing to her that ,grace ,dennis or anyone else walked alone1 so that she had no need for their company4 ,but the law of unselfishness1 which is the very essence of a true ,christian life1 was already beginning to work unconsciously in this girl's heart1 and it made her turn now and say to ,grace1 with winning voice3 ,have you lost your companion8 ,come and walk with us until you can have him again4 ,miss ,mitchell1 ,miss ,dennis4 ,it was a fact that1 though ,eurie was of the same church with ,grace ,dennis1 and though she knew ,grace by sight1 and bowed to her in the daytime1 their familiarity with each other was not so sufficient as to insure a gas-light recognition4 ,we know each other1 ,grace said1 brightly1 at least we ought to4 ,we do when we see each other plainly enough4 ,i have been meaning to call with papa1 ,miss ,mitchell1 but ,i haven't been able to1 yet2 ,i am only a school girl1 you know4 ,eurie preferred to ignore the calling question2 she had little sympathy with that phase of fashionable life2 so she plunged at once into another subject4 ,are you going to the hall to-night1 ,miss ,dennis1 to help in getting up the tableau entertainment8 ,something in the quick way in which ,grace ,dennis said1 ,oh1 no1 made ,marion anxious to question further4 ,why not8 she asked4 ,miss ,mitchell says they want all the ladies of talent2 ,i'm sure you and ,i ought to be there4 ,i can imagine you in a splendid tableau1 ,gracie2 perhaps you would better go and help4 ,to be sure1 ,i haven't been really invited myself1 but ,i guess ,i can get in somehow4 ,won't you go with us now8 ,i can't1 ,miss ,wilbur4 ,i should like to go2 ,i enjoy tableaux ever so much2 but papa does not approve of making tableaux of ,scripture scenes4 ,you know1 ministers have to be in advance on all these subjects4 ,grace spoke in an apologetic tone1 and with a flushed face1 as one who had been obliged into saying a rude thing1 and must make it sound as best she could4 ,are they to be ,scripture scenes8 ,eurie asked2 and in the same breath added3 ,why does he disapprove8 ,i don't think ,i could give his reasons4 ,he thinks them irreverent1 sometimes1 ,i fancy2 but ,i am not sure4 ,i never heard him say very much on the subject2 but ,i know quite well that he would not like me to go4 ,don't you know1 ,miss ,mitchell1 that clergymen always have to stand aloof from so many things1 because they are set up as examples for others to follow8 ,but what is the use of it if others don't follow8 said quick-witted ,eurie4 ,we must look into this question4 ,i have never thought of it4 ,it will have to be put down with that long list of subjects on which ,i have never had any thoughts2 that list swells every day4 ,at this point ,dr4 ,dennis somewhat decidedly summoned his daughter to his side1 and it was after they had turned onto another street that the girls took the prayer-meeting into consideration4 ,they were still talking of it when they reached the hall4 ,quite a company were assembled1 among them ,eurie's brother1 who was to meet her there1 and ,col4 ,baker1 who had come for the purpose of meeting ,flossy1 much to her discomfiture4 ,mr4 ,holden and ,leonard ,brooks came over to the seat which they had taken1 and the former was presented to the rest of the party4 ,this is capital6 ,nellis ,mitchell said4 ,holden1 ,i congratulate you4 ,i knew ,flossy would help1 and possibly ,miss ,wilbur2 but ,i will confess to not even hoping for you1 ,miss ,erskine4 ,if your hopes are necessary to the completion of this scheme1 ,i advise you not to raise them high so far as ,i am concerned1 for they will have a grievous fall4 ,i am the most indifferent of spectators4 ,this from ,ruth1 in her most formal and haughty tone4 ,nellis ,mitchell was not one of her favorites4 ,oh1 you will help us1 will you not8 ,mr4 ,holden asked1 in a tone so familiar and friendly that ,ruth flushed as she answered3 ,thank you1 no4 ,whereupon ,mr4 ,holden discovered himself to be silenced4 ,never mind1 ,leonard ,brooks said1 we have enough helpers promised to make the thing a grand success4 ,eurie1 let me show you the picture of one which we have planned for you2 the scenic effect is really very fine--,oriental1 you know2 and you will light up splendidly in that picture4 ,thank you1 said ,eurie1 in an absent-minded tone3 and she had to be twice recalled from her thoughts before she turned to look at the plate spread before her4 ,on the instant an angry flush arose1 spreading itself over her face as she looked4 ,you do not mean that you are to present this8 she said1 at length4 ,why not8 asked ,leonard1 in astonishment4 ,mr4 ,holden hastened to explain3 ,it is not often chosen for tableaux1 ,i admit2 but on that account is all the more desirable4 ,we want to get away from the ordinary sort4 ,this is magnificent in its working up4 ,i had it in ,new ,york last winter1 and it was one of the finest presented4 ,it will not be presented with my help4 ,eurie's tone was so cold and haughty that ,marion turned toward her in surprise1 and for the first time glanced at the plate4 ,why1 ,miss ,mitchell6 ,mr4 ,holden exclaimed1 ,i am surprised and grieved if ,i have annoyed you by my selection4 ,i was thinking how well you would light up an ,oriental scene4 ,is it the representation of the ,saviour that you dislike8 ,i cannot see why that should be objectionable4 ,it is dealing with him as a mere man1 you know4 ,it is simply an ,oriental dress of a male figure that we want to represent1 and this figure of ,christ as he sat at the well is so exceedingly minute and so carefully drawn that it works up finely4 ,christ at the well of ,samaria6 read ,flossy1 now bending over the book1 and her eyes and cheeks told the story of her aversion to the idea4 ,who would be willing to personate the ,saviour8 ,mr4 ,holden was prompt with his answer3 ,i have had not the slightest difficulty in that matter4 ,my friend1 ,col4 ,baker here1 expressed himself as entirely willing to undertake it4 ,why1 my dear young ladies1 you see it is nothing but the masculine form of dress that we want to bring out4 ,there is really nothing more irreverent in it than there is in your looking at this picture here to-night4 ,then we will not look longer at the picture1 ,eurie said1 drawing back suddenly1 the color on her face deepening into crimson4 ,it is useless for you to undertake an argument with me4 ,i will be very plain with you1 and inform you that1 aside from the irreverent nature of the tableau1 ,i consider myself insulted in being chosen to make a public representation of that character4 ,i am certainly absolved from my promise1 ,mr4 ,holden2 and ,i beg you to withdraw my name from your list at once4 ,mr4 ,holden turned the leaf on the offending picture4 ,he was amazed and grieved2 he had looked at the picture purely in an artistic light2 he supposed all people looked thus at tableau pictures2 it was certainly a compliment that he meant to pay1 and not the shadow of a discourtesy2 but since they looked at it in that singular manner1 of course it should be withdrawn from the lists2 nothing further should be said about it4 ,let him show them1 just allow him to show them1 one plate which was the very finest in scenic effect of anything that he had ever gotten up4 ,the name of it was ,the ,ancient ,feast4 ,eurie turned hotly away1 but ,flossy and ,ruth looked4 ,it was a representation of ,belshazzar at his impious feast1 at the time when he was arrested by the handwriting on the wall4 ,ruth ,erskine curled her handsome lip into something like a sneer4 ,does ,col4 ,baker kindly propose to aid you in representing the hand of ,god8 she said1 in her haughtiest tones4 ,he is so willing to lend himself to the other piece of sacrilege1 that one can hardly expect him to shrink even from this4 ,mr4 ,holden promptly closed his book4 ,there is some mistake1 he said4 ,i supposed the ladies and gentlemen gathered here came in for the purpose of helping1 not for ridiculing4 ,of course if we differ so entirely on these topics we can be of very little help to each other4 ,so ,i should judge1 ,marion said4 ,and1 that being the case1 shall we go8 ,what nonsense6 said ,leonard ,brooks1 following after the retreating party1 but speaking only in a low tone1 and addressing ,eurie4 ,one expects such lofty humbug from ,miss ,erskine1 and even from ,miss ,wilbur--the tragic is in her line2 but ,i thought you would enter into and enjoy the whole thing4 ,i told ,holden that you would be the backbone of the matter4 ,thank you1 said ,eurie1 her voice half choked with indignation and wounded pride4 ,and ,i presume you assisted in the selection of the characters that ,i should personate6 ,as ,i said1 ,i consider myself insulted4 ,please allow me to pass4 ,much excited1 and some of them very much ashamed1 they all found themselves on the street again1 ,nellis ,mitchell being the only one of the astonished gentlemen who had bethought himself1 or had had sufficient courage to join them4 ,well1 what next8 he said4 ,nell1 said ,eurie1 what do you think of that8 ,nellis shrugged his shoulders4 ,it is not according to my way of thinking1 he said2 but they told me you had promised1 and ,i thought if you had1 with your eyes open1 it was none of my business4 ,i congratulate you on being fairly out of it4 ,that ,holden is a scamp1 ,i believe4 ,and ,col4 ,baker was going to take that character1 said ,flossy to herself4 ,and ,eurie1 in her heart1 felt grieved and hurt that her friend of long standing1 ,leonard ,brooks1 could have said and done just what he had2 he could never be to her as though he had not said and done those things4 ,as for ,marion1 all she said was3 ,i begin to have a clearer idea of what ,grace ,dennis and her father mean4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,dr4 ,,dennis' ,,study4 ,,they walked on in absolute silence for a few minutes1 each busy with her own thoughts4 ,eurie was the first to speak3 ,girls1 ,i propose we go and call on ,dr4 ,dennis4 ,ruth and ,marion uttered exclamations of dismay1 or it might have been of surprise4 ,flossy spoke3 ,you don't mean now8 ,now1 this minute4 ,we have an hour at our disposal1 and we are all together4 ,why not1 and have it over with8 ,i tell you1 that man is afraid of us6 ,and when you come to think of it1 why should he not be8 ,what have we ever done to help his work2 and how much we may have done to hinder it6 ,i never realized how much1 until this present moment4 ,it enrages me to think how many enterprises1 like this one1 ,i have been engaged in without giving it a thought4 ,just imagine how such things must look to ,dr4 ,dennis6 ,but1 ,eurie1 you have never been mixed in with anything like that performance1 as it is to be6 ,what do you mean by admitting it8 ,it was ,ruth who spoke1 in some heat2 the association rankled in her heart4 ,not precisely that sort of thing1 ,i admit2 but what must be the reputation ,i have earned1 when ,i can be so coolly picked out for such work8 ,i tell you1 girls1 ,i am angry4 ,i suppose ,i ought to be grateful1 for my eyes have certainly been opened to see a good many things that ,i never saw before2 but it was a rough opening4 ,shall we go to the parsonage1 or not8 ,oh1 dear6 ,i don't feel in the least like it1 ,flossy said1 timidly4 ,do you ever expect to feel like it8 ,eurie asked1 still speaking hotly4 ,for myself1 ,i must say that ,i do4 ,i am tired of my place2 ,i want to be admitted1 and belong1 somewhere4 ,it is entirely evident to me that ,i don't belong where ,i did4 ,i have discovered that a great many things about me are changed4 ,i feel that ,i shall not assimilate well4 ,let me get in where ,i can have a chance4 ,i want to belong to that ,sunday-school1 for instance2 to be recognized as a part of it1 and to be counted in a place4 ,so do you1 ,flossy1 ,i am sure2 why not settle the matter8 ,yes1 ,flossy certainly wanted to belong to that ,sunday-school2 more than that1 she wanted to belong to that class4 ,her heart had been with it all the week4 ,if there was a hope that she might be permitted to try it for awhile1 she was willing even to call on ,dr4 ,dennis1 though that act looked awfully formidable to her4 ,i suppose it is very silly not to want to go this evening1 as well as any time1 she admitted at last4 ,of course it is1 ,marion said1 energetically4 ,let us turn this corner at once1 and in two minutes more we shall have rung his bell2 then that will settle the question4 ,nothing like going ahead and doing things1 without waiting to get into the mood4 ,see here1 said ,nellis ,mitchell1 speaking for the first time4 ,please to take into consideration what you propose to do with me8 ,i take it that you don't want me to make this call with you4 ,my sister has been remarkably bewildering in her remarks1 but ,i gather that it is something like a confidential talk that you are seeking with the doctor1 into which ,i am not to be admitted4 ,i forgot that you were along1 said ,eurie1 with her usual frankness4 ,no1 ,nell1 we don't want you to call with us2 not this time4 ,i might ask for a separate room1 and make my call on ,miss ,grace4 ,at least ,i might try it2 but ,i doubt her father's permitting such a tremendous action3 so1 really1 ,i don't see quite what you are to do with me4 ,i am entirely at your disposal4 ,see here1 ,nell1 couldn't you call for us1 in half an hour1 say8 ,girls1 could we stay half an hour1 do you suppose8 ,we shall have to do something of the kind2 it won't do for us to go home alone4 ,i see what we can do1 ,nell4 ,you go to father's office1 and wait just a little while2 if we are not there in half an hour1 you can call for us at ,dr4 ,dennis'2 and if we find we are not equal to a call of that length1 we will come to the office2 will that do8 ,the obliging brother made a low bow of mock ceremony1 assured her that he was entirely at her service1 that she might command him and he would serve to the best of his knowledge and ability1 made a careful minute of the present time1 in order to be exact at the half hour1 and as they laughingly declined his offer to ring the doctor's bell for them1 he lifted his hat to them1 with the lowest of bows1 and disappeared around the corner4 ,he is such a dear fellow6 said ,eurie1 looking fondly after him4 ,i don't see in what respect1 muttered ,ruth in an aside to ,flossy4 ,ruth had a special aversion to this young man2 possibly it might have been because he treated her with the most good-humored indifference1 despite all her dignity and coldness4 ,meantime1 in ,dr4 ,dennis' study1 his daughter was hovering around among the books1 trying to bring order out of confusion on the shelves and table1 and at the same time find a favorite volume she was reading4 ,the doctor turned on a brighter flame of gas1 then lowered it1 and seemed in a disturbed state of mind4 ,at last he spoke3 ,i don't know that my caution is needed1 daughter--,i have no reason to think that it is1 from anything in your conduct at least2 but ,i feel like saying to you that ,i have less and less liking for those young ladies1 who seem1 since their unfortunate freak of attending that ,chautauqua meeting1 to have banded themselves together1 ,i can hardly imagine why2 they are certainly unlike enough4 ,but ,i distrust them in almost every way4 ,i am sorry that you are at school1 under ,miss ,wilbur's influence2 not that ,i dread her influence on you1 except in a general way4 ,at this point ,grace opened her bright lips to speak2 there was an eager sentence glowing on her tongue1 but her father had not finished his3 ,i know all that you can say2 that you have nothing to do with her religious1 or non-religious1 views1 and that she is a splendid teacher4 ,i don't doubt it2 but ,i repeat to you that ,i distrust all of them4 ,i don't know why they have seen fit to come to our ,sabbath-school1 and to our meeting this evening1 unless it be to gain an unhappy influence over some whom they desire to lead astray4 ,i can hardly think so meanly of them as that1 either4 ,i do not say that such was their motive1 but simply that ,i do not understand it1 and am afraid of it2 and ,i desire you to have just as little to do with any of them as ordinary civility will admit4 ,hitherto ,i have thought of ,ruth ,erskine as simply a leader of fashion1 and of ,flossy ,shipley as the tool of the fashionable world2 but ,i am afraid their dangerous friends are leading them to be more4 ,the tableau affair1 to-night1 ,i have investigated to a certain degree1 and ,i consider it one of the worst of its kind4 ,i would not have you associated with it for--well1 any consideration that ,i can imagine2 and yet1 if ,i mistake not1 ,i heard them urging you to join them4 ,again ,grace essayed to speak1 but the pealing of the door bell interrupted her4 ,who is it1 ,hannah8 ,dr4 ,dennis questioned1 as that personage peeped her head in at the door4 ,it is four young ladies1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 and they want to see you4 ,grace arose to depart4 ,do you know any of them1 ,hannah8 the doctor asked4 ,well1 sir1 one of them is the ,miss ,wilbur who teaches1 and ,i think another is ,dr4 ,mitchell's daughter4 ,i don't know the others4 ,show them in here1 said ,dr4 ,dennis1 promptly4 ,and1 daughter1 you will please remain4 ,they have doubtless come to petition me for your assistance in the tableaux1 and ,i have not the least desire to be considered a household tyrant1 or to have them suppose that you are my prisoner4 ,i would much rather that you should give them your own opinions on the subject like a brave little woman4 ,but father1 ,grace said1 and there was a gleam of mischief in her eye1 ,i haven't any opinions on this subject4 ,the most that ,i can say is1 that you don't wish me to have anything to do with them2 and so1 like a dutiful daughter1 ,i decline4 ,well1 then1 he said1 smiling back on her in a satisfied way1 show them how gracefully you can play the part of a dutiful daughter4 ,while you are so young1 and while ,i am here to have opinions for you1 the dutiful part cheerfully done is really all that is necessary4 ,and this was the introduction that the four girls had to the pastor's study4 ,how shy they felt6 ,ruth could hardly ever remember of feeling so very much embarrassed4 ,as for ,eurie1 she began to feel that distressing sense of the ludicrous creeping over her1 and so was horribly afraid that she should laugh4 ,marion went forward to ,grace1 and in the warm1 glad greeting that this young girl gave1 felt her heart melted and warmed4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 confident in the errand that had brought them1 decided to lead the conversation himself1 and give them no chance to approach the topic smoothly4 ,have you done up the tableaux so promptly8 he asked4 ,and while he addressed his question to ,marion1 ,eurie felt that he looked right at her4 ,marion's answer was prompt and to the point4 ,yes1 sir1 we have4 ,miss ,mitchell was the only one of us who was pledged2 and ,i believe she was entirely dissatisfied with the character of the entertainment1 and withdrew her support4 ,indeed6 ,dr4 ,dennis' manner of pronouncing this word was1 in effect1 saying1 ,is it possible that there can be an entertainment of so questionable a character that ,miss ,mitchell will withdraw from it8 ,at least that was the way the word sounded to ,eurie1 but she had been roused to unusual sensitiveness4 ,the effect was to rouse her still further1 to put to flight every trace of embarrassment and every desire to laugh4 ,she spoke in a clear1 strong voice3 ,dr4 ,dennis1 we shall be talking at cross purposes if we do not make some explanation of our object in calling this evening4 ,we feel that we do not belong in the society where you are classing us2 in fact1 we do not belong anywhere4 ,our views and feelings have greatly changed within a short time4 ,we want to make a corresponding change in our associations2 at least1 so far as is desirable4 ,our special object in calling just now is1 that we know it will soon be time for the communion in your church1 and we have thought that perhaps we ought to make a public profession of our changed views4 ,was ever a man more bent on misunderstanding plain ,english than was ,dr4 ,dennis this evening8 ,he looked at his callers in an astonished and embarrassed way for a moment1 as if uncertain whether to consider them lunatics or not2 and then said1 addressing himself to ,eurie3 ,my dear young lady1 ,i fear you are laboring under a mistake as to the object in uniting with the ,church of ,christ1 and the preparation necessary4 ,you know1 as a church1 we hold that something more than a desire to change one's social relations should actuate the person to take such a step2 that1 indeed1 there should be a radical change of heart4 ,poor ,eurie6 ,she thought she had been so plain in her explanation4 ,she flushed1 and commenced a stammering sentence2 then paused1 and looked appealingly at ,ruth and ,marion4 ,finally she did what1 for ,eurie ,mitchell to do1 was unprecedented1 lost all self-control1 and broke into a sudden and passionate gust of tears4 ,eurie1 don't6 ,marion said2 to her it was actual pain to see tears4 ,as for ,dr4 ,dennis1 he was very much at his wits' end1 and ,ruth's embarrassment grew upon her every moment4 ,flossy came to the rescue4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 she said1 and he noticed even then that her voice was strangely sweet and winning1 ,eurie means that we love ,jesus1 and we believe he has forgiven us and called us by name4 ,we mean we want to be his1 and to serve him forever2 and we want to acknowledge him publicly1 because we think he has so directed4 ,how simple and sweet the story was1 after all1 when one just gave up attempting to be proper1 and gave the quiet truth4 ,ruth was struck with the simplicity and the directness of the words2 she began to have not only an admiration1 but an unfeigned respect for ,flossy ,shipley4 ,but you should have seen ,dr4 ,dennis' face4 ,it is a pity ,eurie could not have seen it at that moment2 if she had not had hers buried in the sofa pillow she would have caught the quick glad look of surprise and joy and heartfelt thankfulness that spoke in his eyes4 ,he arose suddenly1 and1 holding out his hand to ,flossy1 said3 ,let me greet you1 and thank you1 and ask you to forgive me1 in the same breath4 ,i have been very slow to understand1 and strangely stupid and unsympathetic4 ,i feel very much as ,i fancy poor doubting ,thomas must have done4 ,forgive me2 ,i am so astonished1 and so glad that ,i don't know how to express the feeling4 ,do you speak for all your friends here1 ,miss ,flossy8 ,and may ,i ask something about the wonderful experience that has drawn you all into the ark8 ,but ,flossy's courage had forsaken her2 it was born of sympathy with ,eurie's tears4 ,she looked down now1 tearful herself1 and trembling like a leaf4 ,ruth found voice to answer for her4 ,our experience1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 can be summed up in one word--,chautauqua4 ,dr4 ,dennis gave a little start2 another astonishment4 ,do you mean that you were converted during that meeting8 ,marion smiled4 ,we do not know enough about terms1 to really be sure that that is the right one to use1 she said2 at least1 ,i do not4 ,but we do know this1 that we met the ,lord ,jesus there1 and that1 as ,flossy says1 we love him1 and have given our lives into his keeping4 ,you cannot say more than that after a hundred years of experience1 he said1 quickly4 ,well1 dear friends1 ,i cannot1 as ,i said1 express to you my gratitude and joy4 ,and you are coming into the church1 and are ready to take up work for the ,master1 and live for him8 ,thank the ,lord4 ,little need had our girls to talk of ,dr4 ,dennis' coldness and dignity after that4 ,how entirely his heart had melted6 ,what a blessed talk they had6 ,so many questions about ,chautauqua1 so much to tell that delighted him4 ,they had not the least idea that it was possible to feel so much at ease with a minister as they grew to feel with him4 ,the bell rang and was answered1 and yet no one intruded on their quiet1 and the talk went on1 until ,marion1 with a sudden recollection of ,nellis ,mitchell1 and their appointment with him1 stole a glance at her watch1 and was astonished into the announcement3 ,girls1 we have been here an hour and a quarter6 ,is it possible6 ,ruth said1 rising at once4 ,father will be alarmed1 ,i am afraid4 ,dr4 ,dennis rose also4 ,i did not know ,i was keeping you so1 he said4 ,our theme was a fascinating one4 ,will you wait a moment1 and let me make ready to see you safely home8 ,but it appeared1 on opening the door1 that ,nellis ,mitchell occupied an easy-chair in the parlor1 just across the hall4 ,i'm a patient young man1 and at your service1 he said1 coming toward them as they emerged4 ,please give me credit for promptness4 ,i was here at the half hour4 ,as they walked home1 ,nellis with his sister on one arm1 and ,flossy ,shipley on the other1 he said3 ,now1 what am ,i to understand by this sudden and violent intimacy at the parsonage8 ,miss ,flossy1 my sister has hitherto made yearly calls of two seconds' duration on the doctor's sister when she is not home to receive them4 ,a great many things are to be different from what they have hitherto been1 ,flossy said1 with a soft little laugh4 ,so ,i begin to perceive4 ,nell1 said ,eurie1 turning back when she was half way up the stairs1 having said good-night1 are you going to help them with those tableaux8 ,not much1 said ,nellis4 ,and ,eurie1 as she went on1 said3 ,i shouldn't be surprised if ,nell felt differently about some things from what he used to4 ,oh1 ,i wonder if ,i can't coax him in8 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,a ,,white ,,sunday4 ,,among other topics that were discussed with great interest during that call at ,dr4 ,dennis' was the ,sunday-school1 and the place that our girls were to take in it1 ,flossy was not likely to forget that matter4 ,her heart was too full of plans concerning those boys4 ,early in the talk she overwhelmed and embarrassed ,dr4 ,dennis with the request that she might be allowed to try that class4 ,now if it had been ,ruth or ,marion who had made the same request1 it would have been unhesitatingly granted4 ,the doctor had a high opinion of the intellectual abilities of both these young ladies1 and now that they had appeared to consecrate those abilities1 he was willing to receive them4 ,but this little summer butterfly1 with her small sweet ways and winning smile6 ,he had no more idea that she could teach than that a humming-bird could2 and of all classes in the school1 to expect to do anything with those large wild boys6 ,it was preposterous4 ,my dear friend1 he said1 and he could hardly keep from smiling1 even though he was embarrassed1 you have no idea what you are asking6 ,that is altogether the most difficult class in the school4 ,some of our best teachers have failed there4 ,the fact is1 those boys don't want to be instructed2 they are in search of fun4 ,they are a hard set1 ,i am really afraid4 ,i wouldn't have you tried and discouraged by them4 ,we are at a loss what to do with them1 ,i will admit2 for no one who can do it seems willing to try them4 ,in fact1 ,i am not sure that we have anyone who can4 ,i understand your motive1 ,miss ,flossy1 and appreciate your zeal2 but you must not crush yourself in that way4 ,since you have been out of the ,sunday-school for so many years1 and1 ,i presume1 have not made the ,bible a study--unhappily1 it is not used as a text book in many of our schools--would it not be well for you to join some excellent ,bible-class for awhile8 ,i think you would like it better1 and grow faster1 and we really have some superior teachers among the ,bible-classes4 ,and while he said this1 the wise doctor hoped in his heart that she would not be offended with his plain speaking1 and that some good angel would suggest to ,marion ,wilbur the propriety of trying that class of boys4 ,flossy was not offended1 though ,marion ,wilbur1 spoken to in the same way1 would have been certain to have felt it4 ,little ,flossy1 though sorely disappointed1 so much so that she could hardly keep the tears from rising1 admitted that she did not know how to teach1 and that1 of course1 she ought to study the ,bible1 and would like ever so much to do so4 ,it so happened that the other girls were more than willing to be enrolled as pupils2 indeed1 had not an idea of taking any other position4 ,so1 after a little more talk1 it was decided that they all join ,dr4 ,dennis' class1 every one of them expressing a prompt preference for that class above the others4 ,in his heart ,dr4 ,dennis entirely approved of this arrangement1 for he wanted the training of ,flossy and ,eurie1 and he meant to make teachers of the other two as soon as possible4 ,now it came to pass that an unlooked-for element came into all this planning--none other than the boys themselves4 ,they had ideas of their own1 and they belonged to that part of the world which is hard to govern4 ,they would have ,miss ,flossy ,shipley to be their teacher1 and they would have no one else2 she suited them exactly1 and no one else did4 ,but1 my dear boys1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 ,miss ,shipley is new to the work of teaching2 she is but a learner herself2 she feels that her place is in the ,bible-class1 so that she may acquire the best ways of presenting lessons4 ,did she say she wouldn't teach us8 queried ,rich4 ,johnson1 with his keen eyes fixed on the doctor's face4 ,what could that embarrassed but truthful man do but slowly shake his head1 and say1 hesitatingly3 ,no1 she didn't say that2 but ,i advised her to join a ,bible-class for awhile4 ,then we want her1 ,rich4 said1 stoutly4 ,don't we1 boys8 ,she just suits us1 ,dr4 ,dennis2 and she is the first one we ever had that we cared a snap for4 ,we had just about made up our minds to quit it2 but1 on the whole1 if we can have her we will give it another trial4 ,this strange sentence was uttered in a most matter-of-fact business way1 and the perplexed doctor1 quite unused to dealing with that class of brain and manners1 was compelled to beat a retreat1 and come to ,flossy with his novel report4 ,a gleam of satisfaction1 not to say triumph1 lighted up her pretty face1 and aglow with smiles and blushes1 she made her way with alacrity to her chosen class4 ,teachers and scholars thoroughly suited with each other2 surely they could do some work during that hour that would tell on the future4 ,meantime1 the superintendent was having his perplexities over in another corner of the room4 ,he came to ,dr4 ,dennis at last for advice4 ,miss ,hart is absent to-day2 her class is almost impossible to supply2 no one is willing to try the little midgets4 ,miss ,hart1 ,dr4 ,dennis repeated1 thoughtfully2 the primary class1 eh2 it is hard to manage2 and yet1 with all the sub-teachers present1 one would think it might be done4 ,they are not all present1 ,mr4 ,stuart said4 ,they never are4 ,dr4 ,dennis ignored this remark4 ,i'll tell you what to do1 he said1 with a sudden lighting up of his thoughtful face4 ,get ,miss ,wilbur to go in there2 she is equal to the emergency1 or ,i am much mistaken4 ,mr4 ,stuart started in unqualified astonishment4 ,i thought1 he said1 recovering his voice1 that you seriously objected to her as a teacher in ,sabbath-school8 ,i have changed my mind1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 with a happy smile1 or1 the ,lord has changed her heart4 ,ask her to take the class4 ,so two of our girls found work4 ,another thing occurred to make that ,sabbath a memorable one4 ,the evening was especially lovely1 and1 there happening to be no other attraction1 a much larger number than usual of the ,first ,church people got out to the second service4 ,our girls were all present1 and1 what was unusual1 other representatives from their families were with them4 ,also1 ,col4 ,baker had obliged himself to endure the infliction of another sermon from ,dr4 ,dennis1 in order that he might have the pleasure of a walk home in the glorious moonlight with ,miss ,flossy4 ,the sermon was one of special solemnity and power4 ,the pastor's recent communion with new-born souls had quickened his own heart and increased the longing desire for the coming of the ,spirit of ,god into their midst4 ,at the sermon's close1 he took what1 for the ,first ,church1 was a very wide and startling departure from the beaten track4 ,after a tender personal appeal1 especially addressed to the young people of his flock1 he said3 ,now1 impelled by what ,i cannot but feel is the voice of the ,lord ,jesus1 by his ,spirit1 ,i want to ask if there are any present who feel so much of a desire to be numbered with the ,lord's friends1 that they are willing to ask us to pray for them1 to the end that they may be found of him4 ,is there one in this audience who1 by rising and standing for but a moment1 will thus simply and quietly indicate to us such a desire and willingness8 ,who ever heard of the ,first ,church pastor doing so strange a thing8 ,his people had voted for festivals1 and concerts1 and lectures1 and picnics1 and entertainments of all sorts and shades4 ,they had taken rising votes1 and they had voted by raising the hand2 they had made speeches1 many of them1 on the questions to be presented2 they had added their voice to the pastor's explanations2 they had urged the wisdom and the propriety of the question presented2 they had said they earnestly hoped the matter would meet careful attention2 and no one in the church had thought such proceedings strange4 ,but to ask people to rise in their seats1 and thus signify that they were thinking of the question of eternal life1 and home1 and peace1 and unutterable blessedness--what innovation was this8 ,much rustling and coughing took place2 then solemn silence prevailed4 ,not a deacon there1 or officer of any sort1 had the least idea of audibly hoping that the pastor's words would receive thoughtful attention2 not a person arose2 the silence was felt to be embarrassing and oppressive to the last degree4 ,dr4 ,dennis relieved them at last by reading the closing hymn4 ,during the reading1 when startled thoughts became sufficiently composed to flow in their accustomed channels1 many1 almost unconsciously to themselves1 prepared speeches which they meant to utter the moment their lips were unsealed by the pronouncing of the benediction4 ,a very strange thing to do4 ,what could ,dr4 ,dennis be thinking of8 ,a most unwise effort to force the private lives of people before the public4 ,an unfortunate attempt to get up an excitement4 ,well meant1 but most ill-timed and mistaken zeal1 which would have a reaction that would do harm4 ,these and a dozen other mental comments that roved through people's brains1 while they were supposed to be joining in the hymn of praise1 were suddenly cut short by the sound of ,dr4 ,dennis' voice again--not in benediction1 as surely they had a right to expect by this time1 but with another appeal4 ,i am still of the impression that there are those present who are doing violence to their convictions of right1 and to good judgment1 by not responding to my invitation4 ,let us remember to pray for all such4 ,now1 ,i want to ask if there are any in this congregation who have lately proved the truth of the doctrine that there is a ,saviour from sin1 and a peace that the world cannot give4 ,if there are those present1 who have decided this question recently1 will they rise for a moment1 thus testifying to the truth of the words which have been spoken this evening1 and thus witnessing that they have chosen the ,lord ,jesus for their portion8 ,another sensation6 ,dr4 ,dennis must have taken leave of his senses6 ,this was more embarrassing than the last4 ,the wise ones were sure that there had been no conversions in a long time4 ,so far as they knew and believed1 entirely other thoughts were occupying the minds of the people4 ,then1 into the midst of this commotion of thought1 there stole that solemn hush1 almost of heart-beatings1 which betokens a new revelation1 that astonishes and thrills and solemnizes4 ,there were persons standing4 ,ladies6 ,one--two--three4 ,yes1 one in the gallery4 ,there were four of them6 ,who were they8 ,why1 that little1 volatile ,flossy ,shipley was one6 ,how strange6 ,and that girl in the gallery was the teacher at one of the ,ward schools4 ,it had been rumored that she was an infidel6 ,who in the world was that beside ,judge ,erskine8 ,it couldn't be his daughter6 ,yet it certainly was4 ,and behold1 in the doctor's pew stood ,eurie1 the young lady who was so free and careless in her manners and address1 that1 were it not for the fact that she was the doctor's daughter1 her very respectability would have stood a chance of being questioned6 ,as it was1 there were mothers in the church who were quite willing that their daughters should have as little to do with her as possible4 ,yet1 to-night their daughters sat beside them1 unable to rise1 in any way to testify to the truth of the religion of ,jesus ,christ2 and ,eurie ,mitchell1 with grave1 earnest face1 in which decision and determination were plainly written1 stood up to testify that the ,lord was true to his promises4 ,gradually there dawned upon the minds of many who knew these girls1 the remembrance that they had been together to that great ,sunday-school meeting at ,chautauqua4 ,how foolish the scheme had seemed to them when they heard of it2 how sneeringly they had commented on the absurdity of such supposed representatives from the ,sunday-school world4 ,surely this seeming folly had been the power of ,god1 and the wisdom of ,god4 ,there were those in the first church1 as1 indeed1 there are many in every church of ,christ1 who rejoiced with all their souls at the sound of this good news4 ,there was another thing that occurred that night over which the angels1 at least1 rejoiced4 ,there was another witness4 ,he was only a poor young fellow1 a day laborer in one of the machine shops1 a new-comer to the city4 ,he knew almost nobody in that great church where he had chanced to be a worshipper1 and1 literally no one knew him4 ,when the invitation was first given1 he had shrunken from it4 ,satan1 with ever-ready skill1 and with that consummate wisdom which makes him as eager after the common day laborers as he is among the wealthy and influential1 had whispered to him that the pastor did not mean such as he2 no one knew him1 his influence would be nothing4 ,this church was too large and too grand1 and it was not meant that he should make himself so conspicuous as to stand alone in that great audience-room1 and testify that the ,lord ,jesus had called him4 ,so he sat still2 but as one and another of those young ladies arose quietly1 with true dignity and sweet composure testifying to their love for the ,lord1 ,john ,warden's earnest soul was moved to shame at his own shrinking1 and from his obscure seat1 back under the gallery1 he rose up1 and ,satan1 foiled that time1 shrunk away4 ,as for our girls1 they held no parley with their consciences1 or with the tempter2 they did not even think of it4 ,on the contrary1 they were glad1 every one1 that the way was made so plain and so easy to them4 ,each of them had friends whom they especially desired to have know of the recent and great change that had come to their lives4 ,with some of these friends they shrank unaccountably from talking about this matter4 ,with others of them they did not understand how to made the matter plain4 ,but here it was explained for them1 so plainly1 so simply1 that it seemed that every one must understand1 and their own future determination as to life was carefully explained for them4 ,there was nothing to do but to rise up1 and1 by that simple act1 subscribe their names to the explanation--so making it theirs4 ,i declare to you that the thought of its being a cross to do so did not once occur to them4 ,neither did the thought that they were occupying a conspicuous position affect them4 ,they were used to conspicuous positions2 they had been twice as prominent in that very church when other subjects than religion had been under consideration4 ,at a certain festival1 years before1 they had every one taken part in a musical entertainment that brought them most conspicuously before an audience three times the size of the evening congregation4 ,so you see they were used to it4 ,and1 as for the fancy that it becomes a more conspicuous and unladylike matter to stand up for the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 than it does to stand up for anything else under the sun2 ,satan was much too wise1 and knew his material entirely too well1 to suggest any such absurdity to them4 ,flossy had been the only one of their number in the least likely to be swayed by such arguments4 ,but ,flossy had set herself with earnest soul and solemn purpose to follow the light wherever it should shine1 without allowing her timid heart time for questioning1 and the father of all evil finds such people exceedingly hard to manage4 ,how do you do1 said ,dr4 ,dennis to ,john ,warden1 two minutes after the benediction was fully pronounced4 ,i was very glad to see you to-night4 ,i am not sure that ,i have ever met you8 ,no8 ,i thought so2 a stranger8 ,well1 we welcome you4 ,where do you board8 ,and a certain black book came promptly out of the doctor's pocket4 ,john ,warden's name1 and street1 and number1 and business were written therein1 and ,john ,warden felt for the first time in his life as though he had a ,christian brother in that great city1 and a name and a place with the people of ,god4 ,another surprise awaited him4 ,marion and ,eurie were right behind him4 ,marion came up boldly and held out her hand3 ,we seem to have started on the road together1 she said4 ,we ought to shake hands1 and wish each other a safe journey4 ,then she and ,eurie and ,john ,warden shook each other heartily by the hand2 and ,flossy1 standing watching1 led by this bolder spirit into that which would not have occurred to her to do1 slipped from her place beside ,col4 ,baker1 and1 holding her lavender kidded little hand out to his broad brown palm1 said1 with a grace and a sweetness that belonged to neither of the others3 ,i am one of them4 ,whereupon ,john ,warden was not sure that he had not shaken hands with an angel4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,rainy ,,evening4 ,a ,,cool1 rainy evening1 one of those sudden and sharp reminders of autumn that in our variable climate come to us in the midst of summer4 ,the heavy clouds had made the day shut down early1 and the rain was so persistent that it was useless to plan walks or rides1 or entertainments of that nature4 ,also it was an evening when none but those who are habitual callers at special homes are expected4 ,one of these was ,col4 ,baker4 ,the idea of being detained by rain from spending the evening with ,flossy ,shipley did not occur to him2 on the contrary1 he rejoiced over the prospect of a long and uninterrupted talk4 ,the more indifferent ,flossy grew to these long talks the more eager was ,col4 ,baker to enjoy them4 ,the further she slipped away from him1 the more eagerly he followed after4 ,perhaps that is human nature2 at least it was ,col4 ,baker's nature4 ,in some of his plans he was disappointed4 ,mrs4 ,shipley was gone for a three days' visit to a neighboring city1 and ,flossy was snugly settled in the back parlor entertaining her father4 ,show him right in here1 directed her father1 as soon as ,col4 ,baker was announced4 ,then to ,flossy3 ,now we can have a game at cards as soon as ,charlie comes in4 ,where is he8 ,rainy evenings1 when four people could be secured sufficiently disengaged to join in his favorite amusement1 was the special delight of ,mr4 ,shipley4 ,so behold them1 half an hour after1 deep in a game of cards1 ,col4 ,baker accepting the situation with as good a grace as he could assume1 notwithstanding the fact that playing cards1 simply for amusement1 in that quiet way in a back parlor1 was a good deal of a bore to him2 but it would be bad policy to tell ,mr4 ,shipley so4 ,their game was interrupted by a ring of the door-bell4 ,oh1 dear6 said ,mr4 ,shipley1 ,i hope that is no nuisance on business4 ,one would think nothing but business would call people out on such a disagreeable night4 ,as1 for instance1 myself1 ,col4 ,baker said1 laughingly4 ,oh1 you4 ,of course1 special friends are an exception4 ,and ,col4 ,baker was well pleased to be ranked among the exceptions4 ,meantime the ringer was heralded4 ,it is ,dr4 ,dennis1 sir4 ,shall ,i show him in here8 ,i suppose so1 ,mr4 ,shipley said1 gloomily1 as one not well pleased2 and he added1 in under tone1 ,what on earth can the man want8 ,meantime ,col4 ,baker1 with a sudden dexterous move1 unceremoniously swept the whole pack of cards out of sight under a paper by his side4 ,it so happened that ,dr4 ,dennis' call was purely one of business2 some item connected with the financial portion of the church1 which ,dr4 ,dennis desired to report in a special sermon that was being prepared4 ,mr4 ,shipley1 although he was so rarely an attendant at church1 and made no secret of his indifference to the whole subject of personal religion1 was yet a power in the financial world1 and as such recognized and deferred to by the ,first ,church4 ,dr4 ,dennis was in haste1 and beyond a specially cordial greeting for ,flossy1 and an expression of satisfaction at her success with the class the previous ,sabbath1 he had no more to say1 and ,mr4 ,shipley soon had the pleasure of bowing him out1 rejoicing in his heart1 as he did so1 that the clergyman was so prompt a man4 ,he would have made a capital business man1 he said1 returning to his seat4 ,i never come in contact with him that ,i don't notice a sort of executive ability about him that makes me think what a success he might have been4 ,there was no one to ask whether that remark meant that he was at present supposed to be a failure4 ,there was another subject which presently engrossed several of them4 ,now be so kind as to give an account of yourself1 ,charlie ,shipley said1 addressing ,col4 ,baker4 ,what on earth did you mean by making a muddle of our game in that way8 ,i was in a fair way for winning4 ,i suppose you won't own that that was your object4 ,col4 ,baker laughed4 ,my object was a purely benevolent one4 ,i had a desire to shield your sister from the woebegone lecture she would have been sure to receive on the sinfulness of her course4 ,if he had found her playing cards1 what would have been the result8 ,mr4 ,shipley was the first to make answer1 in a somewhat testy tone3 ,your generosity was uncalled for1 ,colonel4 ,my daughter1 when she is in her father's house1 is answerable to him1 and not to ,dr4 ,dennis1 or any other divine4 ,i don't in the least understand what you are talking about1 said mystified ,flossy4 ,of what interest could it have been to ,dr4 ,dennis what ,i am doing2 and why should he have delivered a lecture8 ,col4 ,baker and ,charlie ,shipley exchanged amused glances1 and the former quoted1 significantly3 ,where ignorance is bliss1 'tis folly to be wise4 ,then he added1 as ,flossy still waited with questioning gaze3 ,why1 ,miss ,flossy1 of course you know that the clergy think cards are synonyms for the deadly sin1 and that to hold one in one's hand is equivalent to being poisoned1 body and soul8 ,i am sure ,i did not know it4 ,why1 ,i knew1 of course1 that gambling houses were not proper2 but what is the harm in a game of cards8 ,what can ,dr4 ,dennis see1 for instance1 in our playing together here in this room1 and simply for amusement8 ,col4 ,baker shrugged his handsome shoulders4 ,that shrug meant a great deal1 accomplished a great deal4 ,it was nearly certain to silence a timid opposer2 there was something so expressively sarcastic about it2 it hid so much one felt sure ,col4 ,baker might say if he deemed it prudent or worth while4 ,it had often silenced ,flossy into a conscious little laugh4 ,to-night she was in earnest2 she paid no attention to the shrug1 but waited1 questioningly1 for her answer1 and as it was her turn to play next1 it seemed necessary to answer her if one wanted the game to go on4 ,i am sure ,i don't know1 ,col4 ,baker said1 at last4 ,i have very little idea what he would consider the harm2 ,i am not sure that he would be able to tell4 ,it is probably a narrow1 strait-laced way that the cloth have of looking at this question1 in common with all other questions1 save prayer-meetings and almsgiving4 ,their lives are very much narrowed down1 ,miss ,flossy4 ,flossy was entirely unsatisfied4 ,she had a higher opinion of ,dr4 ,dennis' breadth than she had of ,col4 ,baker's2 she thought his life had a very much higher range2 she was very much puzzled and annoyed4 ,her father came into the conflict3 ,come1 come1 ,flossy1 how long are you going to keep us waiting8 ,it is of no particular consequence what ,dr4 ,dennis thinks or does not think4 ,he has a right to his own opinions4 ,it is a free country4 ,ah1 but it did make a tremendous difference to ,flossy4 ,she had accepted ,dr4 ,dennis as her pastor2 she had determined to look to him for help and guidance in this new and strange path on which her feet had so lately entered4 ,she wondered if ,col4 ,baker could be right4 ,was it possible that ,dr4 ,dennis disapproved of cards played at home in this quiet way6 ,if he did1 why did he8 ,and1 another puzzling point1 how did ,col4 ,baker know it8 ,they two certainly did not come in contact1 that they should understand each other's ideas4 ,she went on with her card-playing1 but she played very badly4 ,more than once ,col4 ,baker rallied her with good-humored sarcasm1 and her father spoke impatiently4 ,flossy's interest in the game was gone2 instead1 her heart was busy with this new idea4 ,she went back to it again in one of her pauses in the game4 ,col4 ,baker1 don't you really know at all what arguments clergymen have against card-playing for amusement8 ,again that expressive shrug2 but it had lost its power over ,flossy1 and its owner saw it1 and made haste to answer her waiting eyes4 ,i really am not familiar with their weapons of warfare2 probably ,i could not appreciate them if ,i were2 ,i only know that the entire class frown upon all such innocent devices for passing a rainy evening4 ,but it never struck me as strange1 because the fact is1 they frown equally on all pastimes and entertainments of any sort2 that is1 a certain class do--fanatics1 ,i believe1 is the name they are known by4 ,they believe1 as nearly as ,i am capable of understanding their belief1 that life should be spent in psalm-singing and praying4 ,whereupon ,flossy called to mind the witty things she had heard1 and the merry laughs which had rung around her at ,chautauqua1 given by the most intense of these fanatics2 she even remembered that she had seen two of the most celebrated in that direction playing with a party of young men and boys on the croquet ground1 and laughing most uproariously over their defeat4 ,it was all nonsense to try to compass her brain with such an argument as that2 she shook her head resolutely4 ,they do no such thing2 ,i know some of them very well2 ,i don't know of any people who have nicer times4 ,how do you know these things1 ,col4 ,baker8 ,col4 ,baker essayed to be serious3 ,miss ,flossy1 he said1 leaning over and fixing his handsome eyes impressively on her face1 is it possible you do not know that1 as a rule1 clergymen set their faces like a flint against all amusements of every sort8 ,i do not mean that there are not exceptions1 but ,i do mean most assuredly that ,dr4 ,dennis is not one of them4 ,he is as rigid as it is possible for mortal man to be4 ,herein is where the church does harm4 ,in my own opinion1 it is to blame for the most1 if not for all1 of the excesses of the day2 they are the natural rebound of nerves that have been strained too tightly by the over-tension of the church4 ,surely this was a fine sentence4 ,the ,flossy of a few weeks ago would have admired the smooth-sounding words and the exquisitely modulated voice as it rolled them forth4 ,how had the present ,flossy been quickened as to her sense of the fitness of things4 ,she laughed mischievously4 ,she couldn't argue2 she did not attempt it4 ,all she said was1 simply3 ,col4 ,baker1 on your honor1 as a gentleman of truth and veracity1 do you think the excesses of which you speak1 occur1 as a rule1 in those whose lives have been very tightly bound by the church1 or by anything else1 save their own reckless fancies8 ,charlie ,shipley laughed outright at this point4 ,he always enjoyed a sharp thing wherever heard1 and without regard to whether he felt himself thrust at or not4 ,baker1 you are getting the worst of it1 he said1 gayly4 ,sis1 upon my word1 that two weeks in the woods has made you real keen in argument2 but you play abominably4 ,there is no pleasure in the game now6 ,this the father said1 throwing down his cards somewhat testily4 ,flossy1 ,i hope you will not get to be a girl of one idea--tied to the professional conscience4 ,what is proper for you could hardly be expected to be just the thing for ,dr4 ,dennis2 and you have nothing to do1 as ,i said before1 with what he approves or disapproves4 ,but1 father1 ,flossy said1 speaking somewhat timidly1 as she could not help doing when she talked about these matters to her father1 if we call clergymen our spiritual guides1 and look up to them to set examples for us to follow1 what is the use of the example if we don't follow it at all1 but conclude they are simply doing things for their own benefit8 ,i never call them my spiritual guides1 and ,i have not the least desire to have my daughter do so4 ,i consider myself capable of guiding my own family1 especially my own children1 without any help4 ,this was said in ,mr4 ,shipley's stiffest tone4 ,he was evidently very much tried with this interruption to his evening's entertainment4 ,whatever might be said of the others1 he was certainly very fond of cards4 ,he1 however1 threw down the remaining ones1 declaring that the spirit of the game was gone4 ,merged into a theological discussion1 ,charlie said1 with a half laugh1 half sneer2 and of all the people to indulge in one1 this particular circle would be supposed to be the last4 ,well1 ,i am certainly very sorry that ,i was the innocent cause of such an upheaval1 ,col4 ,baker said1 in the half serious1 half mocking1 tone that was becoming especially trying to ,flossy4 ,it seems that ,i unwittingly burst a bombshell when ,i overturned those cards4 ,i hadn't an idea of it4 ,miss ,flossy1 what can ,i do to atone for making you so uneasy8 ,i assure you it was really pure benevolence on my part4 ,what can ,i do to prove it8 ,nothing1 ,flossy said1 smiling pleasantly4 ,she was very much obliged4 ,he had awakened thought about a matter that had never before occurred to her4 ,she began to think there were a good many things in her life that had not been given very much thought4 ,she meant to look into this thing1 and understand it if she could4 ,indeed1 that was what she wanted of all things to do4 ,nothing could be simpler and sweeter1 and nothing could be more unlike the ,flossy of ,col4 ,baker's former acquaintance4 ,i shouldn't wonder a bit if you had roused a hornet's nest about your ears1 ,charlie ,shipley said to his friend4 ,now ,i tell you1 you may not believe it1 but my little sister is just exactly the stuff out of which they made martyrs in those unenlightened days when anybody thought there was enough truth in anything to take the trouble to suffer for it4 ,she can be made by skillful handling into a very queen of martyrs1 and if you fall in the ruins1 it will be your own fault4 ,but he did not say this until ,flossy had suddenly and unceremoniously excused herself1 and the two gentlemen were alone over their cigars4 ,confound that ,chautauqua scheme6 ,col4 ,baker said1 kicking an innocent hassock half across the room with his indignant foot4 ,that is where all these new ideas started4 ,i wish there was a law against fanaticism4 ,those young women of strong mind and disagreeable manners are getting a most uncomfortable influence over her1 too4 ,if ,i were you1 ,charlie1 ,i would try to put an end to that intimacy4 ,charlie whistled softly4 ,which do you mean8 he asked at last4 ,the ,erskine girl1 or the ,wilbur one8 ,i tell you1 ,baker1 with all the years of your acquaintance1 you don't know that little ,flossy as well as you think you do4 ,let me tell you1 my man1 there is something about her1 or in her1 that is capable of development1 and that is being developed 7or ,i am mistaken71 that will make her the leader1 in a quiet way1 of a dozen decided and outspoken girls like those two1 and of several men like yourself besides1 if she chooses to lead you4 ,well1 confound the development then6 ,i liked her better as she was before4 ,more congenial1 ,i admit2 at least ,i should think so2 but not half so interesting to watch4 ,i have real good times now4 ,i am continually wondering what she will do next4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,next ,,thing4 ,,what she did next that night was to sit with her elbows in her lap1 and her chin resting on her hands1 and stare into vacancy for half an hour4 ,she was very much bewildered4 ,col4 ,baker had awakened a train of thought that would never slumber again4 ,he need not hope for such a thing4 ,her brother ,charlie saw deeper into her nature than she did herself4 ,she was tenacious of an idea2 she had grasped at this one1 which1 of itself1 would perhaps never have occurred to her4 ,hitherto she had played at cards as she had played on the piano or worked at her worsted cats and dogs1 or frittered away an evening in the smallest of small talk1 or done a hundred other things1 without thought of results1 without so much as realizing that there were such things as results connected with such trifling commonplaces4 ,at least1 so far as the matter of cards was concerned1 she would never do so again4 ,her quiet had been disturbed4 ,the process of reasoning by which she found herself disturbed was very simple4 ,she had discovered1 as if by accident1 that her pastor2 as she loved to call ,dr4 ,dennis1 lingering on the word1 now that it had such a new meaning for her1 disapproved of card-playing1 not only for himself1 but for her2 at least that ,col4 ,baker so supposed4 ,now there must be some foundation for this belief of his4 ,either there was something in the nature of the game which ,col4 ,baker recognized1 and which she did not1 that made him understand1 as by instinct1 that it would be disapproved by ,dr4 ,dennis1 or else he had heard him so express himself1 or else he was totally mistaken1 and was misrepresenting that gentleman's character4 ,she thought all this over as she sat staring into space1 and she went one step further--she meant to discover which of these three statements was correct4 ,if ,dr4 ,dennis thought it wrong to play cards1 then he must have reasons for so thinking4 ,she accepted that at once as a necessity to the man4 ,they must also have been carefully weighed reasons1 else he would not have given them a place in his creed4 ,this also was a necessity to a nature like his4 ,clearly there was something here for her to study2 but how to set about it8 ,over this she puzzled a good deal2 she did not like to go directly to ,dr4 ,dennis and ask for herself2 she did not know how to set to work to discover for herself the truth2 she could pray for light1 that to be sure2 but having brought her common sense with her into religious matters1 she no more expected light to blaze upon her at the moment of praying for it1 than she expected the sun to burst into the room despite the closing of blinds and dropping of curtain1 merely because she prayed that it might shine4 ,clearly if she wanted the sun1 it was her part to open blinds and draw back curtains2 clearly if she wanted mental light1 it was her part to use the means that ,god had placed at her disposal4 ,thus much she realized4 ,but not being a self-reliant girl1 it resulted in her saying to ,eurie ,mitchell when she slipped in the next evening to spend an hour3 ,i wish we girls could get together somewhere this evening2 ,i have something to talk over that puzzles me a great deal4 ,you are to understand that the expression1 we girls1 meant the four who had lived ,chautauqua together2 from henceforth and forever we girls who went through the varied experiences of life together that were crowded into those two weeks1 would be separated from all other girls1 and their intercourse would necessarily be different from any other friendships1 colored always with that which they had lived together under the trees4 ,well1 said ,eurie1 quick1 as usual1 to carry out what another only suggested1 ,i'm sure that is easily managed4 ,we can call for ,ruth1 and go around to ,marion's den2 she is always in1 and she never has any company4 ,but ,ruth nearly always has1 objected ,flossy1 who had an instant vision of herself among the fashionable callers in the ,erskine parlor1 unable to get away without absolute rudeness4 ,i'll risk ,ruth if she happens to want to come with us1 ,eurie said1 nodding her head sagely4 ,she will dispose of her callers in some way2 strangle them1 or what is easier and safer1 simply ignore their existence and beg to be excused4 ,ruth is equal to any amount of well-bred rudeness2 all that is necessary is the desire to perform a certain action1 and she will do it4 ,this prophecy of ,eurie's proved to be the case4 ,nellis ,mitchell was called into service to see the girls safely over to the ,erskine mansion1 where they found two gentlemen calling on ,ruth and her father4 ,no sooner did she hear of their desire to be together1 than1 feeling instant sympathy with it1 she said1 ,i'll go in five minutes4 ,then they heard her quiet voice in the parlor3 ,father1 will you and our friends excuse me for the remainder of the evening1 and will you enjoy my part of the call and yours too8 ,i have just had a summons elsewhere that demands attention4 ,isn't that perfect in its propriety1 besides bringing things to the exact point where she wants them to be8 whispered ,eurie to ,flossy as they waited in the hall4 ,oh1 it takes ,ruth to manage4 ,i wonder1 said ,flossy1 with her far-away look1 and half-distressed1 wholly-perplexed curve of the lip--,i wonder if it is strictly true2 that is what troubles me a good deal4 ,oh1 ,dr4 ,hurlbut your address to the children that summer day under the trees was the germ of this shoot of sensitiveness for the strict truth1 that shall bloom into conscientious fruit4 ,it was by this process that they were all together in ,marion's den1 as ,eurie called her stuffed and uninviting little room4 ,never was mortal more glad to be interrupted than she1 as she unceremoniously tossed aside school-books and papers1 and made room for them around the table4 ,you are a blessed trio1 she said1 exultantly4 ,what good angel put it into your hearts to come to me just now and here8 ,i am in the dismals2 have been down all day in the depths of swamp-land1 feeling as if ,i hadn't a friend on earth1 and didn't want one2 and here you are1 you blessed three4 ,but we didn't come for fun or to comfort you1 or anything of that sort1 explained ,flossy1 earnestly1 true to the purpose that had started her4 ,we came to talk something over4 ,i don't doubt it4 ,talk it over then by all means4 ,i'll talk at it with all my heart4 ,we generally do talk something over1 ,i have observed1 when we get together2 at least we do of late years4 ,which one wants to talk8 ,thus introduced1 ,flossy explained the nature of her perplexities2 her occupation the evening before2 the interruption from ,dr4 ,dennis2 the sweeping action of ,col4 ,baker1 and the consequent talk4 ,now do you suppose that is true8 she said1 suddenly breaking off at the point where ,col4 ,baker had assured her that all clergymen looked with utter disfavor on cards4 ,marion glanced from one to another of the faces before her with an amused air2 none of them spoke4 ,it is rather queer1 she said1 at last1 that ,i have to be authority1 or that ,i seem to be the only one posted1 when ,i have but just emerged from a state of unbelief in the whole subject4 ,but ,i tell you truly1 my blessed little innocent1 ,col4 ,baker is well posted2 not only the clergy1 but he will find a large class of the most enlightened ,christians1 look with disapproval on the whole thing in all its variations4 ,why do they8 ,this from ,flossy1 with a perplexed and troubled tone4 ,well1 said ,marion1 now that question is more easily asked than answered4 ,it requires an argument4 ,an argument is just what ,i want2 ,i like to have things explained4 ,before that1 though1 one thing that puzzles me is how should ,col4 ,baker be so familiar with the views of clergymen8 ,that is a curious fact1 my mousie2 you will find it1 ,i fancy1 in all sorts of strange places4 ,people who are not ,christians seem to have an intuitive perception of the fitness of things4 ,it is like dancing and theatre-going1 and a dozen other questions4 ,it is very unusual to meet people who do not sneer at ,christians for upholding such amusements2 they seem to realize an incongruity between them and the ,christian profession4 ,it was just as plain to me1 ,i know1 and ,i have sneered many a time over card-playing ,christians1 and here you are1 dear little ,flossy1 among them1 just for the purpose of teaching me not to judge4 ,ruth1 for the first time1 took up the subject3 ,if your statement is true1 ,marion1 how is it that so many professed ,christians indulge in these very things8 ,precisely the question that ,i just asked myself while ,i was talking4 ,by what means they become destitute of that keen insight into consistencies and inconsistencies1 the moment they enter the lists as ,christian people1 is more than ,i can understand1 unless it is because they decide to succumb to the necessity of doing as other people do1 and let any special thinking alone as inconvenient and unprofitable4 ,i don't know how it is2 only you watch this question and think about it1 and you will discover that just so surely as you come in contact with any who are active and alert in ,christian work1 whose religion you respect as amounting to something1 you are almost sure to see them avoiding all these amusements4 ,who ever heard of a minister being asked to spend an evening in social card-playing6 ,i presume that even ,col4 ,baker himself knows that that would be improper1 and he would be the first to sneer4 ,of course1 ,ruth said1 ministers were expected to be examples for other people to follow4 ,well1 then1 ,flossy said1 her perplexity in no way lessened1 ought we not to follow8 ,whereupon ,marion clapped her hands4 ,little ,flossy among the logicians6 she said4 ,that is the point1 ,ruth ,erskine4 ,if the example is for us to follow1 why don't we follow8 ,now1 what do you honestly think about this question yourself8 ,why1 said ,ruth1 hesitatingly1 ,i have always played cards1 in select circles1 being careful1 of course1 with whom ,i played2 just as ,i am careful with whom ,i associate1 and1 contrary to your supposition1 ,i have always supposed those people who frowned on such amusements to be a set of narrow-minded fanatics4 ,and ,i didn't know that ,christian people did frown on such amusements2 though1 to be sure1 now that ,i think of it1 there are certain ones who never come to card-parties nor dancing-parties4 ,i guess the difficulty is that ,i have never thought anything about it4 ,marion was looking sober4 ,the fact is1 she said1 gravely1 that with all my loneliness and poverty and general forlornness1 ,i have had a different bringing up from any of you4 ,my father did not believe in any of these things4 ,and he was a ,christian man1 ,flossy said1 quickly4 ,then he must have had a reason for his belief4 ,that is what ,i want to get at4 ,what was it8 ,he found it in an old book1 said ,marion1 looking at her1 brightly1 through shining eyes4 ,he found most of his knowledge and his hope and joy in that same book4 ,the ,bible was almost the only book he had1 and he made much of that4 ,and yet you hated the ,bible6 ,eurie said this almost involuntarily1 with a surprised tone4 ,i hated the way in which people lived it1 so different from my father's way4 ,i don't think ,i ever really discarded the book itself4 ,but ,i was a fool2 ,i don't mind owning that4 ,flossy brought them back to the subject4 ,but about this question1 she said4 ,the ,bible was just where ,i went for help1 but ,i didn't find it2 ,i looked in the ,concordance for cards and for amusements1 and for every word which ,i could think of1 that would cover it1 but ,i couldn't find anything4 ,marion laughed again4 ,this little morsel's ignorance of the ,bible was to this girl1 who had been an avowed infidel for more than a dozen years1 something very strange4 ,the ,bible is a big book1 darling1 she said1 still laughing4 ,but1 after all1 ,i fancy you will find something about the principle that governs cards1 even if you cannot find the word4 ,meantime ,ruth had been for some minutes regarding ,eurie's grave face and attentive eyes1 with no small astonishment in her gaze4 ,at this point she interrupted3 ,eurie ,mitchell1 what can be the matter with you8 were you ever known to be so quiet8 ,i haven't heard you speak on this theme1 or any other1 since you came into the room2 yet you look as though you had some ideas1 if you chose to advance them4 ,where do you stand on this card question8 ,we never play cards at home1 ,eurie said1 quickly1 and we never go where we know they are to be played4 ,flossy turned upon her the most surprised eyes4 ,dr4 ,mitchell's family was the most decidedly unconventional and free and easy of any represented there4 ,flossy had supposed that they1 of all others1 would make cards a daily pastime4 ,why not8 she asked1 briefly and earnestly1 as one eager to learn4 ,it is on ,nell's account1 ,eurie said1 still speaking very gravely4 ,nell has but one fault1 and that is card-playing2 he is just passionately fond of it2 he is tempted everywhere4 ,father says ,grandfather ,mitchell was just so1 and ,nell inherits the taste4 ,it is a great temptation to him1 and we do not like to foster it at home4 ,but home card-playing is so different2 that isn't gambling4 ,this from ,flossy1 questioningly4 ,nell learned to play at home1 ,eurie said1 quickly4 ,that is1 he learned at ,grandfather ,mitchell's when he was a little boy4 ,we have no means of knowing whether he would have been led into gambling but for that early education4 ,i know that ,robbie shall never learn if we can help it2 we never mean to allow him to go where any sort of cards are played1 so long as we have him under control4 ,all this was utterly new to ,flossy4 ,then1 if your little ,robbie should come1 with other children1 to see me1 and ,i should teach them a game of cards to amuse them1 ,i might be doing you a positive injury1 she said1 thoughtfully4 ,i certainly should so consider it1 ,eurie said1 with quickness and with feeling4 ,girls1 ,i speak vehemently on this subject always2 having one serious lesson at home makes people think4 ,it is a question whether we have any right to indulge in an amusement that has the power to lead people astray1 ,ruth said1 grave and thoughtful1 especially when it is impossible to tell what boy may he growing up under that influence to whom it will become a snare4 ,marion added3 ,flossy1 do you begin to see8 ,i see in every direction1 ,flossy said4 ,there is no telling when we may be doing harm4 ,but1 now1 let me be personal2 ,i play with father a great deal2 he is an old man1 and he has no special temptation1 certainly4 ,i have heard him say he never played for anything of more value than a pin in his life4 ,what harm can there possibly be in my spending an evening with him in such an amusement1 if it rests and entertains him8 ,imagine some of your ,sunday-school boys accepting your invitation to call on you1 and finding you playing a social game with your father2 then imagine them quoting you in support of their game at the billiard saloon that same evening a little later1 ,marion said1 quickly4 ,you see1 my little ,flossy1 we don't live in nutshells or sealed cans2 we are at all times liable to be broken in upon by people whom we may influence and whom we may harm4 ,i confess ,i don't want to do anything at home that will have to be pushed out of sight in haste and confusion because some one happens to come in4 ,i want to be honest1 even in my play4 ,over this ,flossy looked absolutely aghast4 ,those boys of hers1 they were getting a strong hold upon her already2 she longed to lead them4 ,was it possible that by her very amusements she might lead them astray6 ,another point was1 that ,nellis ,mitchell could never be invited to join them in a game4 ,she had invited him often1 and she winced at the thought4 ,did his sister think she had helped him into temptation8 ,following these trains of thought1 she was led into another1 over which she thought aloud4 ,and suppose any of them should ask me if ,i ever played cards6 ,i should have to say yes4 ,precisely1 said ,marion4 ,and don't you go to thinking that you can ever hide behind that foolish little explanation1 ',i play simply for amusement2 ,i think it is wrong to play for money4' ,it won't do3 it takes logical brains to see the difference1 and some even of those won't see it2 but they can readily see that1 having plenty of money1 of course you have no temptation to play cards for it1 and they see that with them it is different4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,settling ,,questions4 ,,there is ,bible for that doctrine too4 ,where8 ,flossy asked1 turning quickly to ,marion4 ,in this verse3 ',if meat maketh my brother to offend1 ,i will eat no meat while the world stands4' ,don't you see you never can know which brother may be made to offend8 ,and it is even about so useful a thing as food1 said ,flossy1 looking her amazement2 she had never heard that verse before in her life4 ,about just that thing2 and nothing so really unnecessary to a complete life as card-playing may be4 ,col4 ,baker sneers at the inconsistency of people who have nothing to do with cards1 and who play croquet1 ,eurie said this with cheeks a little heightened in color2 she had come in contact with ,col4 ,baker on this very question4 ,ruth looked up quickly from the paper on which she was scribbling4 ,i think myself1 she said1 that if it should seem necessary to me to give up cards entirely1 consistency would oblige me to include croquet1 and all other games of that sort4 ,i shouldn't feel obliged to do any such thing1 ,marion said1 promptly2 at least1 not until ,i had become convinced that people played croquet late into the night1 in rooms smelling of tobacco and liquor1 and were tempted to drink freely of the latter1 and pawn their coats1 if necessary1 to get money enough to carry out the game4 ,you see1 there is a difference4 ,yet people can gamble in playing croquet1 ,eurie said1 thoughtfully4 ,oh1 yes1 and people can gamble with pins1 or in tossing up pennies4 ,the point is1 they are not in the habit of doing it2 and pins suggest no such thing to people in general2 neither do croquet balls2 while the fact remains that the ordinary use of cards1 is to gamble with them2 and comparatively few of those who use them habitually confine themselves to quiet home games4 ,people are in danger of making their brothers offend by their use2 we all know that4 ,if that is true1 then just that one verse from the ,bible ought to settle the whole question4 ,there was no mistaking the quiet meaning in ,flossy's voice2 it was as good as saying that the whole question was settled for her4 ,marion regarded her with evident satisfaction2 her manner was all the more fascinating1 because she was so entirely unconscious that this way of looking at questions1 rather than this firm manner of settling questions1 was not common1 even among ,christians4 ,can you show me the verse in your ,bible8 she presently asked4 ,i can do that same with the greatest pleasure1 ,marion said1 bringing forward a new and shining concordance4 ,i really meant to have a new dress this fall2 ,i say that1 ,ruthie1 for your special comfort2 but the truth is1 there was an army of ,bible verses that ,i learned in my youth trooping up to me1 and ,i had such a desire to see the connection1 and find out what they were all about1 that ,i was actually obliged to sacrifice the dress and get a concordance4 ,i have lots of comfort with it4 ,here is the verse1 ,flossy4 ,flossy drew the ,bible toward her with a little sigh4 ,i wish ,i knew an army of verses1 she said4 ,seems to me ,i don't know any at all4 ,then she went to reading4 ,i know verses enough1 ,eurie said1 but they seem to be in a great muddle in my brain4 ,i can't remember that any of them were ever explained to me2 and it isn't very often that ,i find a place where any of them will fit in4 ,they do fit in1 though1 and with astonishing closeness1 you will find1 as you grow used to them4 ,i have been amazed at that feature of the ,bible4 ,some of the verses that occur in the selections for parsing are just wonderful2 they seem aimed directly at me4 ,what have you found1 ,flossy8 ,wonderful things1 said ,flossy1 flushing and smiling4 ,you are reading backward1 aren't you8 ,i know those verses2 just you let me read them1 substituting the object about which we are talking1 and see how they will fit4 ,you see1 girls1 this astonishing man1 ,paul by name--do you happen to know his history8--more wonderful things happened to him than to any other mortal ,i verily believe4 ,well1 he was talking about idols1 and advising his ,christian friends not to eat the food that had been offered to idols2 not that it would hurt them1 but because--well1 you'll see the 'because' as ,i read4 ,i'll just put in our word1 for an illustration1 instead of meat4 ',but cards commend us not to ,god3 for neither if we play are we the better2 neither if we play not1 are we the worse4 ,but take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak2 for if any man see thee which hast knowledge1 sit at cards1 shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to sit at cards also8 ,and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom ,christ died8 ,but when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience1 ye sin against ,christ4 ,wherefore if cards make my brother to offend1 ,i will play no more cards while the world standeth1 lest ,i make my brother to offend4' ,doesn't that fit8 ,let me look at that1 said ,eurie1 suddenly1 drawing the ,bible to her4 ,after all1 she said1 after a moment1 what right have you to substitute the word cards8 ,it is talking about another matter4 ,now1 ,eurie ,mitchell1 you are too bright to make such a remark as that6 ,if the ,bible is for our help as well as for ,paul's1 we have surely the right to substitute the noun that fits our present needs4 ,we have no idols nowadays2 at least they are not made out of wood and stone2 and the logic of the question is as clear as sunlight4 ,we have only to understand that the matter of playing cards is a snare and a danger to some people1 and we see our duty clearly enough1 because1 how are we ever to be sure that the very person who will be tempted is not within the reach of our influence4 ,what do you think1 ,flossy8 ,is the question any clearer to you8 ,why1 yes1 ,flossy said1 slowly1 that eighth verse settles it3 ',for meat commendeth us not to ,god1 for neither if we eat are we the better1 neither if we eat not are we the worse4' ,it certainly can do no one any harm if ,i let cards alone1 and it is equally certain that it may do harm if ,i play them4 ,i should think my duty was clear4 ,i wonder what ,col4 ,baker will say to that duty8 queried ,eurie1 thinking aloud rather than speaking to any one4 ,he is very much given over to the amusement1 if ,i am not mistaken4 ,flossy raised her eyes and fixed them thoughtfully on ,eurie's face1 while a flush spread all over her own pretty one4 ,was it possible that she had helped to foster this taste in ,col4 ,baker4 ,how many evenings she had spent with him in this way4 ,was he very much addicted to the use of cards1 she wondered2 that is1 outside of their own parlor8 ,eurie seemed to know something about it4 ,what makes you think so8 she asked1 at last4 ,because ,i know so4 ,he has a great deal to do with ,nell's infatuation4 ,he was the very first one with whom ,nell ever played for anything but fun4 ,flossy ,shipley1 you surely know that he derives a good deal of his income in that way8 ,i certainly did not know it1 ,flossy said1 with an increasing glow on her cheeks4 ,the glow was caused by wondering how far her own brother1 ,charlie1 had been led by this man4 ,girls1 said ,marion1 concluding that a change of subject would be wise1 wouldn't a ,bible reading evening be nice8 ,what kind of an evening can that be8 ,marion laughed4 ,why1 a reading together out of the ,bible about a certain subject1 or subjects1 that interested us1 and about which we wanted to inform ourselves8 ,like this1 for instance4 ,i presume there are dozens of texts that bear on this very question4 ,it would be nice to go over them together and talk them up4 ,flossy's eyes brightened4 ,i would like that exceedingly1 she said4 ,i need the help of you all4 ,i know so very little about the ,bible4 ,we have musical evenings1 and literary evenings2 why not ,bible evenings8 ,let's do it4 ,apropos of the subject in hand1 before we take up a new one1 what do you think of this by way of illustration8 ,ruth asked1 as she threw down on the table a daintily written epistle4 ,there was an eager grasping after it by this merry trio1 and ,eurie securing it1 read aloud4 ,it was an invitation for the next evening to a select gathering of choice spirits for the purpose of enjoying a social evening at cards4 ,what do you propose to do with it8 ,marion asked1 as ,eurie balanced the note on her hand with an amused face2 the illustration fitted so remarkably into the talk4 ,decline it1 ,ruth said1 briefly4 ,and then added1 as an after-thought1 ,i never gave the subject any attention in my life4 ,i am1 perhaps1 not entirely convinced now1 only ,i see as ,flossy does1 that ,i shall certainly do no harm by declining2 whereas it seems ,i may possibly do some by accepting2 therefore1 of course1 the way is clear4 ,she said it with the utmost composure1 and it was evident that the idea of such a course being disagreeable to her1 or of her considering it a cross to decline1 had not occurred to her4 ,she cared nothing at all about these matters1 and had only been involved in them as a sort of necessity belonging to society4 ,she was more than willing to be counted out4 ,as for ,flossy1 she drew a little sigh of envy4 ,she would have given much to have been constituted like ,ruth ,erskine4 ,she knew that the same like invitation would probably come to her1 and she knew that she would decline it2 but1 aside from loss of the pleasure and excitement of the pretty toilet and the pleasant evening among her friends1 she foresaw long and wearisome discussions with ,col4 ,baker1 with ,charlie1 with her father2 sarcastic remarks from ,kitty and her lover1 and a long train of annoyances4 ,she dreaded them all2 it was so easy to slip along with the current2 it was so hard to stem it and insist on going the other way4 ,as for ,marion ,wilbur1 she envied them both2 a chance for them to dash out into a new channel and make some headway1 not the everlasting humdrum sameness that filled her life4 ,flossy was fascinated with the ,bible words1 that were so new and fresh to her4 ,those verses cover a great deal of ground1 she said1 slowly reading them over again4 ,i can think of a good many things which we call right enough1 that1 measured by that test1 would have to be changed or given up4 ,but1 ,marion1 you spoke of dancing and theatre-going4 ,i can't quite see what the verses have to do with either of those amusements2 ,i mean not as we1 and the people in our set1 have to do with such things4 ,do you think every form of dancing is wicked8 ,what wholesale questions you ask1 my morsel6 ,and you ask them precisely as though ,i had been made umpire and you must abide by my decisions1 whatever they are4 ,now1 do you know ,i never believed in dancing8 ,i had some queer1 perhaps old-fashioned1 notions about it all my life4 ,even before there was any such thing as a conscientious scruple about it1 ,i should not have danced if ,i had had a hundred chances to mingle in just the set that you do2 so1 perhaps1 ,i am not the one of whom to ask that question4 ,i should think you were just the one4 ,if you have examined it1 and know why you think so1 you can surely tell me1 and give me a chance to see whether ,i ought to think as you do or not4 ,i need posting1 decidedly1 on that question1 ,eurie said1 throwing off her earnestness and looking amused4 ,if there is any one thing above another that ,i do thoroughly enjoy1 it is dancing2 and ,i give you all fair warning1 ,i don't mean to be coaxed out of it very easily4 ,i shall fight hard for that bit of fun4 ,marion don't know anything about it1 for she never danced2 but the rest of you know just what a delicious exercise it is2 and ,i don't believe1 when it is indulged in reasonably1 and at proper places1 there is any harm at all in it4 ,if ,i am to give it up1 you will have to show me strong reasons why ,i should4 ,all this fits right in with my idea1 ,marion said4 ,nothing could be more suitable for our first ,bible reading4 ,let us take an evening for it1 and prepare ourselves as well as we can beforehand1 and examine into the ,bible view of it4 ,eurie1 you will be expected to be armed with all the ,scriptural arguments in its favor4 ,i'll try for the other side4 ,now1 ,ruth and ,flossy1 which side will you choose8 ,neither1 ,ruth said1 promptly4 ,i am interested in the subject1 and shall be glad to be informed as to what the ,bible says about it1 if any of you are smart enough to find anything that will bear on the subject2 but ,i believe the ,bible left that1 as well as some other things1 to our common sense1 and that each of us have to decide the matter for ourselves4 ,all right1 said ,marion1 we'll accept you on the non-committal side4 ,only1 remember you are to try to prove from the ,bible that it has left us to decide this matter for ourselves4 ,i shall take every side that ,i find1 ,flossy said4 ,what ,i want to know is1 the truth about things4 ,without regard as to whether the truth is so fortunate as to agree with your opinion or not8 said ,marion4 ,you will1 probably1 be quite as likely to find the truth as any of us4 ,well1 ,i like the plan2 there is work in it1 and it will amount to something4 ,when shall it be8 ,next ,friday1 said ,flossy4 ,no1 said ,ruth2 ,friday is the night of ,mrs4 ,garland's lawn party4 ,a dancing party1 said ,eurie4 ,good6 ,let us come together on ,thursday evening4 ,if there is a dancing party just ahead1 it will make us all the more zealous to prove our sides2 ,i shall be1 at least1 for ,i want to go to ,mrs4 ,garland's4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,looking ,,for ,,work4 ,,dr4 ,,dennis had just gone into his study to make ready for the evening prayer-meeting1 when he heard his door-bell ring4 ,he remembered with a shade of anxiety that his daughter was not yet out of school1 and that his sister and housekeeper was not at home4 ,it was more than likely that he would be interrupted4 ,what is it1 ,hannah8 he asked1 as that person appeared at his door4 ,it is ,miss ,erskine1 sir4 ,i told her that ,miss ,dennis was out of town1 and ,miss ,grace was at school1 and she said it was of no consequence1 she wanted to see the minister himself4 ,will ,i tell her that you are engaged8 ,no1 said ,dr4 ,dennis1 promptly4 ,the sensation was still very new1 this desire on the part of any of the name of ,erskine to see him4 ,his preparation could afford to wait4 ,two minutes more and ,ruth was in the study4 ,it was a place in which she felt as nearly embarrassed as she ever approached to that feeling4 ,she had a specific purpose in calling1 and words arranged wherewith to commence her topic2 but they fled from her as if she had been a school girl instead of a finished young lady in society2 and she answered the ,doctor's kind enquiries as to the health of her father and herself in an absent and constrained manner4 ,at last this good man concluded to help her4 ,is there any thing special that ,i can do for you to-day8 he asked1 with a kindly interest in his tone1 that suggested the feeling that he was interested in her plans1 whatever they were1 and would be glad to help4 ,yes1 she said1 surprised into frankness by his straightforward way of doing things2 or1 at least1 ,i hope you can4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 ought not every ,christian to be at work8 ,our great ,example said2 ',i must work the works of him that sent me while it is day4' ,i know it2 that very verse set me to thinking about it4 ,that is what ,i want help about4 ,there is no work for me to do2 at least1 ,i can't find any4 ,i am doing just nothing at all1 and ,i don't in the least know which way to turn4 ,i am not satisfied with this state of things2 ,i can't settle back to my books and my music as ,i did before ,i went away2 ,i don't enjoy them as ,i used to2 ,i mean1 they don't absorb me2 they seem to be of no earthly use to anyone but myself1 and ,i don't feel absolutely certain that they are of any use to me2 anyway1 they are not ,christian work4 ,as to that1 you are not to be too certain about it4 ,wonderful things can be done with music2 and when one is given a marked talent for it1 as ,i hear has been the case with you1 it is not to be hidden in a napkin4 ,i don't know what ,i can do with music1 ,i am sure1 ,ruth said1 skeptically4 ,i suppose ,i must have a good deal of talent in that direction2 ,i have been told so ever since ,i can remember2 but beyond entertaining my friends1 ,i see no other special use for it4 ,do you remember telling me about the songs which ,mr4 ,bliss sang at ,chautauqua1 and the effect on the audience8 ,yes1 said ,ruth1 speaking heartily1 and her cheeks glowing at the recollection but he was wonderful6 ,the same work can be done in a smaller way1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 smiling4 ,i hope to show you something of what you may do to help in that way before another winter passes2 but1 in the meantime1 mere entertainment of friends is not a bad motive for keeping up one's music4 ,then there is the uncertain future ever before us4 ,what if you should be called upon to teach music some day8 ,a vision of herself toiling wearily from house to house in all weathers1 and at all hours of the day1 as she had seen music teachers do1 hovered over ,ruth ,erskine's brain1 and so utterly improbable and absurd did the picture seem1 when she imagined it as having any reference to her1 that she laughed outright4 ,i don't believe ,i shall ever teach music1 she said1 positively4 ,perhaps not2 and yet stranger things than that have happened in this changeful life4 ,but1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 she said1 with sudden energy1 and showing a touch of annoyance at the turn which the talk was taking1 my trouble is not an inability to employ my time2 ,i do not belong to the class of young ladies who are afflicted with ennui4 ,and a sarcastic curve of her handsome lip made ,ruth look very like the ,miss ,erskine that ,dr4 ,dennis had always known4 ,she despised people who had no resources within themselves4 ,i can find plenty to do1 and ,i enjoy doing it2 but the point is1 ,i seem to be living only for myself1 and that doesn't seem right4 ,i want ,christian work4 ,to tell the truth ,dr4 ,dennis was puzzled4 ,there was so much work to do1 his hands and heart were always so full and running over1 that it seemed strange to him for anyone to come looking for ,christian work2 the world was teeming with it4 ,on the other hand he confessed to himself that he was utterly unaccustomed to hearing people ask for work2 or1 if the facts be told1 to having any one do any work4 ,years ago he had tried to set the people of the ,first ,church to work2 but they had stared at him and misunderstood him1 and he confessed to himself that he had given over trying to get work out of most of them4 ,while this experience was refreshing1 it was new1 and left him for the moment bewildered4 ,i understand you1 he said1 rallying4 ,there is plenty of ,christian work4 ,do you want to take a class in the ,sunday-school8 ,there is a vacancy4 ,ruth shook her head with decision4 ,that is not at all my forte4 ,i have no faculty for teaching children2 ,i am entirely unused to them1 and have no special interest in them1 and no sort of idea how they are to be managed4 ,some people are specially fitted for such work2 ,i know ,i am not4 ,often we find our work much nearer home than we had planned1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 regarding her with a thoughtful air4 ,how is it with your father1 ,miss ,erskine8 ,my father8 she repeated2 and she could hardly have looked more bewildered if her pastor had asked after the welfare of the man in the moon4 ,are you trying to win him over to the ,lord's side8 ,utter silence and surprise on ,miss ,erskine's part4 ,at last she said3 ,i hardly ever see my father2 we are never alone except when we are on our way to dinner1 or to pay formal calls on very formal people4 ,then we are always in a hurry4 ,i cannot reach my father1 ,dr4 ,dennis2 he is immersed in business1 and has no time nor heart for such matters4 ,i should not in the least know how to approach him if ,i had a chance2 and1 indeed1 ,i am sure ,i could do no good1 for he would esteem it an impertinence to be questioned by his daughter as to his thoughts on these matters4 ,yet you have an earnest desire to see him a ,christian8 ,yes1 she said1 speaking slowly and hesitatingly2 of course ,i have that4 ,to be very frank1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 it is a hopeless sort of desire2 ,i don't expect it in the least2 my father is peculiarly unapproachable2 ,i know he considers himself sufficient unto himself1 if you will allow the expression4 ,in thinking of him1 ,i have felt that a great many years from now1 when he is old1 and when business cares and responsibilities have in a measure fallen off1 and given him time to think of himself1 he might then feel his need of a ,friend and be won2 but ,i don't even hope for it before that time4 ,my dear friend1 you have really no right to set a different time from the one that your ,master has set1 her pastor said1 earnestly4 ,don't you know that his time is always now8 ,how can you be sure that he will choose to give your father a long life1 and leisure in old age to help him to think8 ,isn't that a terrible risk8 ,ruth ,erskine shook her decided head4 ,i feel sure that my work is not in that direction1 she said4 ,i could not do it2 you do not know my father as well as ,i do2 he would never allow me to approach him4 ,the most ,i can hope to do will be to hold what he calls my new views so far into the background that he will not positively forbid them to me4 ,he is the only person ,i think of whom ,i stand absolutely in awe4 ,then ,i couldn't talk with him4 ,his life is a pure1 spotless one1 convincing by its very morality2 so he thinks that there is no need of a ,saviour4 ,i do pray for him2 ,i mean to as long as he and ,i live2 but ,i know ,i can do nothing else2 at least not for many a year4 ,how was ,dr4 ,dennis to set to work a lady who knew so much that she could not work8 ,this was the thought that puzzled him4 ,but he knew how difficult it was for people to work in channels marked out by others4 ,so he said1 encouragingly3 ,i can conceive of some of your difficulties in that direction4 ,but you have other friends who are not ,christians8 ,this being said inquiringly1 ,ruth1 after a moment of hesitation1 answered it3 ,i have one friend to whom ,i have tried to talk about this matter1 but ,i have had no success4 ,he is very peculiar in his views and feelings4 ,he agrees to every thing that ,i say1 and admits the wisdom and reasonableness of it all1 but he goes no further4 ,there are a great many such people1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 with a quick sigh4 ,he met many of them himself4 ,they are the hardest class to reach4 ,does your friend believe in the power of prayer8 ,i have generally found the safest and shortest way with such to be to use my influence in inducing them to begin to pray4 ,if they admit its power and its reasonableness1 it is such a very simple thing to do for a friend that they can hardly refuse4 ,i don't think he ever prays1 ,ruth said1 and ,i don't believe he would4 ,he would think it hypocritical4 ,he says as much as that half the praying must be mockery4 ,granting that to be the case1 does he think he should therefore not offer real prayer8 ,that would be a sad state4 ,because ,i have many hypocrites in my family whose words to me are mockery1 therefore no one must be a true friend4 ,i know1 said ,ruth1 interrupting4 ,but ,i don't know how to reach such people4 ,perhaps he may be your work1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 but ,i don't think he is mine4 ,i don't in the least know what to say to him4 ,i refer to ,mr4 ,wayne4 ,i know him1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 but he is not inclined to talk with me4 ,i have not the intimacy with him that would lead him to be familiar4 ,i should be very certain1 if ,i were you1 that my work did not lie in that direction before ,i turned from it4 ,i am certain1 ,ruth said1 with a little laugh4 ,i don't know how to talk to such people4 ,i should feel sure of doing more harm than good4 ,but1 my dear ,miss ,erskine1 ,i beg your pardon for the reminder1 but since you are thrown much into his society1 will it not be necessary for you1 as a ,christian1 to talk more or less about this matter8 ,should not your talk be shaped in such a way as to influence him if you can8 ,i don't think ,i understand1 ,ruth said1 doubtfully4 ,do you mean that people should talk about religion all the time they are together8 ,during this question ,dr4 ,dennis had drawn his ,bible toward him and been turning over the leaves4 ,just let me read you a word from the ,guide-book on this subject3 ',only let your conversation be as becometh the ,gospel of ,christ4' ',as he which hath called you is holy1 so be ye holy in all manner of conversation4' ',seeing1 then1 that all these things shall be dissolved1 what manner of person ought ye to be1 in all holy conversation and godliness8' ,what should you conclude as to ,christian duty in the matter of daily conversation8 ,ruth made no answer to this question1 but sat with earnest1 thoughtful look fixed on her pastor's face4 ,who follows that pattern8 she asked1 at last4 ,my dear friend1 is not our concern rather to decide whether you and ,i shall try to do it in the future8 ,someway this brought the talk to a sudden lull4 ,ruth seemed to have no more to say4 ,there is another way of work that ,i have been intending to suggest to some of you young ladies1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 after a thoughtful silence4 ,it is something very much neglected in our church--that is the social question4 ,do you know we have many members who complain that they are never called on1 never spoken with1 never noticed in any way8 ,i don't know anything about the members1 ,ruth said4 ,i don't think ,i have a personal acquaintance with twenty of them--a calling acquaintance1 ,i mean4 ,that is the case with a great many1 and it is a state of things that should not exist4 ,the family ought to know each other4 ,i begin to see your work clearer2 it is the young ladies1 to a large extent1 who must remedy this evil4 ,suppose you take up some of that work1 not neglecting the other1 of course4 ',these ought ye to have done1 and not to have left the other undone1' ,i am afraid will be said to a good many of us4 ,but this is certainly work needing to be done1 and work for which you have leisure4 ,he hoped to see her face brighten1 but it did not4 ,instead she said3 ,i hate calling4 ,i dare say2 calling that is aimless1 and in a sense useless4 ,it must be hateful work4 ,but if you start out with an object in view1 a something to accomplish that is worth your while1 will it not make a great difference8 ,ruth only sighed4 ,i have so many calls to make with father1 she said1 wearily4 ,it is the worst work ,i do4 ,they are upon fashionable1 frivolous people1 who cannot talk about anything4 ,it is worse martyrdom now than it used to be4 ,i think ,i am peculiarly unfitted for such work1 ,dr4 ,dennis4 ,but ,i want you to try a different style of calls4 ,go alone2 not with your father1 or with anyone who will trammel your tongue2 and go among a class of people who do not expect you1 and will be surprised and pleased1 and helped1 perhaps4 ,come1 let me give you a list of persons whom ,i would like to have you call on at your earliest opportunity4 ,this is work that ,i am really longing to see done4 ,a prisoner about to receive sentence could hardly have looked more gloomy than did ,ruth4 ,she was still for a few minutes1 then she said3 ,dr4 ,dennis1 do you really think it is a person's duty to do that sort of work for which he or she feels least qualified1 and which is the most distasteful8 ,no1 said ,dr4 ,dennis1 promptly4 ,my dear ,miss ,erskine1 will you be so kind as to tell me the work for which you feel qualified1 and for which you have no distaste8 ,again ,ruth hesitated1 looked confused1 and then laughed4 ,she began to see that she was making a very difficult task for her pastor4 ,i don't feel qualified for anything1 she said1 at last4 ,and ,i feel afraid to undertake anything4 ,but at the same time1 ,i think ,i ought to be at work4 ,now we begin to see the way clearer1 he said1 smiling1 and with encouragement in his voice4 ,it may seem a strange thing to you1 but a sense of unfitness is sometimes one of the very best qualifications for such work4 ,if it is strong enough to drive us to the blessed ,friend who has promised to make perfect our weakness in this as in all other efforts1 and if we go out armed in ,his strength we are sure to conquer4 ,try it4 ,take this for your motto3 ',as ye have opportunity4' ,and1 by the way1 do you know the rest of that verse8 ',especially to them who are of the household of faith4' ,it is members of the household that ,i want you to call on1 remember4 ,ruth laughed again1 and shook her head4 ,but she took her list and went away4 ,she had no more that she wanted to say just then2 but she felt that she had food for thought4 ,i may try it1 she said1 as she went out1 holding up her list1 but ,i feel that ,i shall blunder1 and do more harm than good4 ,dr4 ,dennis looked after her with a face on which there was no smile4 ,there goes one1 he said to himself1 who thinks she is willing to be led1 but1 on the contrary1 she wants to lead4 ,she is saved1 but not subdued4 ,i wonder what means the great ,master will have to use to lead her to rest in his hands1 knowing no way but his8 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,an ,,unarmed ,,soldier4 ,,many things intervened to keep ,ruth ,erskine from having much to do with that list which her pastor had given her4 ,she read it over indeed1 and realized that she was not familiar with a single name4 ,what an idea it will be for me to go blundering through the city1 hunting up people whom ,i shall not know when ,i find4 ,this she said as she read it over2 then she laid it aside1 and made ready to go out to dinner with her father1 to meet two judges and their wives and daughters who were stopping in town4 ,during that day she thought many times of the sentences that had been read to her out of that plain-looking1 much-worn ,bible on ,dr4 ,dennis' study-table4 ,the only effect they had on her was to make her smile at the thought of the impossibility of anything like a religious conversation in such society as that6 ,how they would stare1 she said to herself1 if ,i should ask them about a prayer-meeting6 ,i have half a mind to try it4 ,if father were not within hearing ,i would1 just to see what these finished young ladies would say4 ,but she did not try it2 and the evening passed1 as so many evenings had1 without an attempt on her part to carry out any of the thoughts which troubled her4 ,she looked forward to one bit of work which she expected to fall to her share1 at least she liked to call it work4 ,that card-party to which she had been invited2 she would be expected to attend in company with ,mr4 ,wayne2 she meant to decline1 and her father would be surprised and a trifle annoyed1 for it was at a place where1 not liking the people well enough himself to be social1 he desired his daughter to atone for his deficiency4 ,but she would steadily refuse4 ,she did not shrink from this effort as ,flossy did2 on the contrary1 she half enjoyed the thought of being a calm and composed martyr4 ,but1 quite to her discomfort1 the martyrdom was not permitted2 at least it took a different form4 ,mr4 ,wayne was obliged to be out of town1 and sent profuse regrets1 assuming that1 of course1 it would be a sore disappointment to her4 ,her father took sufficient notice of it to make one or two efforts to agreeably supply his place1 and failing in that1 assured his daughter that rather than have her disappointed1 he would have planned to accompany her himself if he had known of ,mr4 ,wayne's absence in time4 ,the actual cross that it would have been to explain to her father that she did not desire to go1 and the reasons therefor1 she did not take up2 but the occurrence served to annoy her4 ,two days afterward she was busy all the morning with her dressmaker1 getting a special dress ready for a wedding among the upper circles4 ,she had been hurried and worried1 and was as nearly out of patience as her calmness ever allowed her to be4 ,still she remembered that it was the prayer-meeting evening1 that she should see ,dr4 ,dennis1 and that he would be likely to ask her about the people on that list4 ,she ought to go that afternoon1 and try what she could do4 ,once since her call on ,dr4 ,dennis she had met him as he was going down ,clinton ,street1 and he had turned and joined her for a few steps1 while he said3 ,i have been thinking about another friend of yours1 that ,i should be very glad to see influenced in the right direction4 ,his sister is trying1 ,i presume2 but other people's sisters some times have an influence4 ,young ,mitchell1 the doctor's son1 is a young man of real promise2 he ought to be on the ,lord's side4 ,you are mistaken in supposing him to be a friend of mine1 ,ruth said1 with promptness and emphasis4 ,we have the most distant speaking acquaintance only1 and ,i have a dislike for him amounting to absolute aversion4 ,there was that in ,ruth ,erskine's voice when she chose to let it appear that said1 ,my aversion is a very serious and disagreeable thing4 ,yes1 the ,doctor said1 quietly1 as one in no degree surprised or disturbed2 yet he has a soul to be saved1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ died to save him4 ,there was no denying this2 and certainly it would not look well in her to say that she had no desire to have part in his salvation2 so she kept silence4 ,but there followed her a disagreeable remembrance of having negatived every proposition whereby the doctor had hoped to set her at work4 ,she decided1 disagreeable as it was1 to make a vigorous assault on those families1 thereby showing him what she could do4 ,to this end she arrayed herself in immaculate calling attire--with a rustle of silk and a softness of ruffle1 and a daintiness of glove that none but the wealthy can assume1 and1 in short1 with that unmistakable air about every thing pertaining to her that marks the lady of fashion4 ,these things were as much a part of ,ruth ,erskine as her hair and eyes were4 ,once ready1 her dress1 perhaps1 gave her as little thought as her eyes or hair did4 ,but she looked as though that must have been the sole object of thought and study in order to produce such perfect results4 ,her preparation for her new and untried work had been none of the best4 ,as ,i said1 the morning had been given to the cares of the dressmaker and the deceitfulness of trimmings1 so much so that her ,bible reading even had been omitted1 and only the briefest and most hurried of prayers1 worthy of the days when prayer was nothing to her but a formal bowing of the head1 on proper occasions1 had marked her need of help from the ,almighty ,hand4 ,these thoughts troubled her as she went down the ,street4 ,she paused irresolutely before one of the principal bookstores4 ,i ought to have some tracts1 she said1 doubtfully1 to herself2 they always take tracts when they go district visiting2 ,i know that from hearing ,mrs4 ,whipple talk2 what is this but a district visiting2 only ,dr4 ,dennis has put my district all over the city2 ,i wonder if he could have scattered the streets more if he had tried2 respectable streets1 though1 all of them2 better than any ,mrs4 ,whipple ever told about4 ,then she tried to select her tracts2 but when one has utter ignorance of such literature1 and a few minutes at a crowded counter in which to make a selection1 it is not likely to be very select4 ,she finally gave up any attempt at choice1 beyond a few whose titles seemed inviting1 chose a package at random1 and hastened on her way4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,y4 ,sullivan was the first name on her list1 and1 following her directions1 she came presently to the street and number4 ,a neat brick house1 with a modern air about it and its surroundings2 a bird singing in a cage before the open window1 and pots of flowers blooming behind tastefully looped white curtains2 not at all the sort of a house that ,ruth had imagined she would see4 ,it did not suit her ideas of district visiting1 crude though those ideas were4 ,however1 she rang the bell4 ,having commenced the task she was not one to draw back1 though she admitted to herself that she never felt more embarrassed in her life4 ,nor did the embarrassment lessen when she was shown into the pretty1 tasteful parlor1 where presently ,mrs4 ,sullivan joined her4 ,i am ,miss ,erskine1 ,ruth said1 rising as ,mrs4 ,sullivan1 a tall woman of some degree of dignity after a slight bow1 waited as if she would know her errand4 ,unfortunately ,ruth had no errand1 save that she had come out to do her duty1 and make the sort of call that ,dr4 ,dennis expected her to make4 ,her embarrassment was excessive6 ,what could she do or say next8 ,why did not ,mrs4 ,sullivan take a chair1 instead of standing there and looking at her like an idiot8 ,do you get out to church every ,sabbath8 she asked1 suddenly1 feeling the need of saying something4 ,mrs4 ,sullivan looked as though she thought she had suddenly come in contact with a lunatic4 ,do ,i get out to church8 she repeated4 ,that depends on whether ,i decide to go or not4 ,may ,i ask why you are interested8 ,what had become of ,ruth's common sense8 ,why couldn't she have said1 in as natural a way as she would have talked about going to a concert1 that she was interested to know whether she enjoyed such a privilege8 ,why couldn't she have been herself in talking about these matters1 as well as at any other time8 ,does anyone know why such a sense of horrible embarrassment creeps over some people when their conversation takes the least tinge of religion--people who are wonderfully self-possessed on all other themes8 ,well1 said ,ruth1 in haste and confusion1 ,i merely inquired2 ,i mean no offence1 certainly2 will you have a tract8 ,and she hastily seized one from her package1 which happened to be entitled1 ,why are you not a ,christian8 ,thank you1 ,mrs4 ,sullivan said1 drawing back1 ,i am not in special need of reading matter2 we keep ourselves supplied with religious literature of a kind that suits our tastes4 ,as to tracts1 ,i always keep a package by me to distribute when ,i go among the poor4 ,this one would not be particularly appropriate to me1 as ,i trust ,i am a ,christian4 ,dear me6 how stiff and proper they both were6 ,and in their hearts how indignant they both felt4 ,what about8 ,could either of them have told8 ,i wonder what earthly good that call did8 ,ruth asked herself1 as with glowing cheeks and rapid steps1 she made her way down the street4 ,what could have been ,dr4 ,dennis' object in sending me there to call8 ,i thought ,i was to call on the poor4 ,he didn't say any thing about whether they were poor or not1 now ,i think of it2 but ,i supposed1 of course1 that was what he meant4 ,why need she have been so disagreeable1 anyway8 ,i am sure ,i didn't insult her4 ,and ,i tell you truly that ,miss ,erskine did not know that she had seemed disagreeable in the extreme to ,mrs4 ,sullivan1 and that she was at that moment raging over it in her heart4 ,extremely disgusted with her first attempt1 and almost ready to declare that it should be the last1 ,ruth still decided to make one more venture--that inborn dislike which she had for giving up what had once been undertaken1 coming to her aid in this matter4 ,another pretty little house1 white and green blinds1 and plant in bloom2 the name on the door and on her list was ,smith4 ,that told her very little4 ,she was ushered into what was evidently the family sitting-room1 and a pretty enough room it was2 occupied just now by three merry girls1 who hushed their laugh as she entered1 and by a matronly lady1 whom one of them called mother4 ,ruth had never made calls before when she had the least tinge of embarrassment4 ,if she could have divested herself of the idea that she was a district visitor out distributing tracts1 she would not have felt so now2 but as it was1 the feeling grew upon her every instant4 ,pretty little ,miss ,smith had decidedly the advantage of her1 as she said1 promptly3 ,good afternoon1 ,miss ,erskine2 mother1 this is ,judge ,erskine's daughter2 and then proceeded to introduce her friends4 ,now1 if ,ruth could have become unprofessional1 all might have been well2 but she had gone out with a sincere desire to do her duty2 so she took the offered seat near ,mrs4 ,smith1 and said3 ,i called this afternoon1 at ,dr4 ,dennis' request1 to see if there was anything that ,i could do for you4 ,mrs4 ,smith looked politely amazed4 ,i don't think ,i quite understand1 she said1 slowly2 while in the daughter's bright eyes there gleamed mirth and mischief4 ,i do1 she said1 quickly4 ,dr4 ,dennis is very kind4 ,miss ,erskine1 ,i am very anxious to have a blue silk dress1 trimmed in white lace1 to wear to the party next week2 could you manage it for me1 do you think8 ,caroline6 spoke ,mrs4 ,smith1 in a surprised and reproving tone1 while ,ruth looked her indignant astonishment4 ,well1 mother1 she said she called to see if we wanted anything1 and ,i certainly want that4 ,there is some mistake1 ,mrs4 ,smith said1 speaking kindly1 and evidently pitying ,ruth's dreadful embarrassment4 ,you have mistaken the house1 ,i presume2 our name is such a common one4 ,you are out on an errand of charity1 ,i presume8 ,we are glad to see you1 of course1 but we are not in need of anything but friends4 ,i believe you attend the same church with ourselves2 we ought to know each other1 of course4 ,so we shall profit by the mistake after all4 ,my daughter is a wild little girl1 and lets her sense of fun get the better of her politeness sometimes2 ,i hope you will excuse her4 ,what was to be said8 ,why could not ,ruth get rid of her horrible embarrassment and rally to meet this kind and frank greeting8 ,in vain she tried to command her tongue2 to think of something to say that would be proper under these strange circumstances4 ,how had she misunderstood ,dr4 ,dennis6 ,why should these people be called on8 ,why should they feel that they were being neglected when they were in need of nothing8 ,it was all a mystery to her2 and the world is full of people who do not understand a sense of loneliness1 whose lives are so full of friendships1 and engagements1 and society1 that they imagine all other people are like themselves except that class known as the poor1 who need old clothes1 and cold pieces1 and tracts6 ,that was all that ,ruth ,erskine knew4 ,she could not recover from her astonishment and confusion2 she made her stay very short1 indeed1 apologizing in what she was conscious was an awkward way for her intrusion1 and then went directly toward home1 resolving in great firmness that she had made her last calls on people selected from that horrible list4 ,she was more than embarrassed2 she was utterly dismayed and disheartened4 ,was there1 then1 nothing for her to do8 ,it had been a real honest desire to be up and doing which had sent her to ,dr4 ,dennis2 it had been a real cross1 and one keenly felt to take up this work about which she had started4 ,what an utter failure6 ,what could he have meant8 ,how was she expected to help those people8 ,they needed nothing2 they were ,christian people2 they were pleasantly circumstanced in every way4 ,she had not the least idea how to be of any help to them4 ,there was nothing for her to do4 ,she felt humbled and sad4 ,yet that young lady was joined in a few minutes by ,nellis ,mitchell1 who cordially volunteered to shield her dainty summer toilet from certain drops of rain that began to fall1 and so walked six entire blocks by her side1 pleasant and genial as usual1 and not a word said she to him about the great topic to which her life was consecrated4 ,he even helped her by himself referring to the evening meeting1 and saying that he should have to escort ,eurie as far as the door if this rain continued1 and she did not so much as think to ask him to come farther and enjoy the meeting with them4 ,she did not like ,nellis ,mitchell1 you will remember4 ,also that same evening she spent an hour after prayer-meeting in conversation with her friend1 ,mr4 ,wayne1 and she said not a single word to him about this matter4 ,she could not talk with him1 she told herself2 he did not understand her1 and it did no good4 ,some time1 when he was in a less complaisant mood1 she could do something for him1 but not now4 ,she was not very companionable1 however2 her mind was dwelling on her afternoon disappointment4 ,it was the most horrid time ,i ever had in my life6 she told ,marion1 after going over an account of the experience4 ,i shall not be caught in that way again4 ,and ,marion1 unsympathetic girl that she was1 laughed much and long4 ,what a creature you are6 she said1 at last4 ,i declare1 it is funny that people can live in the world and know so little about their fellow-mortals as you and ,flossy do4 ,she knows no more about them than a kitten does1 and you know no more than the moon4 ,you sail right above all their feelings and ideas4 ,it served you right1 ,i declare4 ,what earthly right had you to go sailing down on people in that majestic fashion1 and asking questions as if they were ,roman ,catholics and you were the priest8 ,i don't see what in the world you mean6 ,ruth said1 feeling exceedingly annoyed4 ,well1 my dear young woman1 you ought to see2 you can't expect to get through the ,christian world even without having a due regard for common sense4 ,just suppose the ,president's wife should come sweeping into your parlor1 asking you if you went to church1 and if you would have a tract4 ,i am afraid you would be tempted to tell her it was none of her business4 ,the cases are not at all parallel1 ,ruth said1 flushing deeply4 ,i consider myself on quite an equal footing with the ,president's wife or any other lady4 ,whereupon ,marion laughed with more abandon than before4 ,now1 ,ruth ,erskine1 she said1 don't be a goose4 ,do use your common sense2 you have some1 ,i am sure4 ,wherein are these people whom you went to see on a lower footing than yourself8 ,granting that they have less money than you do1 or even1 perhaps1 less than ,i have1 are you ready to admit that money is the question that settles positions in society8 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,marion',s ,,plan4 ,,miss ,,wilbur6 ,miss ,wilbur6 can't we go in ,miss ,lily's class to-day1 our teacher isn't here8 ,miss ,wilbur1 they are crowding us off the seat2 there isn't room for no more in this class4 ,miss ,wilbur1 sister ,nellie can't come to-day2 she has the toothache4 ,can ,i go in ,kitty's class8 ,every one of these little voices spoke at once2 two of the owners thereof twitched at her dress1 and another of them nudged her elbow4 ,in the midst of this little babel of confusion the door opened softly1 and ,dr4 ,dennis came in4 ,marion turned toward him and laughed--a perplexed laugh that might mean something besides amusement4 ,what is it8 he asked1 answering the look instead of the laugh4 ,it is everything1 she said1 quickly4 ,you mustn't stay a minute1 ,dr4 ,dennis2 we are not in company trim to-day at all4 ,unless you will do the work1 we can't have you4 ,i came to hear1 not to work1 he said1 smiling1 and at the same time looking troubled4 ,you will hear very little that will interest you for the next ten minutes at least2 though ,i don't know but you would better stay2 it would be a good introduction to the talk that ,i want to have with you early in the week4 ,i am coming to-morrow after school1 if ,i may4 ,dr4 ,dennis gave the assent promptly1 named the hour that he would be at leisure1 and went away wondering what they were accomplishing in the primary class4 ,this was the introduction to ,marion's talk in the study with ,dr4 ,dennis4 ,she wasted no time in preliminaries1 but had hardly seated herself before the subject on her mind was brought forward4 ,it is all about that class1 ,dr4 ,dennis4 ,i am going to prove a failure4 ,don't1 he said1 smiling at her words1 but looking his disturbance2 we have had failures enough in that class to shipwreck it2 it is quite time we had a change for the better4 ,what is the trouble8 ,the trouble is1 we do nothing4 ,two-thirds of our time is occupied in getting ready to do2 and even then we can't half accomplish it4 ,then we don't stay ready1 and have to begin the work all over again4 ,yesterday1 for instance1 there were three absences among the teachers2 that means confusion1 for each of those teachers have seven children who are thus thrown loose on the world4 ,think how much time we must consume in getting them seated somewhere1 and under some one's care2 and then imagine1 if you can1 the amount of time that they consume in saying1 ',our teacher doesn't do so1 she does so4' ,what is the reason that the teachers in that room are so very irregular8 ,why1 they are not irregular2 that is as ,sunday-school teachers rate regularity4 ,to be sure1 it would never do to be teaching a graded school1 for instance1 and be as careless as some of them are about regularity4 ,but that is a different matter1 of course2 this is only a ,sunday-school6 ,but for all that1 ,i think they do as well as the average4 ,you see1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 there are twenty of them1 and if each one of them is present every ,sunday in the year save three1 that makes a good deal of regularity on their part1 and yet averages absences every ,sabbath to be looked after4 ,don't you see8 ,i see1 he said1 smiling2 that is a mathematical way of putting it4 ,there is reason in it1 too4 ,how in the world do you manage when there are vacancies8 ,which is always1 ,marion said1 quickly4 ,there has not been a ,sabbath since ,i have had charge when all the teachers were present2 and ,i have taken pains to inquire of the former superintendent1 who reports very much the same4 ,isn't it so in all schools1 ,dr4 ,dennis8 ,of course there must of necessity be some detentions2 but not so many1 probably1 as there actually are1 if we were in the habit of being very conscientious about these matters2 still1 ,i don't know that we are worse than others4 ,but you haven't told me how you manage8 ,i manage every way2 there is no set way to do it4 ,i stand around in much the same state of perplexity in which you found me yesterday4 ,the children each have their special friends who have been put in other classes1 and they are on the qui vive to be with them1 which adds not a little to the general confusion4 ,sometimes we have a regular whirl about of seats1 enlarge two or three classes1 and crowd some seats most uncomfortably1 leaving others empty2 sometimes we go out to the ,bible-classes for volunteers--and1 by the way1 it is nearly impossible to find any4 ,i wish you would preach a sermon on that subject4 ,it is so easy to say1 ',oh1 please excuse me2' it requires so little courage to do it2 and is such a comfortable and unanswerable way of disposing of the whole matter4 ,at the same time there is some degree of excuse for the refusals4 ,think of the folly of setting a young girl who knows nothing about little children1 and has made no preparation to teach them1 beside half a dozen little restless mortals1 and bidding her interest them in the lesson for ten minutes4 ,she doesn't know how to interest them1 and she knows she doesn't1 and the fact embarrasses her4 ,before she has fairly found out what she is expected to do her time is gone2 for it takes a wonderful amount of time to get ready to work4 ,but these young girls have only to teach certain ,scripture verses1 and a prayer or a hymn1 or something of that sort have they not8 ,one would think they might be equal to that without preparation4 ,do you think so8 ,marion asked1 a gleam of fun in her keen eyes4 ,i should like to see you try it1 provided you have no better mental caliber to assist you than some of the volunteers have4 ,why1 there is a right and wrong way of teaching even a ,bible verse4 ,do you know1 sir1 that you may repeat over words to children like a list from a spelling lesson1 and they will get no more idea from it than if it were a ,french sentence1 and will be able to commit it about as readily8 ,if ,i had children1 ,i should rebel at their being taught even ,bible verses by novices4 ,why1 it isn't allowed in public schools4 ,the days have gone by when anybody is supposed to be smart enough to teach children to drawl through the alphabet4 ,we have the best of trained teachers even for that work1 why should the ,sunday-school not need them even more1 infinitely more8 ,now that reminds me of a difficulty which is present even when the teachers are all there4 ,they are not the right sort of teachers1 many of them2 they do just such work as would not be tolerated on week-days by any board of trustees2 they whisper to each other2 sometimes about the music which they are practicing1 sometimes about the party that is to come off to-morrow4 ,these are the exceptions1 ,i know2 but there are such exceptions in our school1 and human nature is much the same the world over4 ,i presume they are everywhere2 at any rate1 we have to deal just now with our school1 and ,i know they are there4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 there are at least seven of those twenty teachers in my room who ought to be in good1 solid1 earnest working ,bible classes1 getting faith for help every ,sunday2 getting ideas that shall make them of use in the world1 instead of frittering their time away on what at best1 seems to them but a very mechanical work1 teaching some little children to repeat the ,twenty-third ,psalm1 or to say the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,the very fact that they do not recognize the dignity of such work unfits them for it2 and the fact that they have no lesson to teach1 ,i mean no lesson which they have to prepare carefully1 excuses them from any attempt at ,bible study4 ,i believe you would make an excellent lecturer1 if you were to take the field on a subject that interested you4 ,this was ,dr4 ,dennis' most irrelevant answer to ,marion's eager words4 ,she was not to be thrown off her theme4 ,then ,i shall try it1 perhaps1 on this very subject1 for it certainly interests me wonderfully4 ,indeed1 ,i am practicing now1 with you for my audience4 ,don't think ,i am not interested1 for ,i am1 he said1 returning to gravity and anxiety on the instant4 ,i see the subject to be full of perplexities2 the class has seemed a bewildering one2 the idea of putting the babies away alone in their own room fitted up for the purpose1 and feeding them with milk until they are old enough to bear strong meat1 has been something of a hobby with me4 ,i like it theoretically1 but ,i confess to you that ,i have never been able to enjoy its practical workings in our school4 ,i don't wonder1 ,marion said1 with energy4 ,it works most distressingly4 ,i am coming to the very pith of my lecture now1 which is this3 ,i have been teaching school for more than seven years4 ,i have taught all sorts and sizes of pupils4 ,i had a fancy that ,i could manage almost anything in that line1 believing that ,i had been through experiences varied enough to serve me in whatever line ,i could need1 but ,i have found myself mistaken2 ,i have found a work now that ,i can't accomplish4 ,mind you1 ,i don't say that no one can do it2 ,i am not quite so egotistic as that4 ,if ,i do lecture1 ,i have only to say that my teaching in that room is a failure1 ,i can't do it1 and ,i mean to give it up4 ,don't1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 nervously4 ,you will be the third one in a year's time4 ,i don't wonder4 ,i wonder that they are alive4 ,but1 ,miss ,wilbur1 you are a dark and gloomy lecturer4 ,when you demolish air castles1 have you nothing to build up in their places8 ,would you send the babies back into the main room again1 to be worn out with quiet and lack of motion8 ,not a bit of it4 ,i like the baby-room plan as well as any mortal2 and ,i have a remedy which it seems to me would arrange the whole thing4 ,of course it seems so to me2 we always like our own ways4 ,the truth is1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 ,i like nurseries1 and think they ought to be maintained2 but ,i don't like the idea of too many mothers there4 ,just what1 in plain ,english1 would you do1 my friend1 if you were commander-in-chief of the whole matter1 and all we had to do was to obey you8 ,it isn't at all modest to tell1 ,marion said1 laughing1 but it is true4 ,i would banish every one of those twenty teachers1 and reign alone in my glory4 ,no ,i wouldn't either4 ,i would pick out the very best one among them1 and train her for an assistant4 ,and manage the whole number yourself6 ,why not8 ,there are only a hundred of them1 and ,i have managed that number for six hours a day1 five days in a week1 without difficulty4 ,well1 now1 let me see just what you think you gain4 ,it would take too long to tell4 ,in my own opinion1 ,i gain almost everything4 ,but1 in the first place1 let me suppose a case4 ,we have one good teacher1 we will say1 in that class1 who knows just what she is about1 and comes prepared to be about it4 ,she has1 say1 two assistants1 each carefully trained to a certain work2 each understanding that in the event of the detention of the leader one of them will be called on to teach the class1 each pledging herself to notify the other of necessary absences4 ,don't you see that it will rarely1 if ever1 happen that one of the three cannot be at her post8 ,the very sense of importance and responsibility attached to their office will lessen the chance of absence1 while one teacher in twenty is almost sure to be away4 ,then we have those young girls in their places in the ,bible class learning to be teachers indeed4 ,but1 ,miss ,wilbur1 would not such a work be very hard for the leader8 ,why harder than the present system in our school8 ,i think1 mind you1 that it wouldn't be nearly so hard4 ,but1 for the sake of the argument1 ,i will say1 ,why any harder8 ,why cannot her one assistant relieve her in just the same way that the other twenty are supposed to do now8 ,is there any known reason why a hundred children cannot repeat the ,lord's ,prayer together as well as have a lesson taught them together8 ,children like it1 ,i assure you2 there is an enthusiasm in numbers2 they would much rather speak aloud and in beautiful unison1 as they can be trained to do1 than to speak so low that the recitation loses half its beauty1 because they must not disturb others4 ,then1 ,i don't know how it is with other teachers1 but1 theoretically1 you may plan out the work of these young teachers as much as you please1 and1 practically1 they will do very much as they please2 and it is a great deal harder for me to sit listening to a sort of teaching that ,i don't like1 and know that ,i am obliged to be still and endure it1 than it is to do it myself4 ,the idea that one hour of work on the ,sabbath is so fearfully wearing1 is in my humble opinion all nonsense2 those who think so1 have never been teachers of graded schools six hours a day1 five days in the week1 ,i don't believe4 ,however1 that is my opinion1 you know4 ,i may be quite mistaken as to theory2 but ,i know as much as this4 ,i am sure ,i could do the teaching alone1 and ,i am sure that ,i can't do it with twenty helpers1 so ,i just want to give it up4 ,don't give up the subject yet1 please2 ,i am interested4 ,there is an argument on the other side that is very strong1 ,i think4 ,you haven't touched upon it4 ,i have heard a good deal said1 and thought it a point well taken1 about the personal influence of each teacher4 ,a sense of ownership that teachers of large classes can hardly call out because of their inability to visit their scholars1 and to be intimate with their little plans1 and with their home life4 ,marion did a very rude thing at this point--she sat back in her rocking-chair and laughed4 ,then she said3 ,we are dealing1 you remember1 with our school4 ,now1 you know the young ladies in that class4 ,what proportion of them1 should you imagine1 without knowing anything about the facts1 do really visit their pupils during the week and keep themselves posted as to the family life of any of them8 ,a faint attempt at a smile hovered over ,dr4 ,dennis' face as he said3 ,not many ,i am afraid4 ,indeed1 to be very truthful1 ,i don't believe there are five4 ,i know there are not1 ,marion said1 decidedly4 ,and my supposition is that our school will average as well as others4 ,there are exceptions1 of course1 but we are talking about the average4 ,now1 that item sounds real well in a lecture1 or on paper1 but when you come to the practical part they simply don't do it4 ,some of them know no more how to do it than kittens would1 or than ,ruth ,erskine knows how to call on the second stratum of society in her own church4 ,whereupon both pastor and visitor laughed4 ,dr4 ,dennis had heard of ,ruth's attempt in that line4 ,we have to deal with very common-place human beings1 instead of with angels4 ,i think that is the trouble1 ,marion said1 returning to the charge4 ,we can make nice rules1 and they look well and sound beautifully2 then if we can carry them out they are delightful1 no doubt4 ,but if we can't1 why1 what are we going to do about it8 ,if the ladies in question were salaried teachers in the day-school1 a board of trustees could come together and dismiss them if they did not obey the laws4 ,who thinks of such a thing in the ,sunday-school8 ,it is like calling all these teachers together for a teachers' meeting4 ,you can call them to your heart's content2 ,i know you can1 for ,i have tried it2 and if there is not a concert1 or a tea-party1 or a lecture1 or a toothache on the evening in question some of them will come1 and the others won't4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,theory ,,versus ,,practice4 ,,dr4 ,,dennis sat regarding his caller with a thoughtful air1 while she sat back in the rocker and fanned herself1 trying to cool off her eagerness somewhat1 and feeling that she was exhibiting herself as a very eager person indeed1 and this calm man probably thought her impetuous4 ,she resolved that the next remark he called forth should be made very quietly1 and in as indifferent a manner as possible4 ,why should not the primary room be classified as well as the main department8 he asked1 at last4 ,to ,marion there was so much that was absurd involved in the question that it put her indifference to flight at once4 ,why should there be a separate room at all if they are to be so classified8 ,why not keep them in the regular department1 under the superintendent's eye1 and where they can have the benefit of the pastor's remarks8 ,because while they are so young they need more freedom than can be given them in the main room4 ,they need to be allowed to talk aloud1 and to sing frequently1 and to repeat in concert4 ,precisely2 and they do not need to be set down in corners1 to be whispered at for a few minutes4 ,besides1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 don't you think that if in the school proper1 the scholars were all of nearly the same age and the same mental abilities--,i mean if they averaged in that way--it would be wiser to have very large classes and very few teachers8 ,there are reasons in favor of that1 and reasons against it1 he said1 thoughtfully4 ,i am inclined1 however1 to think that the arguments in favor overbalance the objections2 still1 the serious objection is1 that a faithful teacher wants little personal talks with her pupils1 and will contrive to be personal in a way that she cannot do so well in a large class4 ,that is true1 ,marion said1 as one yields a point that is new to her1 and that strikes her as being sensible4 ,but the same objection cannot be made in the primary classes1 because little children are innocent and full of faith and frankness4 ,there is no need of special privacy when you talk with them on religious topics2 they would just as soon have all the world know that they want to love and serve ,jesus as not2 they are not a bit ashamed of it2 it is not until they grow older1 and the influences of silent tongues on that subject all around them have had their effect1 that they need to be approached with such caution4 ,how is it that you are so much at home in these matters1 ,miss ,wilbur8 ,for one who has been a ,christian but a few weeks you amaze me4 ,marion laughed and flushed1 and felt the first tinge of embarrassment that had troubled her since the talk began4 ,why1 she said1 hesitatingly1 ,i suppose1 perhaps1 ,i have common sense1 and see no reason why it should be smothered when one is talking about such matters4 ,people's brains are not made over when they are converted4 ,the same class of rules apply to them1 ,i suppose1 that applied before4 ,i shouldn't wonder if a majority of people thought that common sense had nothing to do with religion1 he said1 laughing2 and that is what makes us silly and sentimental when we try to talk about it4 ,in our effort to be solemn1 and suit our words to the theme1 we are unnatural4 ,but your statement with regard to the little children is true2 ,i have often observed it4 ,that other point1 about visiting1 was the one that troubled me1 ,marion said4 ,it doesn't annihilate it to say that teachers don't visit2 they don't1 to be sure1 with here and there a delightful exception4 ,my experience on this matter1 as well as on several other matters connected with the subject1 reaches beyond these few weeks of personal experience4 ,i have had my eyes very wide open2 ,i was alive to inconsistencies wherever ,i found them2 the world and the church1 and especially the ,sunday-school1 seemed to me to be full of professions without any practice4 ,i rather enjoyed finding such flaws4 ,why ,i thought the thin spots in other people's garments would keep me any warmer1 ,i am sure ,i don't know2 but ,i was fond of bringing them to the surface4 ,still1 because a duty isn't done is no sign that it cannot be4 ,of course a teacher with six pupils could visit them frequently1 while one with a hundred could do it but rarely2 and yet1 systematic effort would accomplish a great deal in that direction1 it seems to me4 ,i don't know why we should have more than fifty people in our churches2 certainly the pastor could visit them much more frequently1 and keep a better oversight1 than when he had eight hundred1 as you have2 yet we don't think it the best way after all4 ,we recognize the enthusiasm of numbers and the necessity for economizing good workers so long as the field for work is so large4 ,but ,i know a way in which a strong personal influence could be kept over even a hundred children2 by keeping watch for the sick and sorrowing in their homes1 and establishing an intimacy there1 and by making a gathering of some sort1 say twice a year1 or oftener1 if a person could1 and giving the day to them2 and1 well1 in a hundred different ways that ,i will not take your time to speak of2 only we teachers of day-schools know that we can make our influence far reaching1 even when our numbers are large2 and we know that there is such an influence in numbers and in disciplined action1 that1 other things being equal1 we can teach mathematics to a class of fifty better than we can to a class of five2 and if mathematics1 why not the ,lord's ,prayer8 ,now ,i have relieved my mind on this subject1 she added1 laughing1 as she arose1 and ,i feel a good deal better4 ,mind1 ,i haven't said at all that the present system cannot be carried out successfully2 ,i only say that ,i can't do it4 ,i have tried it and failed2 it is not according to my way of working4 ,but the remedy1 my dear friend2 in our class1 for instance4 ,suppose we wanted to reorganize1 what would we do with the teachers in rule at present8 ,marion dropped back again into her chair with a dismayed little laugh and an expressive shrug of her shapely shoulders4 ,now you have touched a vital difficulty1 she said4 ,i don't pretend to be able to help people out of a scrape like that4 ,having gotten themselves in1 they must get out the best way they can1 if there is any way4 ,i am surprised that you do not suggest that they be unceremoniously informed that their services are not needed1 and advise them to join a ,bible class1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 dryly4 ,that is the practical and helpful way that the subject is often disposed of in our conventions4 ,i often wonder if those who so suggest would like to be the pastor of the church where such advice was adopted1 and undertake to heal all the sores that would be the result4 ,so long as human nature is made of the queer stuff that it is1 ,i offer no such remedy1 ,marion said1 decidedly4 ,it is very odd that the people who do the least work in this world are the most sensitive as to position1 etc4 ,no1 ,i see the trouble in the way4 ,it could be partly disposed of in time1 by sending all these sub-classes out into the other school1 and organizing a new primary class out of the babies who have not yet come in4 ,but there would be an injustice there4 ,it would send out many babies who ought to have the privileges of the primary-room for some time yet4 ,and there is another difficulty2 it would send out those young girls as teachers of the children1 and they are not fit to teach2 they should be studying4 ,after all1 he said1 going back to his own thoughts1 instead of answering her last remark1 wouldn't the style of teaching that you suggest for this one woman and her assistant involve an unusual degree of talent1 and consecration1 and abnegation8 ,yes1 ,marion said1 quickly and earnestly1 ,i think it would2 and ,i believe that there is no teaching done in our ,sabbath-school that is worthy of the name that does not involve all of these requirements2 especially is it the case in teaching little children divine truths2 one might teach them the alphabet without positive mental injury if they were not fully in sympathy1 yet ,i doubt that2 but one cannot teach the ,sermon on the ,mount in a way to reach the child-heart unless one is thoroughly and solemnly in earnest1 and loves the souls of the little children so much that she can give up her very self for them4 ,this is my theory2 ,i want to work toward it4 ,that is one of the strong reasons why ,i think two or three teachers are better for a primary class than twenty2 because a church can generally furnish that number of really consecrated workers that she can spare for the primary class1 while to find twenty who can be spared for that room one would need to go to paradise ,i am afraid4 ,now ,i know1 ,dr4 ,dennis1 that such talk sounds as if ,i were insufferably conceited2 but ,i don't believe ,i am2 ,i simply know what ,i am willing to try to do2 and1 to a certain extent1 ,i know what ,i can do4 ,why should ,i not8 ,i have tried it a long time4 ,if you are conceited1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 smiling1 it is a real refreshing form for it to appear in4 ,i am almost a convert to your theory2 at least so far as ,i need converting4 ,if ,i should tell you that something like your idea has always been mine1 you would not consider me a hypocrite1 would you8 ,if you think so1 why have we the present system in our school8 ,my dear friend1 ,i did not manufacture the school2 it is as ,i found it2 and there are those young ladies1 who1 however unfaithful they are--and a few of them are just that--do not reach the only point where they could give positive help1 that of resigning1 and giving us a chance to do better4 ,besides1 they are1 as you say1 sensitive2 they do not like to be called to account for occasional absences2 in fact1 they do not like being controlled in any way4 ,that is one of the marked difficulties1 ,marion said1 eagerly4 ,now ,i have heard people talk1 who led you to infer that it was the easiest thing in life to mold these young teachers into the required shape and form2 that you had only to sweetly suggest and advise and direct1 and they sweetly succumbed4 ,now1 don't their mothers know that young ladies naturally do no such thing8 ,it is very difficult for them to yield their opinions to one whose authority they do not recognize2 and they are not fond of admitting authority even where family life sanctions it4 ,oh1 the whole subject is just teeming with difficulties2 put it in any form you will1 it seems to me to be a mistake4 ,where you give these young ladies the lesson to teach1 the diverse minds that are brought to bear on it make it almost impossible for the leader to give an intelligent summing up4 ,how is she to discover what special point has been taken up by each teacher8 ,as a bit of private experience1 ,i think she will be a fortunate woman if she finds that any point at all has been reached in many of the classes4 ,there is only now and then a teacher who believes that little children are capable of understanding the application of a story4 ,i can't understand why1 if that is the best method of managing a primary class1 people take the trouble to have a separate room and another superintendent4 ,why don't they stay in the main department8 ,i always thought that one of the special values of a separate room was that the lesson may be given in a distinct and natural tone of voice1 and with illustrations and accompaniments that cannot be used1 where many classes are together1 without disturbing some of them4 ,if1 on the other hand1 the sub-teachers are not expected to give the lesson1 but only to teach certain opening recitations1 then you have the spectacle of employing a dozen or twenty persons to do the work of one4 ,then there's another thing2 our room is not suited to the plan of subdivision1 and there is only occasionally a room that has been built to order1 which is-- ,on the whole1 you do not at all believe in the plan of subdivision1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 laughing4 ,and then callers came1 and ,marion took her leave4 ,i am not quite sure whether ,i like him or dislike him1 or whether ,i am afraid of him just a trifle4 ,this she said to the girls as they went home from prayer-meeting4 ,he has a queer way of branching off from the subject entirely1 just when you suppose that you have interested him4 ,sometimes he interrupts with a sentence that sounds wonderfully as if he might be quizzing you4 ,he is a trifle queer anyway4 ,i don't believe ,i love him with all the zeal that a person should bestow on a pastor4 ,i am loyal on that subject theoretically1 but practically ,i stand in awe4 ,i don't see how you can think him sarcastic1 ,flossy said4 ,there is not the least tinge of that element in his nature1 ,i think2 at least ,i have never seen it4 ,i don't feel afraid of him1 either2 once ,i thought ,i should2 but he is so gentle and pleasant1 and meets one half way1 and understands what one wants to tell better than they understand themselves4 ,oh1 ,i like him ever so much4 ,he is not sarcastic to me4 ,marion looked down upon the fair little girl at her side with a smile that had a sort of almost motherly tenderness in it1 as she said1 gently3 ,one would be a very bear to think of quizzing a humming-bird1 you know4 ,it would be very silly in him to be sarcastic to you4 ,eurie interrupted the talk3 ,what is the matter with the prayer-meetings8 she asked4 ,do any of you know8 ,i do wish we could do something to make them less forlorn4 ,i am almost homesick every time ,i go4 ,if there were more people there the room wouldn't look so desolate4 ,why on earth don't the people come8 ,constitutionally opposed to prayer-meetings2 or it is too warm1 or too damp1 or too something1 for most of them to go out1 ,marion said4 ,and ,ruth added3 ,it is not wonderful that you find sarcastic people in the world1 ,marion4 ,the habit grows on you4 ,does it1 ,marion asked1 speaking with sadness4 ,i am sorry to hear that4 ,i really thought ,i was improving4 ,the question is1 can we do anything to improve matters8 ,eurie said4 ,can't we manage to smuggle some more people into that chapel on ,wednesday evenings8 ,invite them to go1 do you mean8 ,flossy said1 and her eyes brightened4 ,i never thought of that4 ,we might get our friends to go4 ,who knows what good might be done in that way8 ,what if we try it8 ,ruth looked gloomy4 ,this way of working was wonderfully distasteful to her4 ,she specially disliked what she called thrusting unpopular subjects on people's attention4 ,but she reflected that she had never yet found a way to work which she did like2 so she was silent4 ,flossy1 according to her usual custom1 persistently followed up the new idea4 ,let us try it1 she said4 ,suppose we pledge ourselves each to bring another to the meeting next week4 ,if we can1 ,marion said1 significantly4 ,well1 of course1 some of us can1 ,eurie answered4 ,you ought to be able to1 anyway4 ,there you are in a school-room1 surrounded by hundreds of people who ought to go2 and in a boarding-house1 coming in contact with dozens of another stamp1 who are in equal need4 ,i should think you had opportunities enough4 ,i know it1 ,marion said1 promptly4 ,if ,i were only situated as you are1 with nobody but a father and mother1 and a brother and a couple of sisters to ask--people who are of no special consequence to you1 and about whom it will make no personal difference to you whether they go to church or not--it would be some excuse for not bringing anybody2 but a boarding-house full of men and women1 and a room full of school girls6--consider your privileges1 ,marion ,wilbur4 ,eurie laughed4 ,oh1 ,i can get ,nell to go1 she said4 ,he nearly always does what ,i want him to4 ,but ,i was thinking how many you have to work among4 ,six people are as good to work among as sixty1 until you get them all1 ,marion answered1 quickly4 ,as for ,ruth1 it was only the darkness that hid her curling lip4 ,she someway could not help disliking people who1 like ,nellis ,mitchell1 always did what they were asked to do1 just to oblige4 ,also1 she dreaded this new plan4 ,she had no one to ask1 no one to influence4 ,so she said to herself1 gloomily1 although 7knowing that it was untrue7 she did not venture to say it aloud4 ,she gave consent1 of course1 to the proposition to try by personal effort to increase the number at prayer-meeting4 ,it would be absurd to object to it4 ,she did not care to own that she shrunk from personal effort of this sort2 it was a grief to her very soul that she did so shrink4 ,remember1 we stand pledged to try for one new face at the prayer-meeting1 ,eurie said1 as she bade them good night4 ,pledged to try1 you understand1 ,marion1 we can at least do that1 even if we don't succeed4 ,in the meantime1 remember that we have our ,bible evening to-morrow1 ,marion returned4 ,you are to come bristling with texts from your standpoint2 it will not do to forget that4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,discussion4 ,,marion went about her dingy room brushing off a bit of dust here1 setting a chair straight there1 trying in what ways she might to brighten its homeliness4 ,she was a trifle sore sometimes over the contrast between that room and the homes of her three friends4 ,sometimes she thought it a wonder that they could endure to leave the brightness and cheer that surrounded their home lives and seek her out4 ,there were times when she was very much tempted to spend a large portion of her not too large salary in bestowing little home-looking things on this corner of the second-rate boarding-house2 a rocking-chair2 a cozy-looking1 bright-covered old-fashioned lounge2 a tiny centre-table1 instead of the square1 boxy-looking thing that she had2 not very extravagant her notions were1 just a suggestion of comfort and a touch of brightness for her beauty-loving eyes to dwell on2 but these home things1 and these bright things1 cost money1 more money than she felt at liberty to spend4 ,when her necessary expenses of books and dress1 and a dozen apparently trifling incidentals were met1 there was little enough left to send to that far-away1 struggling uncle and aunt1 who needed her help sadly enough1 and who had shared their little with her in earlier days4 ,there was no special love about this offering of hers2 it was just a matter of hard duty2 they had taken care of her in her orphanhood1 a grave1 preoccupied sort of care1 bestowing little time and no love on her that she could discover2 at the same time they had never either of them been unkind1 and they had fed and clothed her1 and never said in her presence that they grudged it2 they had never asked her for any return1 never seemed to expect any2 and they were regularly surprised every half year when the remittance came4 ,but so far as that was concerned ,marion did not know it2 they were a very undemonstrative people4 ,uncle ,reuben had told her once that she need not do it1 that they had not expected it of her2 and ,aunt ,hannah had added1 ,no more they didn't4 ,but ,marion had hushed them both by a decided sentence1 to the effect that it was nothing more than ordinary justice and decency4 ,and she did not know even now that the gratitude they might have expressed was hushed back by her cold1 business-like words4 ,still1 the remittances always went2 it had required some special scrimping to make the check the same as usual1 and yet bring in ,chautauqua2 it had been delayed beyond its usual time by these new departures1 and it was on this particular evening that she was getting it ready for the mail4 ,for seven years1 twice a year1 she had regularly written her note3 ,,aunt ,,hannah3--,i inclose in this letter a check for ----4 ,i hope you are as well as usual4 ,in haste1 ,m4 ,j4 ,,wilbur4 ,this1 or a kindred sentence as brief and as much to the point4 ,to-night her fingers had played with the pen instead of writing1 and at last1 with a curious smile hovering around her lip1 she wrote the unaccustomed words1 ,dear ,aunt4 ,it would have taken very little to have made the smile into a quiver2 it seemed just then so strange that she should have no one to write that word dear to2 that she should use it so rarely that it actually looked like a stranger to her4 ,then the writing went on thus3 ,i hope ,i have not caused you discomfort by being somewhat later than usual with your check4 ,matters shaped themselves in such a way that ,i could not send it before4 ,i hope it will be of a little help and comfort to you4 ,i wish it were larger4 ,give my re--love to ,uncle ,reuben4 ,the re was the beginning of the word regards1 but she thought better of it and wrote love4 ,he was her father's brother1 and the only relative she had4 ,then the pen paused again1 and the writer gnawed at the painted holder1 and mused1 and looked sober first1 then bright-faced1 and finally she dashed down this line3 ,dear ,aunt ,hannah1 ,i have found my father's ,friend1 even the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he is indeed mighty to save1 as father used to say that he was4 ,i have proved it1 for he has saved me4 ,i wish you and ,uncle ,reuben knew him4 ,yours truly1 ,,marion4 ,i suppose ,marion would have been very much surprised had she known what ,i know1 that ,aunt ,hannah and ,uncle ,reuben shed tears over that letter1 and put it in the family ,bible4 ,and1 someway1 they felt more thankful for the check than they had ever done before4 ,marion did not know this1 but she knew that her own heart felt lighter than usual as she hurried about her room4 ,the girls came before she was fairly through with her preparations--a bright trio1 with enough of beauty and grace and elegance about them to fairly make her room glow4 ,here we are1 said ,eurie4 ,we have run the gauntlet of five calls and a concert1 and ,i don't know how many other things in prospective1 for the sake of getting to you4 ,did you come alone8 ,no2 my blessed ,nell came with us to the door1 and most dreadfully did he want to come in4 ,i should have let him in1 only ,i knew by ,ruth's face she thought it awful2 but he would have enjoyed the evening4 ,nell does enjoy new things4 ,there is no special sensation about ,bible verses4 ,i presume they would have palled on him before the evening was over4 ,this was said in ,ruth's coldest tones4 ,you are mistaken in that1 my lady ,ruth4 ,i have found several verses in my search that have given me a real sensation4 ,besides which1 ,i have proved my side beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt1 and ,i am very anxious to begin4 ,marion laughed4 ,i dare say we have each proved our sides to our entire satisfaction1 she said4 ,the question is1 which side will bear the test of our combined intellects being brought to bear on it8 ,did you bring your ,bibles1 girls8 ,oh1 yes1 you are armed4 ,flossy1 your ,bible is splendid2 when the millennium dawns ,i am going to have just such a one4 ,by the way1 won't that be a blissful time8 ,don't you want to live to see it8 ,eurie1 inasmuch as you are so anxious to begin1 you may do so4 ,let us 'carry on our investigations in a scientific way1' as ,prof4 ,easton says4 ,give us your 'unanswerable argument1' and ,i will answer it with my unanswerable one on the other side2 then if ,ruth can prove to us that we are both mistaken1 and each can follow her own judgment in the matter1 we will be quenched1 you see1 unless ,flossy can give a balancing vote4 ,well1 in the first place1 ,eurie said1 ,i found to my infinite astonishment1 and1 of course1 to my delight1 that the ,bible actually stated that there was a time to dance4 ,now1 if there is a time for it1 of course it is the proper thing to do2 that just settles the whole question4 ,how absurd it would be to put in the ,bible a statement that there was a time to dance1 and then to tell us that it was wrong to dance6 ,eurie1 are you in earnest or in sport8 ,marion asked1 at last1 looking at her with a puzzled air1 and not sure whether to laugh or be disgusted4 ,a little of both1 ,eurie said1 breaking into a laugh4 ,but now1 to be serious1 there really is such a verse2 did you know it8 ,i am sure ,i didn't4 ,i was very much astonished2 and ,i think it does prove something4 ,it indicates that dancing is a legitimate amusement1 and one that was indulged in during those times4 ,do you advocate its use under the same circumstances in which it was used in those times8 ,i'm sure ,i don't know4 ,was there anything peculiar in its use8 ,didn't you follow out the references as to dancing8 ,no1 indeed1 ,i didn't4 ,i wish ,i had4 ,does it give an account of it8 ,that would have been better yet4 ,it would have enlightened you somewhat1 ,marion said1 laughing4 ,if you had been on the other side now1 you would have been sure to have followed out the connection as ,i did2 then you would have found that to be true to your ,bible you must dance in prayer-meeting1 or in church on the ,sabbath1 or at some time when you desired to express religious joy4 ,pooh6 said ,eurie1 ,now is that so8 ,of course it's so4 ,just amuse yourself by looking up the references to the word in the concordance1 and ,i will read them for our enlightenment4 ,well1 said ,eurie1 after several readings1 ,i admit that ,i am rather glad that form of worship is done away with4 ,i am fond of dancing1 but ,i don't care to indulge when ,i go to prayer-meeting4 ,but1 after all1 that doesn't prove that dancing is wrong4 ,nor right8 ,ruth said1 questioningly4 ,doesn't it simply prove nothing at all8 ,that is just as ,i said2 we have to decide these questions for ourselves4 ,but1 ,eurie1 did you content yourself with just one text8 ,i thought you were to have an army of them4 ,what is the use in that8 ,ruth asked4 ,one text is as good as a dozen if it proves one's position4 ,a multitude of witnesses1 ,marion said1 significantly2 and added1 girls1 ,ruth has but one text in support of her position2 see if she has4 ,well1 ,i have another1 said ,eurie4 ,the wisest man who ever lived said1 ',a merry heart doeth good like a medicine4' ,now ,i am sure that advocates bright1 cheerful1 merry times1 just such as one has in dancing2 and there are dozens of such verses1 indicating that it is a duty we owe to society to have happy and merry times together2 and a simpler way of doing it than any ,i know is to dance4 ,we are not gossiping1 nor saying censorious things1 when we are dancing2 and we are having a very pleasant time for our friends4 ',is any merry1 let him sing psalms1' quoted ,marion4 ,would you like to indulge in that entertainment at the same time you were dancing2 or do you think the same state of mind could be expressed as well by either dancing1 or psalm-singing1 as one chose8 ,eurie ,mitchell1 you are just being nonsensical6 ,ruth said1 speaking in a half-annoyed tone4 ,you are not absurd enough to suppose that either of those verses are arguments in favor of dancing1 or against dancing1 or indeed have anything to do with the subject8 ,what is the use in trying to make people think you are a simpleton1 when you aren't4 ,dreadful6 said ,eurie4 ,is that what ,i'm doing8 ,now1 ,i thought ,i was proving the subtle nature of my argumentative powers4 ,see here1 ,i will be as sober as a judge4 ,no1 ,i don't think those verses have to do with it2 at least the latter hasn't4 ,i admit that ,i thought the fact that a time to dance was mentioned in the ,bible was an item in its favor as far as it went2 but it seems ,i should rather have said as far as ,i went1 for it went farther1 as ,marion has made me prove with that dreadful concordance of hers4 ,we don't own such a terrible book as that1 and ,i have to go skimming over the whole ,bible in a distracting manner4 ,i just happened on the verse that says 'there is a time to dance1' and ,i didn't know but there might be a special providence in it4 ,but now1 frankly1 ,i am on the side that ,ruth has taken4 ,it seems to be a question that is left to individual judgment4 ,there is no 'thus saith the ,lord' about it1 any more than there is about having company1 and going out to tea1 and a dozen other things4 ,we are to do in these matters what we think is right2 and that1 in my opinion1 is all there is about it4 ,then you retire from the lists8 ,marion asked4 ,not a bit of it4 ,i am just as emphatically of the opinion that there is no harm in dancing as ,i ever was4 ,what ,i say is1 that the ,bible is silent on that subject1 leaving each to judge for herself4 ',as he thinketh in his heart1 so is he1' quoted ,ruth4 ,that is my verse1 one of them2 and ,i think it is unanswerable4 ,if you1 ,marion1 think it is wicked to dance1 then you would be doing a wrong thing to dance2 but1 ,eurie1 believing it to be right and proper1 has a right to dance4 ,each person as he thinks in his heart4 ,then1 if ,i think in my heart that it is right to go skating on ,sunday1 it will be quite right for me to go8 ,is that the reasoning1 ,ruth8 ,no1 of course2 because in that instance you have the direct command1 ',remember the ,sabbath day1 to keep it holy4' ,but who is going to prove to me in what way ,i should keep it holy8 ,i may skate with very good thoughts in my heart1 and feel that ,i am keeping the spirit of the command2 and1 if ,i think so in my heart1 why1 isn't it so8 ,you know it isn't a parallel case1 ,ruth said1 slightly nettled4 ,flossy1 would you speak for a dollar8 ,eurie asked1 suddenly turning to her4 ,she had been utterly grave and silent during all this war of words1 but1 to judge from her face1 by no means uninterested4 ,she shook her head now1 with a quiet smile4 ,i know what ,i think1 she said1 but ,i don't want to speak yet2 only ,i want to know1 ,ruth1 about that verse2 ,i found that1 and thought about it4 ,i couldn't see that it means what you think it does4 ,i used to think in my very heart that joining the church1 and trying to do about right1 was all there was of religion2 but ,i have found that ,i was wonderfully mistaken4 ,can't persons be honest1 and yet be very much in the dark because they have not informed themselves8 ,why1 dear me6 said ,marion1 only see1 ,ruth1 where your doctrine would lead you6 ,what about the heathen women who think in their hearts that they do a good deed when they give their babies to the crocodiles8 ,i found that verse about ,paul persecuting all who called on the name of ,jesus1 and he says he verily thought he was doing ,god's service4 ,this was ,flossy's added word4 ,see here1 said ,eurie1 we are not getting at it at all4 ,i haven't any verses1 and you have demolished ,ruth's4 ,the way is for you and ,flossy to open your batteries on us1 and let us prove to you that they don't any of them mean a single word they say1 or you say2 or something1 anything1 so that we win the argument4 ,what ,i want to know is1 what earthly harm do people see in dancing8 ,i don't mean1 of course1 going to balls and mingling with all sorts of people and dancing indecent figures4 ,i mean the way we girls have been in the habit of it1 ,ruth and ,flossy and ,i4 ,we never went to a ball in our lives1 and we were never injured by dancing1 so far as ,i can discover1 and yet we have done a good deal of it4 ,now ,i love to dance2 it is the very pleasantest amusement ,i can think of2 and yet ,i honestly want to get at the truth of this matter2 ,i want to learn2 ,i don't in the least know why churches and ,christians think such dancing is wrong4 ,i couldn't find a thing in the ,bible that showed me the reason4 ,to be sure ,i had very little time to look1 and a very ignorant brain to do it with1 and no helps4 ,but ,i am ready to be convinced1 if anybody has anything that will convince me4 ,just let me ask you a question1 ,marion said3 ,why did you think1 before you were converted1 that it was wrong for ,christian people to dance8 ,how do you know ,i did8 asked ,eurie1 flushing and laughing4 ,never mind how ,i know2 though you must have forgotten some of the remarks ,i have heard you make about others1 to ask me4 ,but please tell me4 ,honestly1 then1 ,i don't know2 and it is that thought1 or rather that remembrance1 which disturbs me now4 ,i had a feeling that someway it was an inconsistent thing to do1 and that if ,i was converted ,i should have to give it up1 and it was a real stumbling-block in my way for some days4 ,but ,i don't this minute know a single definite reason why ,i1 in common with the rest of the girls and the young men in our set1 felt amused whenever we saw dancing church-members4 ,i have thought perhaps it was prejudice1 or a misunderstanding of the ,christian life4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,result4 ,,now1 what ,i want1 said ,marion1 is to have you people who are posted answer a few questions4 ,you know ,i am not a dancer2 ,i have only stood aside and looked on2 but ,i have as high a respect for common sense as any of you can have1 and ,i want to use some of it in this matter2 so just tell me1 is it true or not that there is a style of dancing that is considered improper in the extreme8 ,why1 yes1 of course there is1 ,eurie said1 quickly4 ,is it the style that is indulged in at our ordinary balls1 where all sorts of characters are admitted1 where1 in fact1 anyone who can buy a ticket and dress well is welcome8 ,you know you were particular to state that none of you went to balls2 are these some of the reasons8 ,my principal reason is1 ,ruth said1 with an upward curve of her haughty lip1 that ,i do not care to associate with all sorts of people1 either in the ball-room or anywhere else4 ,besides which1 you are reasonably particular1 who of your acquaintances have the privilege of frequently clasping your hand and placing an arm caressingly around your waist1 to say nothing of almost carrying you through the room1 are you not8 ,ruth turned toward the questioner flashing eyes1 while she said3 ,that is very unusual language to address to us1 ,marion4 ,possibly we are quite as high-toned in our feelings as yourself4 ,oh1 but now1 ,i appeal to your reason and common sense2 you say1 yourself1 that these should be our guide4 ,isn't it true that you1 as a dancer1 allow familiarity that you would consider positively insulting under other circumstances8 ,am ,i mistaken in your opinion as to the proper treatment that ladies should receive from gentlemen at all other times save when they are dancing8 ,it's a solemn fact1 said ,eurie1 laughing at the folly of her position1 that the man with whom ,i dance has a privilege that if he should undertake to assume at any other time would endanger his being knocked down if my brother ,nell was within sight4 ,and it is true that there are lengths to which dancers go that you would not permit under any circumstances8 ,undeniable1 ,eurie said again4 ,yet ,i don't see what that proves4 ,there are lengths to which you can carry almost any amusement4 ,the point is1 we don't carry them to any such lengths4 ,that isn't the whole point1 ,eurie4 ,there are many amusements which no one carries to improper lengths4 ,we do not hear of their being so perverted2 but we do not hear of them in the ball-room4 ,the question is1 has dancing such a tendency8 ,do impure people have dance-houses which it is a shame for a person to enter8 ,are young men and young women1 our brothers and sisters led astray in them8 ,we mustn't be too delicate to speak on these things1 for they exist2 and they are found among people for whom the ,lord died1 and many of them will be reclaimed and be in heaven with us4 ,they are our brethren2 can they be led away by the influences of the dance8 ,if we are all really in earnest in this matter1 will you each give your opinion on this one point8 ,i suppose it is unquestionable1 ,ruth said1 that dance-houses are in existence1 and that they are patronized by the lowest and vilest of human beings2 but the sort of dance indulged in has no more likeness to the dances of cultivated society than-- ,than the drunkard lying in the gutter bears likeness to the elegant young man of fashion who takes his social sips from a silver goblet lined with gold at his mother's refreshment table1 ,marion said1 interrupting her1 and speaking with energy4 ,yet you will admit that the one may be1 and awfully often is1 the stepping stone to the other4 ,it is true1 ,eurie said2 both are true4 ,i never thought of it before1 but there is no denying it4 ,as for ,flossy1 she simply bowed her head1 as one interested but not excited4 ,then may ,i bring in one of my verses1 ',pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this1 to visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world4' ,does that apply8 ,if the world can carry this amusement to such depths of degradation1 and if the elegant parlor dance is or can be in the remotest degree the first step thereto1 are we keeping ourselves unspotted if we have anything to do with it1 countenance it in any way8 ,don't you see that the question1 after all1 is the same in many respects as the card-playing one8 ,we have been over this ground before4 ,suppose we grant1 for argument's sake1 that not one of you is in danger of being led away to any sort of excess1 and ,i should hardly dare to admit it in my own case1 because of a verse in this same old book1 ',let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall2' but if it should be so1 let me give you another of my selections--rather1 let me read the entire argument4 ,whereupon she turned to the tenth chapter of ,first ,corinthians and read ,st4 ,paul's argument about eating meat offered to idols1 pausing with special emphasis over the words1 ,conscience1 ,i say1 not thine own1 but of the other4 ,did ,i understand you to say1 ,eurie1 that it is a very general belief among dancers that ,christians are inconsistent who indulge in this amusement4 ,it is a provoking truth that there is4 ,don't you know1 ,ruth1 how we used to be merry over the ,symonds girls and that young ,winters who were church-members8 ,well1 they made rather greater pretensions with their religion than some others did1 and that made us specially amused over them4 ,then1 ,eurie1 wasn't their influence unfortunate on you8 ,i am not on your side1 ,mistress ,wilbur4 ,you should have more conscience than to keep me all the time condemning myself6 ,that is answer enough1 ,marion said1 smiling4 ,i am only asking for information1 you know4 ,i never danced4 ,but in the light of that confession1 hear this3 ',but if thy brother be grieved with thy meat1 now walkest thou not charitably4 ,destroy not him with thy meat for whom ,christ died4 ,let not1 then1 your good be evil spoken of4' ,isn't that precisely what you were doing of the good in those church-members1 ,eurie8 ,now a sophist would possibly say that the argument of ,paul had reference to food offered to idols1 and not to dancing2 but ,i think here is a chance for us to exercise that judgment and common sense which we are so fond of talking about4 ,the main point seems to be not to destroy those for whom ,christ died4 ,does it make any difference whether we do it with our digestive organs or with our feet8 ,but what is the sophist going to do with this3 ',it is good neither to eat flesh1 nor to drink wine1 nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth1 or is offended1 or is made weak4' ,you see he may1 or may not1 be a fool for allowing himself to be led astray4 ,st4 ,paul says nothing about that4 ,he simply directs as to the ,christian's duty in the matter4 ,ruth made a movement of impatience4 ,you are arguing1 ,marion1 on the supposition that a great many people are led astray by dancing2 whereas ,i don't believe that to be the case4 ,do you believe one soul ever was8 ,why1 yes1 ,i suppose so4 ,we even know one1 ,eurie said1 speaking low1 and looking very grave4 ,do you believe it is possible that another soul may in the next million years8 ,of course it is possible4 ,then the question is1 how much is one soul worth8 ,i don't feel prepared to estimate it1 do you8 ,to which question ,ruth made no reply ,there is another point1 ,marion said4 ,you young ladies talk about being careful with whom you dance4 ,don't you accept the attentions of strange young gentlemen1 who have been introduced to you by your fashionable friends8 ,take ,mr4 ,townsend1 the young man who came here a stranger1 and was introduced in society by the ,wagners1 because they met him when abroad4 ,didn't you dance with him1 ,eurie ,mitchell8 ,dozens of times1 said ,eurie1 promptly4 ,and ,flossy1 didn't you8 ,flossy nodded her golden head4 ,well1 now you know1 ,i suppose1 that he has proved to be a perfect libertine4 ,honestly1 wouldn't you both feel better if he had never had his arm around you8 ,marion1 your way of saying that thing is simply disgusting6 ,ruth said1 in great heat4 ,is it my way of saying it1 or is it the thing itself8 ,marion asked1 coolly4 ,i tell you1 girls1 it is impossible to know whether the man who dresses well1 and calls on you at stated intervals1 looking and talking like a gentleman1 is not a very ,satan1 who will lead away the pretty guileless1 unsuspecting young girl who is worth his trouble2 and the leading often and often commences with a dance2 and the young girl may never have been allowed to dance with him at all had not stately and entirely unexceptionable leaders of society1 like our ,ruth here1 allowed it first4 ,it is the same question after all1 and it narrows down to a fine point4 ,a thing that can possibly lead one to eternal death1 a ,christian has no business to meddle with1 even if he knows of but one soul in a million years who has been so wrecked4 ,in all this we have not even glanced at the endless directions to 'redeem the time1' to be 'instant in season and out of season1 to 'work while the day lasts1' 'to watch and be sober4' ,what do all these verses mean8 ,are we obeying them when we spend half the night in a whirl of wild pleasure8 ,the fact remains that a majority of people are not temperate in their dancing2 they do it night after night2 they long after it1 and are miserable if the weather1 or the cough1 keeps them away4 ,i know dozens of such young ladies2 ,i have them as my pupils2 my heart trembles for them2 they are just intoxicated with dancing2 and they quote you1 ,ruth ,erskine1 as an example when ,i try to talk with them2 ,i have heard them4 ,whether it is wrong for other people or not1 as true as ,i sit here ,i can tell you this3 ,i have two girls in my class who are killing themselves with this amusement1 carried to its least damaging extreme1 for they still think they are very careful with whom they dance2 and you are in a measure1 at least1 responsible for their folly4 ,you needn't say they are simpletons2 ,i think they are1 but what of it8 ',shall the weak brother perish for whom ,christ died8' ,nell made a remark that startled me a little1 it was so queer4 ,eurie said this after the startled hush that fell over them at the close of ,marion's eager sentence had in part subsided4 ,we were speaking of a party where we had been one evening and some of the girls had danced every set1 till they were completely worn out4 ,some of them had been dancing with rather questionable young men1 too2 for ,i shall have to own that all the gentlemen who get admitted into fashionable parlors are not angels by any means4 ,i know there are several1 who are supposed to be of the first society1 that father has forbidden me ever to dance with4 ,we were talking about some of these1 and about the extreme manner in which the dancing was carried on1 when ,nell said3 ',i'll tell you what1 ,eurie1 ,i hope my wife wasn't there to-night4' ',dear me6' ,i said1 ',i didn't know she was in existence4 ,where do you keep her8' ,he was as sober as a judge4 ',she is on the earth somewhere1 of course1 if ,i am to have her1' he said2 'and what ,i say is1 ,i hope she wasn't there4 ,if ,i thought she was among those dancers1 ,i would go and knock the fellow down who insulted her by swinging her around in that fashion4 ,i want my wife's hand to be kept for me to hold2 ,i don't thank anybody else for doing that part for me4' ,precisely6 ,marion said4 ,it is considered unladylike1 ,i believe1 for people to talk about love and marriage4 ,i never could see why2 ,i'm sure neither of them is wicked4 ,but ,i suppose each of us occasionally thinks of the possibility of having a friend as dear even as a husband4 ,how would you like it1 girls1 to have him spend his evenings dancing with first one young lady and then another1 offering them attentions that1 under any other circumstances1 would stamp him as a libertine8 ,whichever way you look at this question it is a disagreeable one to me4 ,i may never be married2 it is not at all likely that ,i ever shall2 ,i ought to have been thinking about it long ago1 if ,i was ever going to indulge in that sort of life2 but if ,i should1 ,i'm heartily glad of one thing--and1 mind1 ,i mean it--that no man but my husband shall ever put his arm around me1 nor hold my hand1 unless it is to keep me from actual danger2 falling over a precipice1 you know1 or some such unusual matter as that4 ,flossy hasn't opened her lips this evening4 ,why don't you talk1 child8 ,does ,marion overwhelm you8 ,i don't wonder4 ,such a tornado as she has poured out upon us6 ,i never heard the like in my life4 ,it isn't all in the ,bible2 that is one comfort4 ,though1 dear me6 ,i don't know but the spirit of it is4 ,what do you think about it all8 ,sure enough1 ,marion said1 turning to ,flossy1 as ,eurie paused4 ,little ,flossy1 where are your verses8 ,you were going to give us whatever you found in the ,bible4 ,you were the best witness of all1 because you brought such an unprejudiced determination to the search4 ,what did you find8 ,my search didn't take the form ,i meant it should1 ,flossy said4 ,i didn't look far nor long1 and ,i did not decide the question for anybody else1 only for myself4 ,i found only two verses1 two pieces of verses2 ,i mean1 ,i stopped at those1 and thought about them all the rest of the week4 ,these are the ones1 and ,flossy's soft sweet voice repeated them without turning to the ,bible3 ',whatsoever ye do1 in word or deed1 do all in the name of the ,lord ,jesus2' ',whatsoever ye do1 do it heartily1 as to the ,lord1 and not unto men4' ,those verses just held me2 ,i thought about dancing1 about all the times in which ,i had danced1 and the people with whom ,i had danced1 and the words we had said to each other1 and ,i could not see that in any possible way it could be done in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 or that it could be done heartily1 as unto the ,lord4 ,i settled my own heart with those words2 that for me to dance after ,i knew that whatever in word or deed ,i did1 ,i was pledged to do heartily for the ,lord1 would be an impossibility4 ,an absolute hush fell upon them all4 ,marion looked from one to the other of the flushed and eager faces1 and then at the sweet drooping face of their little ,flossy4 ,we have spent our strength vainly1 she said1 at last4 ,it is our privilege to get up higher2 to look at all these things from the mount whereon ,god will let us stand if we want to climb4 ,i think little ,flossy has got there4 ,after all1 ,eurie said1 that verse would cut off a great many things that are considered harmless4 ,what does that prove1 my beloved ,eureka8 ,marion said1 quickly4 ',if thy right hand offend thee1 cut it off and cast it from thee1' is another ,bible verse4 ,these verses of ,flossy's mean something1 surely4 ,what do they mean1 is the question left for us to decide8 ,after all1 ,ruth1 ,i agree with you2 it is a question that must be left to our judgment and common sense2 only we are bound to strengthen our common sense and confirm our judgments in the light of the lamp that is promised as a guide to our feet4 ,almost nothing was said among them after that1 except the commonplaces of good-nights4 ,the next afternoon1 as ,marion was working out a refractory example in algebra for ,gracie ,dennis1 she bent lower over her slate1 and said3 ,miss ,wilbur1 did you know that your friends1 ,miss ,erskine1 ,miss ,shipley and ,miss ,mitchell1 had all declined ,mrs4 ,garland's invitation1 and sent her an informal little note signed by them all1 to the effect that they had decided not to dance any more8 ,no1 said ,marion1 the rich blood mounting to her temples1 and her face breaking into a smile4 ,how did you hear8 ,mrs4 ,garland told my father2 she said she honored them for their consistency1 and thought more highly of their new departure than she ever had before4 ,it is rather remarkable so early in their ,christian life1 don't you think8 ,rather1 ,marion said1 with a smile1 and she followed it by a soft little sigh4 ,she had not been invited to ,mrs4 ,garland's4 ,there was no opportunity for her to show whether she was consistent or not4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,keeping ,,the ,,promise4 ,,it was curious how our four girls set about enlarging the prayer-meeting4 ,that idea had taken hold of them as the next thing to be done4 ,the wonder was1 ,eurie said1 that ,christian people had not worked at it before4 ,i am sure1 she added1 that if anyone had invited me to attend1 ,i should have gone long ago1 just to please1 if it was one that ,i cared to please4 ,and ,marion answered with a smile3 ,i am sure you would1 too1 with your present feelings4 ,still none of them doubted but that they would have success4 ,they saw little of each other during the days that intervened1 and their plan necessarily involved the going alone1 or with what company they could gather1 instead of meeting and keeping each other company1 as they had done in the first days of their prayer-meeting life4 ,marion came first1 and alone4 ,she went forward to their usual seat with a very forlorn and desolate air4 ,she had entered upon the work with enthusiasm1 and with eager desire and expectation of success4 ,to be sure she was a long time deciding whom to ask1 and several times changed her plans4 ,at last her heart settled on ,miss ,banks1 the friend with whom she had almost been intimate before these new intimacies gathered around her4 ,latterly they had said little to each other4 ,miss ,banks had seemed to avoid ,marion since that rainy ,monday when they came in contact so sharply4 ,she was not exactly rude1 nor in the least unkind2 she simply seemed to feel that the points of congeniality between them were broken1 and so avoided her4 ,she did this so successfully1 that1 even after ,marion's thought to invite her to the meeting had taken decided shape1 it was difficult to find the opportunity4 ,having gotten the idea1 however1 she was persistent in it2 and at last1 during recess1 on the very day of the meeting1 she came across her in the library1 looking aimlessly over the rows of books4 ,in search of wisdom1 or recreation8 ,marion asked1 stopping beside her1 and speaking with the familiarity of former days4 ,in search of some tiresome references for my class in philosophy4 ,some of the scholars are provokingly in earnest in the study1 and will not be satisfied with the platitudes of the text-book4 ,that is a refreshing departure from the ordinary state of things1 isn't it8 ,marion asked1 laughing at the way in which the progress of her pupils was put4 ,then1 without waiting for an answer1 and already feeling her resolution beginning to cool1 she plunged into the subject that interested her4 ,i have been in search of you all the morning4 ,that's surprising1 ,miss ,banks said1 coolly4 ,couldn't ,i be found8 ,i have been no further away than my school-room8 ,well1 ,i mean looking for you at a time when you were not engaged1 or perhaps looking forward to seeing you at such a time1 would be a more proper way of putting it1 said ,marion1 trying to smile1 and yet feeling a trifle annoyed4 ,one is apt to be somewhat engaged in a school-room during school-hours1 especially if one is a teacher4 ,they were not getting on at all4 ,marion decided to speak without trying to bring herself gracefully to the point4 ,i want to ask a favor of you4 ,will you go to meeting with me to-night8 ,to meeting1 ,miss ,banks repeated1 without turning from the book-case4 ,what meeting is there to-night8 ,why1 the prayer-meeting at the ,first ,church4 ,there is always a meeting there on ,wednesday nights4 ,miss ,banks turned herself slowly away from the book she was examining and fixed her clear1 cold gray eyes on ,marion3 ,and so there has been every ,wednesday evening during the five years that we have been in school together1 ,i presume4 ,to what can ,i be indebted for such an invitation at this late day8 ,it was very hard for ,marion not to get angry4 ,she knew this cold composure was intended as a rebuke to herself for presuming to have withdrawn from the clique that had hitherto spent much time together4 ,what is the use of this8 she asked2 a shade of impatience in her voice1 though she tried to control it4 ,you know1 ,miss ,banks1 that ,i profess to have made a discovery during the last few weeks2 that ,i try to arrange all my actions with a view to the new revelations of life and duty which ,i have certainly had2 in simple language you know that1 whereas1 ,i not long ago presumed to scoff at conversion1 and at the idea of a life abiding in ,christ1 ,i believe now that ,i have been converted1 and that the ,lord ,jesus is my ,friend and ,brother2 ,i want to tell you that ,i have found rest and peace in him4 ,is it any wonder that ,i should desire it for my friends8 ,i do honestly crave for you the same experience that ,i have enjoyed1 and to that end ,i have asked you to attend the meeting with me to-night4 ,it is impossible to describe the changes on ,miss ,banks' face during this sentence4 ,there was a touch of embarrassment1 and more than a touch of incredulity1 and over all a look of great amazement4 ,she continued to survey ,marion from head to foot with those cold1 gray eyes1 for as much as a minute after she had ceased speaking4 ,then she said1 speaking slowly1 as if she were measuring every word3 ,i am sure ,i ought to be grateful for the trouble you have taken2 the more so as ,i had not presumed to think that you had any interest in either my body or my soul4 ,but as ,i have had no new and surprising revelations1 and know nothing about the ,friend and ,brother of whom you speak1 ,i may be excused from coveting the like experience with yourself1 however delightful you may have found it4 ,as to the meeting1 ,i went once to that church to attend a prayer-meeting1 too1 and if there can be a more refined and long drawn-out exhibition of dullness than was presented to us there1 ,i don't know where to look for it4 ,i wonder why the school-bell doesn't ring8 ,it is three minutes past the time by my watch4 ,marion1 without an attempt at a reply1 turned and went swiftly down the hall4 ,she was glad that just then the tardy bell pealed forth1 and that she was obliged to go at once to the recitation-room and involve herself in the intricacies of algebra4 ,without this incentive to self-control1 she felt that she would have given way to the hot disappointed tears that were choking in her throat4 ,how sad her heart was as she sat there alone in the prayer-room4 ,it was early and but few were present4 ,she had never felt so much alone4 ,the companionship which had been so close and so constant during the few weeks past seemed suddenly to have been removed from her1 and when she essayed to go back to the old friend1 she had stood coldly and heartlessly--aye1 worse than that--mockingly aloof4 ,she had overheard her1 that very afternoon1 detailing to one of the under teachers1 fragments of the conversation in the library4 ,marion's heart was wounded to its very depths4 ,perhaps it is little wonder that she had made no other attempt to secure company for the evening4 ,there were school-girls by the score that she might have asked2 doubtless some one of the number would accept her invitation1 but she had not thought so4 ,she had shrunken from any other effort1 in mortal terror4 ,i am not fitted for such work1 she said1 in bitterness of soul2 not even for such work2 what can ,i do8 and then1 despite the class1 she had brushed away a tear4 ,so there she sat alone1 till suddenly the door opened with more force than usual1 and closed with a little bang1 and ,eurie ,mitchell1 with a face on which there glowed traces of excitement1 came like a whiff of wind and rustled into a seat beside her1 alone like herself4 ,you here8 she said1 and there was surprise in her whisper4 ,thought you would be late1 and not be alone4 ,i am glad of it--,i mean ,i am almost glad4 ,don't you think1 ,nell wouldn't come with me6 ,i counted on him as a matter of course1 he is so obliging--always willing to take me wherever ,i want to go1 and often disarranging his own engagements so that ,i need not be disappointed4 ,i was just as sure of him ,i thought as ,i was of myself1 and then ,i coaxed him harder than ,i ever did before in my life1 and he wouldn't come in4 ,he came to the door with me1 and said ,i needn't be afraid but that he would be on hand to see me home1 and he would see safely home any number of girls that ,i chose to drum up1 but as for sitting in here a whole hour waiting for it to be time to go home1 that was beyond him--too much for mortal patience6 ,wasn't it just too bad6 ,i was so sure of it1 too4 ,i told him about our plans--about our promise1 indeed1 and how ,i had counted on him1 and all he said was3 ',don't you know the old proverb1 sis3 ,never count your chickens before they are hatched2 or1 a more elegant phrasing of it1 ,never eat your fish till you catch him8 ,now1 ,i'm not caught yet2 someway the right sort of bait hasn't reached me yet4' ,i was never so disappointed in my life6 ,didn't you try to get some one to come8 ,yes1 said ,marion1 and failed4 ,she forced herself to say that much4 ,how could ,eurie go through with all these details8 ,if her heart had ached as mine does1 she couldn't1 ,marion told herself4 ,she might have known if she had used her judgment that ,eurie's heart was not of the sort that would ever ache over anything as hers could2 and yet ,eurie was bitterly disappointed4 ,she had counted on ,nell1 and expected him1 had high hopes for him2 and here they were dashed into nothingness6 ,who knew that he could be so obstinate over a trifle8 ,surely it was a trifle just to come to prayer-meeting once6 ,she knew she would have done it for him1 even in the days when it would have been a bore4 ,she did not understand it at all4 ,meantime1 ,ruth had been having her experiences4 ,this promise of hers troubled her4 ,perhaps you cannot imagine what an exceedingly disagreeable thing it seemed to her to go hunting up somebody to go to prayer-meeting with her4 ,where could she turn8 ,there were so few people with whom she came in contact that it would not be absurd to ask4 ,her father she put aside at once as entirely out of the question4 ,it was simply an absurdity to think of asking him to go to prayer-meeting6 ,he rarely went to church even on the ,sabbath2 less often now than he used to do4 ,it would simply be annoying him and exposing religion to his contempt2 so his daughter reasoned4 ,she sighed over it while she reasoned2 she wished most earnestly that it were not so2 she prayed1 and she thought it was with all her heart1 that ,god would speak to her father in some way1 by some voice that he would heed2 and yet she allowed herself to be sure that his only and cherished daughter had the one voice that could not hope to influence him in the least4 ,well1 there was her friend1 ,mr4 ,wayne4 ,i wonder if ,i can describe to you how impossible it seemed to her to ask him to go8 ,not that he would not have accompanied her2 he would in a minute2 he would do almost anything she asked2 she felt as sure that she could get him to occupy a seat in the ,first ,church prayer-room that evening as she felt sure of going there herself2 but she asked herself1 of what earthly use would it be8 ,he would go simply to please what he would suppose was a whim of hers2 he would listen with an amused smile1 slightly tinged with sarcasm1 to all the words that would be spoken that evening1 and he would have ready a hundred mildly funny things to say about them when the meeting closed2 for weeks afterward he would be apt to bring in nicely fitting quotations gleaned from that evening of watchfulness1 fitting them into absurd places1 and making them seem the veriest folly--that would be the fruit4 ,ruth shrank with all her soul from such a result2 these things were sacred to her2 she did not see how it would be possible to endure the quizzical turn that would be given to them4 ,i want you to notice that in all this reasoning she did not see that she had undertaken not only her own work but the ,lord's4 ,when one attempts not only to drop the seed1 but to make the fruit that shall spring up1 no wonder one stands back appalled6 ,yet was she not busying her heart with the results8 ,the end of it was that she decided whatever else she did1 to say nothing to ,mr4 ,wayne about the meeting4 ,no1 ,i am mistaken1 that was not the end2 there suddenly came in with these musings a startling thought3 ,if ,i cannot endure the foolishness that will result from one evening1 how am ,i to endure companionship for a lifetime8 ,that was a thought that would not slumber again4 ,but she must find some one whom she was willing to ask to go to prayer-meeting2 there was her miserable promise hedging her in4 ,who was she willing to ask8 ,she ran over her list of acquaintances2 there wasn't one4 ,how strange it was6 ,she could think of those whom ,flossy might ask1 and there was ,eurie surrounded by a large family2 and as for ,marion1 her opportunities were unlimited2 but for her forlorn self1 in all the large circle of her acquaintance1 there seemed no one to ask4 ,the truth was1 ,ruth was shiveringly afraid of casting pearls before swine--not that she put it in that way2 but she would rather have been struck than to have been made an object of ridicule4 ,and yet there were times when she wished she had lived in the days of martyrdom6 ,the church of to-day is full of just such martyr spirits6 ,the result was precisely what might have been expected3 she dallied with her miserable cowardice1 which she did not call by that name at all1 until there really was no person within reach to invite to the meeting4 ,who would have supposed all this of ,ruth ,erskine6 ,no one would have been less likely to have done so than herself4 ,she went alone to the meeting at a late hour1 and with a very miserable1 sore1 sad heart1 to which ,marion's was nothing in comparison4 ,yet there was something accomplished1 if she had but known it4 ,she was beginning to understand herself2 she had a much lower opinion of ,ruth ,erskine as she sat there meeting the wondering gaze of ,eurie1 and the quick1 inquiring glance of ,marion than she ever had felt in her life4 ,i said she was late1 but ,flossy was later4 ,somebody else must have been at work about that meeting1 and have been more successful than our girls1 for the room was fuller than usual4 ,marion had begun to grow anxious for the little ,flossy that had crept so near to their hearts1 and to make frequent turnings of the head to see if she were not coming4 ,when at last she shimmered down the aisle1 a soft1 bright rainbow1 for she hadn't given over wearing her favorite colors1 and she could no more help getting them on becomingly than a bird can help looking graceful in its plumage4 7,why should either of them try to help it87 ,but ,flossy was not alone2 there was a tall portly form1 and a splendidly balanced head1 resting on firm shoulders1 that followed her down to the seat where the girls were waiting for her4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,how ,,it ,,was ,,done4 ,,flossy came quite down the broad aisle to the seat which the girls had1 by tacit understanding1 chosen for their own1 her face just radiant with a sort of surprised satisfaction1 and the gentleman who followed her with an assured and measured step was none other than ,judge ,erskine himself4 ,he may have been surprised at his own appearance in that place for prayer1 but no surprise of his could compare with the amazement of his daughter ,ruth4 ,for once in her life her well-bred composure forsook her1 and her look could be called nothing less than an absolute stare4 ,of the four1 ,flossy only had succeeded4 ,the way of it was this3 ,having become a realist1 in the most emphatic sense of that word1 to have promised to bring some one with her to meeting if she possibly could1 meant to her just that1 and nothing less than that4 ,of course1 such an understanding of a promise made it impossible to stop with the asking of one person1 or two1 or three1 provided her invitations met with only refusals4 ,she had started out as confident of success as ,eurie2 she felt nearly certain of ,col4 ,baker2 not because he was any more likely of his own will to choose the prayer-meeting than he had been all his life thus far1 but because he was growing every day more anxious to give pleasure to ,flossy4 ,having some dim sense of this in her heart1 ,flossy reasoned that it would be right to put this power of hers to the good use of winning him to the meeting1 for who could tell what words from ,god's ,spirit might reach him while there8 ,so she asked him to go4 ,to her surprise1 and to ,col4 ,baker's real annoyance1 he was obliged to refuse her4 ,he was more than willing to go1 even to a prayer-meeting1 if thereby he could take one step forward toward the place in her life that he desired to fill4 ,therefore his regrets were profuse and sincere4 ,it was club night1 and1 most unluckily1 they were to meet with him1 and he was to provide the entertainment4 ,under almost any other circumstances he could have been excused4 ,had he even had the remotest idea that ,flossy would have liked his company that evening1 he could have made arrangements for a change of evening for the club2 that is1 had he known of it earlier4 ,but1 as it was1 she would see how impossible it would be for him to get away4 ,quick-witted ,flossy took him at his word4 ,would he remember1 then1 she asked1 with her most winning smile1 that of all places where she could possibly like to see him regularly1 the ,wednesday evening prayer-meeting at the ,first ,church was the place4 ,what a bitter pill an evening prayer-meeting would be to ,col4 ,baker6 ,but he did not tell her so4 ,he was even growing to think that he could do that1 for a while at least4 ,from him ,flossy turned to her brother2 but it was club night to him1 too1 and while he had not the excuse that the entertainer of the club certainly had1 it served very well as an excuse1 though he was frank enough to add1 ,as for that1 ,i don't believe ,i should go if ,i hadn't an engagement2 ,i won't be hypocrite enough to go to the prayer-meeting4 ,such strange ideas have some otherwise sensible people on this subject of hypocrisy6 ,it required a good deal of courage for ,flossy to ask her mother1 but she accomplished it1 and received in reply an astonished stare1 a half-embarrassed laugh1 and the expression3 ,what an absurd little fanatic you are getting to be1 ,flossy6 ,i am sure one wouldn't have looked for it in a child like you6 ,me8 ,oh1 dear1 no6 ,i can't go2 ,i never walk so far you know2 at least very rarely1 and ,kitty will have the carriage in use for ,mrs4 ,waterman's reception4 ,why don't you go there1 child8 ,it really isn't treating ,mrs4 ,waterman well2 she is such an old friend4 ,these were a few of the many efforts which ,flossy made4 ,they met with like results1 until at last the evening in question found her somewhat belated and alone1 ringing at ,judge ,erskine's mansion4 ,that important personage being in the hall1 in the act of going out to the post-office1 he opened the door and met her hurried1 almost breathless1 question3 ,judge ,erskine1 is ,ruth gone8 ,oh1 excuse me4 ,good-evening4 ,i am in such haste that ,i forgot courtesy4 ,do you think ,ruth is gone8 ,yes1 ,judge ,erskine knew that his daughter was out1 for she stepped into the library to leave a message a few moments ago1 and she was then dressed for the street1 and had passed out a moment afterward4 ,then did he know whether ,katie ,flinn1 the chamber-maid1 was in8 ,of course you won't know1 she added1 blushing and smiling at the absurdity of her question4 ,i mean could you find out for me whether she is in1 and can ,i speak to her just a minute8 ,he was fortunately wiser to-night than she gave him credit for being1 ,judge ,erskine said1 with a courtly bow and smile4 ,it so happened that just after his daughter departed1 ,katie had sought him1 asking permission to be out that evening until nine o'clock1 a permission that she had forgotten to secure of his daughter2 therefore1 as a most unusual circumstance which must have occurred for ,flossy's special benefit1 he was posted even as to ,katie's whereabouts4 ,he was unprepared for the sudden flushing of ,flossy's cheeks1 and quiver of her almost baby chin4 ,oh1 ,i am so sorry6 she said1 and there were actual tears in her blue eyes4 ,judge ,erskine saw them1 and felt as if he were in some way a monster4 ,he hastened to be sympathetic4 ,if she was alone and timid it would afford him nothing but pleasure to see her safely to any part of the city she chose to mention4 ,he was going out simply for a stroll1 with no business whatever4 ,oh1 it isn't that1 ,flossy said1 hastily4 ,i am such a little way from the chapel1 and it is so early ,i shall not be afraid2 but ,i am so disappointed4 ,you see1 ,judge ,erskine1 we girls were each to bring one with us to the meeting to-night1 and ,i have tried so hard1 ,i have asked almost a dozen people1 and none of them could go4 ,at last ,i happened to think of your ,katie ,flinn3 ,i knew she was in our ,sunday-school1 and ,i thought perhaps if ,i asked her she would go with me1 if ,ruth had not done it before me4 ,she was my last chance1 and ,i am more disappointed than ,i can tell you4 ,shall ,i try to describe to you what a strange sensation ,judge ,erskine felt in the region of his heart as he stood there in the hall with that pretty blushing girl1 who seemed to him only a child1 and found that her quivering chin and swimming eyes meant simply that she had failed in securing even his chambermaid to attend the prayer-meeting8 ,he never remembered to have had such an astonishing feeling1 nor such a queer choking sensation in his throat4 ,his own daughter was dignified and stately2 the very picture of her father1 every one said2 he had no idea that she could shed a tear any more than he could himself2 but this timid1 flushing1 trembling little girl seemed made of some other material than just the clay that he supposed himself to be composed of4 ,he stood regarding her with a sort of pleased wonder4 ,in common with many other stately gentlemen1 he very much admired real1 unaffected1 artless childhood4 ,it seemed to him that a grieved child stood before him4 ,how could he comfort her8 ,if a doll1 now1 with curling hair and blue eyes could do it1 how promptly should it be bought and given to this flesh-and-blood doll before him4 ,but no1 nothing short of some one to accompany her to prayer-meeting would appease this little troubled bit of humanity4 ,in the magnanimity of his haughty heart the learned judge took a sudden and almost overpowering resolution4 ,could he go8 he asked her4 ,to be sure1 he was not ,katie ,flinn1 but he would do his best to take the place of that personage if she would kindly let him go to the said meeting with her4 ,it was worth a dozen sittings even in prayer-meeting1 ,judge ,erskine thought1 to see the sudden clearing of that tearful face2 the sudden radiant outlook from those wet eyes4 ,would he go8 ,would he really go8 ,could anything be more splendid6 ,and1 verily1 ,judge ,erskine thought1 as he beheld her shining face1 that there hardly could4 ,he felt precisely as you do when you have been unselfish toward a pretty child1 who1 someway1 has won a warm spot in your heart4 ,he went to the ,first ,church prayer-meeting for the first time with no higher motive than that--never mind1 he went4 ,flossy ,shipley certainly was not responsible for the motive of his going2 neither did it in any degree affect the honest1 earnest1 persistent effort she had made that day4 ,her account of it was simple enough1 when the girls met afterward to talk over their efforts4 ,why1 you know1 she said1 ,i actually promised to bring some one with me if ,i possibly could2 so there was nothing for it but to try in every possible way up to the very last minute of the time ,i had4 ,but1 after all1 ,i brought the one whom ,i had not the least idea of asking2 he asked himself4 ,well1 ,marion said1 after a period of amazed silence1 ,i have made two discoveries4 ,one is1 that people may possibly have tried before this to enlarge the prayer-meeting2 possibly we may not1 after all1 be the originators of that brilliant idea2 they may have tried1 and failed even as we did2 for ,i have learned that it is not so easy a matter as it at first appears2 it needs a power behind the wills of people to get them to do even so simple a thing as that4 ,the other important thought is1 there are two ways of keeping a promise2 one is to make an attempt and fail1 saying to our contented consciences1 ',there6 ,i've done my duty1 and it is no use you see2' and the other is to persist in attempt after attempt1 until the very pertinacity of our faith accomplishes the work for us4 ,what if we follow the example of our little ,flossy after this1 and let a promise mean something8 ,my example6 ,flossy said1 with wide open eyes4 ,why1 ,i only asked people1 just as ,i said ,i would2 but they wouldn't come4 ,there was one young lady who walked home from that eventful prayer-meeting with a very unsatisfied conscience4 ,ruth ,erskine could not get away from the feeling that she was a shirker2 all the more so1 because the person who had sat very near her was her father6 not brought there by any invitation from her2 it was not that she had tried and failed2 that form of it would have been an infinite relief2 she simply had not tried1 and she made herself honestly confess to herself that the trouble was1 she could not be satisfied with one who was within the reach of her asking4 ,yet conscience1 working all alone1 is a very uncomfortable and disagreeable companion1 and often accomplishes for the time being nothing beyond making his victim disagreeable4 ,this was ,ruth to the fullest extent of her power2 she realized it1 and in a measure felt ashamed of herself1 and struggled a little for a better state of mind4 ,it seemed ill payment for the courtesy which had made ,harold ,wayne forsake the club before supper for the purpose of walking home with her from church4 ,he was unusually kind1 too1 and patient4 ,part of her trouble1 be it known1 was her determination in her heart not to be driven by that dreadful conscience into saying a single personal word to ,harold ,wayne4 ,not that she put it in that way2 bless you1 no6 ,satan rarely blunders enough to speak out plainly2 he has a dozen smooth-sounding phrases that mean the same thing4 ,people need to be approached very carefully on very special occasions1 which are not apt to occur2 they need to be approached by just such persons1 and in just such well-chosen words1 etc4 etc4 ,though why it should require such infinite tact and care and skill to say to a friend1 ,i wish you were going to heaven with me1 when the person would say without the slightest hesitation1 ,i wish you were going to ,europe with me1 and be accounted an idiot if he made talk about tact and skill and caution1 ,i am sure ,i don't know4 ,yet all these things ,ruth said to herself4 ,the reason the thought ruffled her was because her honest conscience knew they were false1 and that she had a right to say1 ,harold1 ,i wish you were a ,christian2 and had no right at all with the results4 ,she simply could not bring herself to say it2 she did not really know why1 herself2 probably ,satan did4 ,mr4 ,wayne was unusually quiet and grave2 he seemed to be doing what he could to lead ,ruth into serious talk2 he asked about the meeting1 whether there were many out1 and whether she enjoyed it4 ,i sort of like ,dr4 ,dennis1 he said4 ,he is tremendously in earnest2 but why shouldn't a man be in earnest if he believes what he is talking about4 ,do you suppose he does1 ,ruth8 ,of course1 ,ruth said1 shortly1 almost crossly2 you know he does4 ,why do you ask such a foolish question8 ,oh1 ,i don't know2 half the time it seems to me as if the religious people were trying to humbug the world2 because1 you see1 they don't act as if they were in dead earnest--very few of them do1 at least4 ,that is a very easy thing to say1 and people seem to be fond of saying it1 ,ruth said3 and then she simply would not talk on that subject or any other2 she was miserably unhappy2 an awakened conscience1 toyed with1 is a very fruitful source of misery4 ,she was glad when the walk was concluded4 ,shall ,i come in8 ,mr4 ,wayne asked1 lingering on the step1 half smiling1 half wistful4 ,what do you advise1 shall ,i go back to the club or call on you8 ,now1 ,ruth hated that club2 she was much afraid of its influence over her friend2 she had determined1 as soon as she could plan a line of operation1 to set systematically at work to withdraw him from its influence2 but she was not ready for it yet4 ,and1 among other things that she was not ready for1 was a call from ,mr4 ,wayne2 it seemed to her that in her present miserable1 unsettled state it would be simply impossible to carry on a conversation with him4 ,true to her usually frank nature1 she answered1 promptly3 ,i have certainly no desire for you to go to the club1 either on this evening or any other2 but1 to be frank1 ,i would rather be alone this evening2 ,i want to think over some matters of importance1 and to decide them4 ,you will not think strangely of me for saying that1 will you8 ,oh1 no1 he said1 and he smiled kindly on her2 yet he was very much disappointed2 he showed it in his face4 ,many a time afterward1 as ,ruth sat thinking over this conversation1 recalling every little detail of it1 recalling the look on his face1 and the peculiar sadness in his eyes1 she thought within herself1 ,if ,i had said1 ',harold1 ,i want you to come in2 ,i want to talk with you2 ,i want you to decide now to live for ,christ1' ,i wonder what he would have answered4 ,but she did not say it4 ,instead1 she turned from him and went into the house2 and--he went directly to his club3 an unaccountable gloom hung over him2 he must have companionship2 if not with his chosen and promised wife1 then with the club4 ,that was just what ,ruth was to him2 and it was one of the questions that tormented her4 ,there were reasons why thought about it had forced itself upon her during the last few days4 ,she was pledged to him long before she found this new experience4 ,the question was1 ,could she fulfil those pledges8 ,had they a thought in common now8 ,could she live with him the sort of life that she had promised to live1 and that she solemnly meant to live8 ,if she could1 was it right to do so8 ,you see she had enough to torment her2 only she set about thinking of it in so strange a manner2 not at all as she would have thought about it if the pledges she had given him had meant to her all that they mean to some1 all that they ought to mean to any one who makes them4 ,this phase of it also troubled her4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,harold4 ,,there had been in ,judge ,erskine's mind a slight sense of wonderment as to how he should meet his daughter the morning after his astounding appearance at prayer-meeting4 ,such a new and singular departure was it1 that he even felt a slight shade of embarrassment4 ,but1 before the hour of meeting her arrived1 his thoughts were turned into an entirely new channel4 ,he met her1 looking very grave1 and with a touch of tenderness about his manner that was new to her4 ,she1 on her part1 was not much more at rest than she had been the evening before4 ,she realized that her heart was in an actual state of rebellion against any form of decided ,christian work that she could plan4 ,clearly1 something was wrong with her4 ,if she had been familiar with a certain old ,christian1 she might have borrowed his language to express in part her feeling4 ,to will is present with me1 but how to perform that which is good ,i know not4 ,not quite that1 either1 for while she said1 ,i can't do this thing1 or that thing1 she was clear-minded enough to see that it simply meant1 after all1 ,i will not4 ,the will was at fault1 and she knew it4 ,she did not fully comprehend yet that she had set out to be a ,christian1 and at the same time to have her own way in the least little thing2 but she had a glimmering sense that such was the trouble4 ,her father1 after taking surreptitious glances at her pale face and troubled eyes1 decided finally that what was to be said must be said1 and asked1 abruptly3 ,when did you see ,harold1 my daughter8 ,ruth started1 and the question made the blood rush to her face1 she did not know why4 ,i saw him last evening1 after prayer-meeting1 ,i believe1 she answered1 speaking in her usual quiet tone1 but fixing an inquiring look on her father4 ,did he speak of not feeling well8 ,no1 sir2 not at all4 ,why8 ,i hear that he is quite sick this morning2 was taken in the night4 ,something like a fit1 ,i should judge2 may be nothing but a slight attack1 brought on by late suppers4 ,he was at the club last night4 ,i thought ,i would call after breakfast1 and learn the extent of the illness4 ,if you want to send a message or note1 ,i can deliver it4 ,that was the beginning of dreary days4 ,ruth prepared her note--a tender1 comforting one2 but it was brought back to her2 and as her father handed it to her he said3 ,he can't read it now1 daughter4 ,i dare say it would comfort him if he could2 but he is delirious2 didn't know me2 hasn't known any one since he was taken in the night4 ,keep the letter till this passes off1 then he will be ready for it4 ,very kind and sympathetic were ,ruth's friends4 ,the girls came to see her1 and kissed her wistfully1 with tears in their eyes1 but they had little to say4 ,they knew just how sick her friend was1 and they felt as though there was nothing left to say4 ,her father neglected his business to stay at home with her1 and in many a little1 thoughtful way touched her heavy heart1 as the hours dragged by4 ,not many hours to wait4 ,it was in the early dawn of the third morning after the news had reached her1 that the door-bell pealed sharply through the house4 ,there was but one servant up2 she answered the bell4 ,ruth was up and dressed1 and stood in the hall above1 listening for what that bell might bring to her4 ,she heard the hurried voice at the door2 heard the peremptory order3 ,i want to see ,judge ,erskine right away4 ,she knew the voice belonged to ,nellis ,mitchell1 and she went down to him in the library4 ,he turned swiftly at the opening of the door1 then stood still1 and a look of blank dismay swept over his face4 ,it was your father that ,i wanted to see1 he said1 quickly4 ,i know1 she answered1 speaking in her usual tone4 ,i heard your message4 ,my father has not yet risen4 ,he will be down presently4 ,meantime1 ,i thought you might possibly have news of ,mr4 ,wayne's condition4 ,can you tell me what your father thinks of him this morning8 ,how very quiet and composed she was6 ,it seemed impossible to realize that she was the promised wife of the man for whom she was asking4 ,nellis ,mitchell was distressed2 he did not know what to say or do4 ,his distress showed itself plainly on his face4 ,you need not be afraid to tell me1 she said1 half smiling1 and speaking more gently than she was apt to speak to this young man4 ,it almost seemed that she was trying to sustain him1 and help him to tell his story4 ,i am not a child you know1 she added1 still with a smile4 ,you do not know what you are talking about1 he said1 hoarsely4 ,ruth1 won't you please go up-stairs and tell your father ,i want him as soon as possible8 ,she turned from him half impatiently4 ,my father will be down as soon as possible1 she said1 coldly4 ,he is not accustomed to keep gentlemen waiting beyond what is necessary4 ,meantime1 if you know1 will you be kind enough to give me news of ,mr4 ,wayne8 ,i beg you1 ,mr4 ,mitchell1 to remember that ,i am not a silly child1 to whom you need be afraid to give a message1 if you have one4 ,he must answer her now2 there was no escape4 ,he is1 he began1 and then he stopped4 ,and her clear1 cold1 grave eyes looked right at him and waited4 ,his next sentence commenced almost in a moan4 ,oh1 ,ruth1 you will make me tell you6 ,it is all over4 ,he has gone4 ,gone6 she repeated1 incredulously1 still staring at him4 ,where is he gone8 ,what an awful question6 ,she realized it herself almost the instant it passed her lips4 ,it made her shudder visibly4 ,but she neither screamed nor fainted1 nor in any way1 except that strange one1 betrayed emotion4 ,instead1 she said3 ,be seated1 ,mr4 ,mitchell1 and excuse me2 father is coming4 ,then she turned and went back up-stairs4 ,he heard her firm step on the stairs as she went slowly up2 and this poor bearer of faithful tidings shut his face into both his hands and groaned aloud for such misery as could not vent itself in any natural way4 ,he understood that there was something more than ordinary sorrow in ,ruth's face4 ,it was as if she had been petrified4 ,through the days that followed ,ruth passed as one in a dream4 ,everyone was very kind4 ,her father showed a talent for patience and gentleness that no one had known he possessed4 ,the girls came to see her2 but she would not be seen4 ,she shrank from them4 ,they did not wonder at that2 they were half relieved that it was so4 ,such a pall seemed to them to have settled suddenly over her life that they felt at a loss what to say1 how to meet her4 ,so when she sent to them1 from her darkened and gloomy room1 kind messages of thanks for their kindness1 and asked them to further show their sympathy by allowing her to stay utterly alone for awhile1 they drew relieved sighs and went away4 ,this much they understood4 ,it was not a time for words4 ,as for ,flossy1 she should not have been numbered among them4 ,she did not call at all2 she sent by ,nellis ,mitchell a tiny bouquet of lilies of the valley1 lying inside of a cool1 broad green lily leaf1 and on a slip of paper twisted in with it was written3 ,yea1 though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil4 ,how ,ruth blessed her for that word6 ,verily she felt that she was walking through the very blackest of the shadows6 ,it reminded her that she had a friend4 ,slowly the hours dragged on4 ,the grand and solemn funeral was planned and the plans carried out4 ,mr4 ,wayne was among the very wealthy of the city4 ,his father's mansion was shrouded in its appropriate crape1 the rooms and the halls and the rich1 dark solemn coffin glittering with its solid silver screws and handles1 were almost hidden in rare and costly flowers4 ,ruth1 in the deepest of mourning robes1 accompanied by her father1 from whose shoulder swept long streamers of crape1 sat in the ,erskine carriage and followed directly after the hearse1 chief mourner in the long and solemn train4 ,in every conceivable way that love could devise and wealth carry out1 were the last tokens of respect paid to the quiet clay that understood not what was passing around it4 ,the music was by the quartette choir of the ,first ,church1 and was like a wail of angel voices in its wonderful pathos and tenderness4 ,the pastor spoke a few words1 tenderly1 solemnly pointing the mourners to ,one who alone could sustain1 earnestly urging those who knew nothing of the love of ,christ to take refuge now in his open arms and find rest there4 ,but alas1 alas6 not a single word could he say about the soul that had gone out from that silent body before them2 gone to live forever4 ,was it possible for those holding such belief as theirs to have a shadow of hope that the end of such a life as his had been could be bright8 ,not one of those who understood anything about this matter dared for an instant to hope it4 ,they understood the awful solemn silence of the minister4 ,there was nothing for that grave but silence4 ,hope for the living1 and he pointed them earnestly to the source of all hope2 but for the dead1 silence4 ,what an awfully solemn task to conduct such funeral services4 ,the pastor may not read the comforting words3 ,blessed are the dead who die in the ,lord1 because before them lies one who did not die in the ,lord1 and common sense tells the most thoughtless that if those are blessed who die in the ,lord there must be a reverse side to the picture1 else no sense to the statement4 ,so the verse must be passed by4 ,it is too late to help the dead1 and it need not tear the hearts of the living4 ,he can not read1 ,i shall go to him1 but he shall not return to me4 ,god forbid1 prays the sad pastor in his heart1 that mother or father or friend shall so die as to go to this one1 who did not die in the ,lord4 ,we can not even hope for that4 ,all the long line of tender1 helpful verses1 glowing with light for the coming morning1 shining with immortality and unending union must be passed by2 for each and every one of them have a clause which shows unmistakably that the immortality is glorious only under certain conditions1 and in this case they have not been met4 ,there must in these verses1 too1 be a reverse side1 or else they mean nothing4 ,what shall the pastor do8 ,clearly he can only say1 ,in the midst of life we are in death4 ,that is true2 his audience feel it2 and he can only pray3 ,so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom4 ,but1 oh1 how can the mothers stand by open graves wherein are laid their sons or daughters1 and endure the thought that it is a separation that shall stretch through eternity6 ,how wonderful that any of us are careless or thoughtless for a moment so long as we have a child or a friend unsafe6 ,during all this time of trial ,ruth's three friends were hovering around her1 trying by every possible attention and thoughtfulness to help or comfort her1 and yet feeling their powerlessness in such a way that it almost made them shrink from trying4 ,words are such a mockery1 ,marion said to her one evening1 as they sat together4 ,sometimes ,i almost hate myself for trying to speak to you at all4 ,what can any human being say to one who is shrouded in an awful sorrow8 ,ruth shuddered visibly4 ,it is an 'awful' sorrow1 she said2 you have used the right word with which to express it2 but there is a shade to it that you do not understand4 ,i don't believe that by experience you ever will2 ,i pray ,god that you may not4 ,think of burying a friend in the grave without the slightest hope of ever meeting him in peace again6 ,you have nothing to do with that1 ,ruth2 ,god is the judge4 ,i don't think you ought to allow yourself to think of it4 ,there ,i think you are mistaken2 ,i believe ,i ought to think of it4 ,marion1 you know1 and ,i know1 that there is simply nothing at all on which to build a hope of meeting in peace the man we buried last week4 ,you think it almost shocking that ,i can speak of him in that way2 ,i know you do4 ,people are apt to hide behind the very flimsiest veil of fancied hopes when they talk of such things4 ,perhaps a merciful ,god permits some to hug a worthless hope when they think of their dead treasures1 since it can do no harm to those who are gone2 but ,i am not one of that class of people4 ,besides1 ,i am appearing to you1 and everybody1 in a false light4 ,i am tired of it4 ,marion1 ,mr4 ,wayne was not to me what he ought to have been1 since ,i was his promised wife4 ,you know how ,i have changed of late2 you know there was hardly a thought or feeling of mine in which he could sympathize2 but the worst of it is1 he never did sympathize with me in the true sense2 he never filled my heart4 ,my promise to him was one of those false steps that people like me1 who are ruled by society1 take because it seems to be the proper thing to do next1 or because we feel it might as well be that as anything2 perhaps because it will please one's father in a business point of view1 or please one's own sense of importance2 satisfy one's desire to be foremost in the fashionable world4 ,i am humiliating myself to tell you1 plainly1 that my promise meant not much more than that4 ,i did not realize how empty it was till ,i found that all my plans1 and aims1 and hopes in life were changed4 ,that1 in short1 life had come to seem more to me than a glittering weariness1 that was to be borne with the best grace ,i could assume4 ,this was nearly all ,i had found in society1 or hoped to find4 ,i followed ,mr4 ,wayne to the grave in the position of chief mourner1 because ,i felt that it was a token of respect that ,i owed to the memory of the man whom ,i had wronged1 and because ,i felt that the world had no business with our private affairs2 but he was not to me what people think he was1 and ,i feel as though ,i wanted you to know it1 even though it humiliates me beyond measure to make the confession4 ,at the same time ,i have an awful sorrow1 too awful to be expressed in words4 ,marion1 ,i think you will understand what ,i mean when ,i say that ,i believe ,i have the blood of a lost soul clinging to my garments4 ,i know as well as ,i sit here to-night that ,i might have influenced ,harold ,wayne into the right way4 ,i know his love for me was so sincere1 and so strong1 that he would have been willing to try to do almost anything that ,i had asked4 ,i believe in my soul that had ,i urged the matter of personal salvation on his immediate attention1 he would have given it thought4 ,but ,i never did--never4 ,marion1 even on that last evening of his life--,i mean before he was sick--when he himself invited the words1 ,i was silent4 ,i did not mean to continue so2 ,i meant1 when ,i got ready1 to speak to him about this matter2 ,i meant to do everything right2 but ,i was determined to take my own time for it1 and ,i took it1 and now he is gone6 ,marion1 you know nothing about such a sorrow as that6 ,now1 why did ,i act in this insane way8 ,i know the reason1 one of them at least2 and the awful selfishness and cowardice of it only brands me deeper4 ,it was because ,i was afraid to have him become a ,christian man6 ,i knew if he did ,i should have no excuse for breaking the pledges that had passed between us2 in plain words1 ,i would have no excuse for not marrying him2 and ,i did not want to do it6 ,i felt that marriage vows would mean to me in the future what they never meant in the past1 and that there was really nothing in common between ,mr4 ,wayne and myself2 that ,i could not assent to the marriage service with him1 and be guiltless before ,god4 ,so to spare myself1 to have what looked like a conscientious excuse for breaking vows that ought never to have been made1 ,i deliberately sacrificed his soul6 ,marion ,wilbur1 think of that6 ,you didn't mean to do that6 ,marion said1 in an awe-stricken voice2 she was astonished and shocked1 and bewildered as to what to say4 ,ruth answered her almost fiercely3 ,no1 ,i didn't mean to2 and as to that1 ,i never meant to do anything that was not just right in my life2 but ,i meant to have just exactly my own way of doing things1 and ,i tell you ,i took it4 ,now1 ,marion1 while ,i blame myself as no other person ever can1 ,i still blame others4 ,i was never taught as ,i should have been about the sacredness of human loves1 and the awfulness of human vows and pledges4 ,i was never taught that for girls to dally with such pledges1 to flirt with them1 before they knew anything about life or about their own hearts was a sin in the sight of ,god4 ,i ought to have been so taught4 ,perhaps if ,i had had a mother to teach me ,i should have been different2 but ,i am not even sure of that4 ,mothers seem to me to allow strange trifling with these subjects1 even if they do not actually prepare the way4 ,but all this does not relieve me4 ,i have sinned2 no one but myself understands how deeply1 and no one but me knows the bitterness of it4 ,now ,i feel as though the whole of the rest of my life must be given to atone for this horrible fatal mistake4 ,i wasted the last hour ,i ever had with a soul1 and ,i have before me the awful consciousness that ,i might have saved it4 ,it is all done now1 and can never be undone2 that is the saddest part of it4 ,but there is one thing ,i can do2 ,i need never live through a like experience again2 ,i will give the rest of my life to atone for the past2 ,i will never again be guilty of coming in contact with a soul1 unprepared for death1 without urging upon that soul1 as often as ,i have opportunity1 the necessity for preparation2 ,i see plainly that it is the important thing in life4 ,there hovered over ,marion's mind1 while these last sentences were being spoken1 words something like these3 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ his ,son cleanseth from all sin4 ,she almost said to ,ruth that even for this sin the atonement had been made2 she must not try to make another4 ,but the error that only faintly glimmered in ,ruth's sentence was so mixed with solemn and helpful truth that she felt at a loss as to whether there was error at all1 and so held her peace4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,revival4 ,,as the early autumn months slipped away1 and touches of winter began to show around them1 it became evident that a new feeling was stirring in the ,first ,church4 ,no need now to work for increased numbers at the prayer-meeting2 at least there was not the need that formerly existed2 the room was full1 and the meetings solemn and earnest4 ,the ,spirit of ,god was hovering over the place4 ,drops of the coming shower were already beginning to fall4 ,what was the cause of the quickened hearts8 ,who knew save the ,watcher on the tower in the eternal city8 ,was it because of the sudden1 and solemn1 and hopeless death occurring in the very center of what was called the first circles8 ,was it the spirit developed apparently by this death1 showing itself in eager1 indefatigable effort wherever ,ruth ,erskine went1 with whomsoever she came in contact8 ,was it ,marion ,wilbur's new way of teaching1 that included not only the intellect of her pupils1 but looked beyond that1 with loving word1 for the empty soul8 ,was it ,eurie ,mitchell's patient way of taking up home work and care1 that had been distasteful to her1 and that she had shunned in days gone by8 ,was it ,flossy ,shipley's way of teaching the ,sabbath-school lessons to those boys of hers8 ,was it the quickened sense which throbbed in the almost discouraged heart of the pastor whenever he came in contact with either of these four8 ,was it the patient1 persistent1 unassuming work of ,john ,warden as he went about in the shop among his fellow-workmen1 dropping an earnest word here1 a pressing invitation there8 ,who shall tell whether either1 or all of these influences1 combined with hundreds of others1 set in motion by like causes1 were the beginnings of the solemn and blessed harvest time1 that dawned at last on those who had been sowing in tears8 ,the fact was apparent4 ,even in the ,first ,church1 that model of propriety and respectability1 that church which had so feared excitement or unusual efforts of any sort1 there was a revival6 ,among those who were coming1 and who were growing willing to let others know that they were awakening to a sense of the importance of these things1 were ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,mitchell1 ,eurie's father and mother4 ,to themselves they did not hesitate to say that the change in ,eurie was so marked and so increasing in its power over her life1 that it obliged them to think seriously of this thing4 ,among the interested also were a score or more of girls from ,marion's room in the great school2 and more came every day4 ,marion's face was shining1 and she gathered her brood about her as a mother would the children of her love and longing4 ,among them were four of ,flossy's boys2 and half a dozen boys1 friends of theirs1 who were not ,flossy's1 and who yet1 someway1 joined her train and managed to be counted in4 ,among them was ,judge ,erskine--,i mean among those who continued to come to the meetings--coming alone1 and being reverent and thoughtful during the services1 but going away with bowed head1 and making no sign3 there was something in the way with ,judge ,erskine that no one understood4 ,as for ,ruth--how she worked during these days6 ,not with a glad light in her eyes1 such as ,marion and ,flossy had2 not with a satisfied face as if the question of something to do that was worth doing1 and that helped her1 had been settled1 such as ,eurie ,mitchell wore2 rather with a sad feverish impatience to accomplish results2 shrinking from nothing1 willing to do anything1 go anywhere1 yet meeting with far less encouragement1 and seeing far less fruits1 than any of the others4 ,she did not realize that she was working with a sort of desperate intention of overbalancing the mischief of her mistakes by so much work now1 that there would be a sort of even balance at the scales4 ,she would have been shocked had she understood her own heart4 ,meantime1 where was ,satan8 ,content to let this reaping time alone8 ,oh1 bless you1 no6 ,never busier1 never more alert1 and watchful1 and cautious1 and skillful than now6 ,it was wonderful1 too1 how many helpers he found whose names were actually on the roll of the ,first ,church6 ,there were those who had had in mind all the fall having little entertainments1 just a few friends1 you know1 nothing like a party2 they were sorry to be obliged to have them just now while there were meetings2 but ,miss ,gilmore was in town1 and would be here so short a time1 they must invite her2 it would not be treating her well to take no notice of her visit2 and1 really1 the people whom they proposed to invite were those who did not attend church1 so no harm could be done4 ,these were some of ,satan's helpers4 ,there were others who were more outspoken4 ,they did not believe in special efforts2 seasons of excitement2 religious dissipations--nothing else4 ,people should be religious at all times1 not put it on for special occasions4 ,it was well enough to have a special season for parties1 and a special season for going to the sea-side1 and a special season for doing one's dressmaking1 and a special season for cleaning house1 and a special season for everything under the sun but religious meetings2 these should be conducted--at all times4 ,was that what they meant8 ,oh1 dear1 no6 ,they should not be conducted at all4 ,was that what they meant8 ,who should tell what they did mean8 ,one lady said3 ,the idea of the bell ringing every evening for prayer-meeting6 ,it was too absurd6 ,people must have a little time for recreation2 these weeks just before the holidays were always by common consent the time for festivities of all sorts2 it was downright folly to expect young people to give up their pleasures and go every evening to meeting4 ,so she issued her cards for a party1 and gathered as many of the young people about her as she could4 ,and this woman was a member of the ,first ,church6 ,and this woman professed to believe in the verse that read1 ,whether therefore ye eat or drink1 or whatever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,god6 ,there were others who went to these parties1 hushing their consciences meantime by the explanation that the social duties were important ones1 and that one whose heart was right could serve ,god as well having religious conversation at a party1 as she could occupying a seat at a prayer-meeting4 ,perhaps they really believed it4 ,what marvel8 ,satan himself is transformed into an angel of light4 ,the trouble about the sincerity was1 that those same persons were not unaware of certain sneering remarks that were being made1 to the effect that if church-members could go to parties when there were meetings at their own church1 they could surely be excused from the meetings2 and they could not have been utterly ignorant of the verse that read plainly1 ,let not your good be evil spoken of4 ,there were still others who compromised matters1 taking the meetings for the first hour of the evening and a party for the next three2 and the lookers-on said1 sneeringly1 that there was a strife going on between the soul1 the flesh and the devil1 and they wondered which would conquer6 ,so all these classes flourished and worked in their different ways in the ,first ,church2 just as they always will work1 until that day when the wheat shall be forever separated from the tares4 ,the wonder is why so many blinded eyes must insist that because there are tares1 there is therefore no wheat4 ,the ,lord said1 ,let both grow together until the harvest4 ,i don't understand it1 ,ruth said one day to ,marion1 as they talked the work over1 and tried to lay plans for future helpfulness4 ,why do you suppose it is that ,i seem able to do nothing at all8 ,i try with all my might2 my heart is surely in it1 and ,i long with a desire that seems almost as if it would consume me1 to see some fruit of my work1 and yet ,i don't4 ,what can be the difficulty8 ,i don't know1 ,marion said1 speaking hesitatingly1 as one who would like to say more if she dared4 ,i don't feel competent to answer that question1 and yet1 sometimes1 ,i have feared that you might be trying to compromise with the ,lord4 ,i don't understand you2 in what way do you mean8 ,i try to do my duty in every place that ,i can think of4 ,i am not compromising on any subject1 so far as ,i know4 ,if ,i am1 ,i will certainly be grateful to anyone who will point it out to me4 ,i am not sure that it is sufficiently clear to my own mind to be able to point it out1 ,marion said1 still visibly embarrassed4 ,but1 ,ruth1 it sometimes seems to me as if you had said to yourself1 ',now ,i will work so much and pray so much1 and then ,i ought to have rest from the pain that is goading me on1 and ,i ought to be able to feel that ,i have atoned for past mistakes1 and the account against me is squared4' ,ruth turned from her impatiently4 ,you are a strange comforter1 she said1 almost indignantly4 ,do you mean by that to intimate that you think ,i ought never to look or hope for rest of mind again because ,i have made one fearful mistake8 ,do you mean that ,i ought always to carry with me the sense of the burden8 ,i mean no such thing4 ,you cannot think ,i so estimate the power of the sacrifice for sin4 ,ruth1 ,i mean simply this3 ,nothing that you or ,i can do can possibly make one sin white1 one mistake as though it had not been1 give one moment of rest to a troubled heart4 ,but the blood of ,jesus ,christ can do all this1 and it does seem to me that you are ignoring it1 and trying to work out your own rest4 ,ruth was thoughtful2 the look of vexation passed from her face4 ,it may be so1 she said1 after a long silence4 ,i begin dimly to understand your meaning2 but ,i don't know how to help it1 how to feel differently4 ,i surely ought to work1 and surely ,i have a right to expect results4 ,in one sense1 yes1 and in another ,i don't believe we have4 ,i begin to feel more and more that you and ,i have got in some way to be made to understand that it is not our way1 but the ,lord's1 that we must be willing to do1 or1 what is harder1 to leave undone1 exactly what he says1 do or not do4 ,i can't help feeling that you are planning in your own heart just what ought to be done1 and then allowing yourself to feel almost indignant and ill-used because the work is not accomplished4 ,i don't know how you have succeeded in seeing so deeply into my heart1 ,ruth said1 with a wan smile4 ,i believe it is so1 though ,i am not sure that ,i ever saw it before4 ,i know why ,i see it2 because it is my temptation as well as yours4 ,you and ,i are both strong-willed2 we have both been used to having our own way2 we want to continue to have it2 we want to do the right things provided we can have the choosing of them4 ,flossy1 now1 with her yielding nature1 is willing to be led1 as you and ,i are not4 ,i have to fight against this tendency to carry out my plans and look for my results all the time4 ,the fact is1 ,ruth1 we must learn to work for ,christ1 and not set up business for ourselves1 and still expect him to give the wages4 ,still1 said ,ruth1 ,i don't know4 ,there seems to me to be nothing that ,i am not willing to do4 ,i can't think of anything so hard that ,i would not unhesitatingly do it4 ,i have changed wonderfully in that respect4 ,a little while ago ,i was not willing to do anything4 ,now ,i am ready for anything that can be done4 ,are you8 ,marion asked1 with a visible shiver4 ,ruth1 are you sure8 ,i can't say that2 ,i want to say it1 and ,i pray that ,i may be able2 yet ,i can think of so many things that ,i might be called on to do that ,i shrink from4 ,i have given up trying to do them1 and fallen back on the promise1 ',my grace is sufficient1' only praying1 ',lord1 give me the needed grace for to-day2 ,i will not reach out for to-morrow4' ,and1 ,ruth1 ,i feel sure that neither you nor ,i must try to cover our past errors with present usefulness4 ,nothing but the blood of ,christ can cover any wrong2 we must rest on that1 and on that alone4 ,i believe ,i only understand in part what you mean4 ,i don't see how you ever reached so far ahead of me in faith and in understanding4 ,but ,i believe you are farther4 ,still1 ,i can't think of anything that ,i am not willing and ready to do4 ,i wish ,i might be tried2 ,i wish ,he would give me some work1 not of my own planning1 that ,he might see how willing ,i am to do anything4 ,this was ,ruth's last remark to her friend that evening4 ,flossy and ,eurie both came in1 and they went out to the meeting together1 ,ruth thinking still of the talk they had1 and feeling sure that she could do whatever she found1 and yet the ,master was planning a way for her that very evening1 the entrance to which she had never seen1 never dreamed of as possible4 ,so many ways he has for leading us6 ,blessed are those who have come to the experience that makes them willing to be led1 even in darkness and blindness1 trusting to the ,sun of ,righteousness for light4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,strange ,,story4 ,,judge ,,erskine was in his library1 pacing slowly back and forth1 his forehead lined with heavy wrinkles1 and his face wearing the expression of one involved in deep and troubled thought4 ,he had just come home from the evening meeting1 the last meeting of the series that had held the attention of so many hearts during four weeks of harvest time4 ,judge ,erskine had been a silent and attentive listener4 ,all through the solemnities of the sermon1 that seemed written for his sake1 and to point right at him1 he had never moved his keen1 steady eyes away from the preacher's face4 ,the text of that sermon he was not likely to forget4 ,he had looked it up1 and read it1 with its connections1 the moment he reached the privacy of his library4 ,the harvest is past1 the summer is ended1 and we are not saved4 ,that was the text4 ,judge ,erskine said it over and over to his own soul4 ,it was true2 it fitted his condition as precisely as though it had been written for him4 ,the harvest that would tell for eternity had been reaped all around him4 ,he had looked1 and listened1 and resolved2 and still he stood outside1 ungarnered4 ,moreover1 one portion of the solemn sermon fitted him1 also4 ,when ,dr4 ,dennis spoke of those who had let this season pass1 unhelped1 because they had an inner life that would not bear the gaze of the public1 because they were not willing to drag out their past and cast it away from them1 ,judge ,erskine had started and fixed a stern glance on the preacher4 ,did he know his secret1 that had been hidden away with such persistent care8 ,what scoundrel could have enlightened him8 ,this1 only for a moment2 then he settled back and realized his folly4 ,dr4 ,dennis knew nothing of himself or his past4 ,then came that other awfully solemn thought--there was ,one who did8 ,could it be that his voice had instructed the pastor what special point to make in that sermon1 with such emphasis and power8 ,was the keen eye of the ,eternal ,god pointing his finger1 now1 at him1 and saying2 ,thou art the man8 ,he knew all this was true2 he knew that the work of the past month had greatly moved him2 he knew on the evening when the text had been1 ,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian1 that he had felt himself almost persuaded2 he knew then1 as he did now1 that but one thing stood in the way of his entire persuasion4 ,as he walked up and down his library on this evening1 he felt fully persuaded in his own mind that the time had arrived when he was being called on persistently for a decision4 ,more than that1 he felt that the decision was to be not only for time1 but for eternity2 that he must settle the question of his future then and there4 ,he had locked the door after him1 as he came into the library1 with a sort of grim determination to settle the question before he stepped into the outside world again4 ,how would it be settled8 ,he did not know himself4 ,he did not dare to think how it would end2 he simply felt that the conflict must end4 ,meantime1 ,ruth was up-stairs on her knees1 praying for her father4 ,her heart felt very heavy4 ,she had prayed for this father with all her soul2 prayed1 with what she felt was a degree of faith1 that this evening1 at the meeting1 he might settle the question at issue1 and settle it forever4 ,she had felt a bitter1 and almost an overwhelming1 disappointment that the meeting closed and left him just where he had stood for a month4 ,there seemed nothing left to do4 ,she had not spared her words1 her entreaties4 ,she had gotten bravely over her fears of approaching her father4 ,but now it seemed to her that there was nothing left to say4 ,she could still pray1 and it was with a half-despairing cry that she fell on her knees1 realizing in her very soul that only the power of ,god could convert her father4 ,into the midst of this longing1 clinging cry for help there came a knock4 ,judge ,erskine would like to have you come to the library for a few minutes1 if you have not retired4 ,this was ,katie ,flinn's message4 ,and ,ruth1 as she swiftly set about obeying the summons1 said3 ,oh1 ,katie1 pray for father6 for among those who1 during the last few weeks1 had learned to pray was ,katie ,flinn4 ,poor ,katie1 with the simple child-like faith and loving heart which she brought to the service1 was destined to be a shining light in a dark world2 and the glory thereof would sparkle forever in ,flossy ,shipley's crown4 ,judge ,erskine turned as his daughter opened the door1 and motioned her to a seat4 ,then he continued his walk4 ,something in his face hushed into silence the words that were on her lips2 but presently he stopped before her1 and his voice startled her with its strangeness4 ,my daughter1 ,i have something to tell you1 and something to ask you4 ,i shall have to cause you great grief and shame1 and ,i want to begin first by asking you to forgive your father4 ,ruth felt her face growing pale4 ,what could he mean8 ,had she not always looked up to him as above most men1 even ,christian men8--faultless in his business transactions1 blameless in his life8 ,she attempted to speak1 and yet felt that she did not know what to say4 ,apparently he expected no word from her2 for he went on hurriedly3 ,you have1 during these few weeks past1 shown a sort of interest in me1 that ,i never saw manifested before4 ,i have reason to think that you have concluded1 lately1 that the most earnest desire you can have concerning your father1 is to see him a ,christian man8 ,i can conscientiously tell you that ,i have felt the necessity for this experience as ,i never did before2 that ,i realize its importance1 and that ,i want it2 yet there is something in the way1 something that ,i must do1 and confess1 and abide by for the future1 that ,i shrink from more on your account than my own4 ,my child1 do you want this thing enough to endure disgrace and humiliation1 and a cross1 heavy and hopeless1 all your life8 ,father1 she said1 half rising1 and looking at him with a bewildered air1 a vague doubt of his sanity1 and a half fear of his presence1 creeping into her heart1 what can you possibly mean8 ,how can disgrace1 or cross-bearing1 or trouble of any sort1 be connected with you8 ,i cannot understand you4 ,i know you can not4 ,you think ,i am talking wildly1 and you are half afraid of me2 but ,i am perfectly sane4 ,i wish1 with all my soul1 that a certain portion of my life could be called a wild dream of a disordered brain2 but it is solemnly true4 ,ruth1 if ,i come out before the world and avow myself a ,christian man1 with the determination to abide by the teachings of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 it involves my bringing to this house a woman who will have to be recognized as my wife1 and a girl who will have to share with you as my daughter2 a woman whom you will have to call mother1 and a girl who is your sister4 ,are you equal to that8 ,every trace of blood left ,ruth ,erskine's face4 ,her father watched her narrowly1 with his hand touching the bell-rope2 it seemed as if she must faint2 but she motioned his hand away4 ,don't ring1 were the first words she said2 ,i am not going to faint4 ,father1 tell me what you mean4 ,the actual avowal made1 and the fact established that his daughter was able to bear it1 and to still keep the story between themselves1 seemed to quiet ,judge ,erskine4 ,his intense and almost uncontrollable excitement subsided2 the wild look in his eyes calmed1 and1 drawing a chair beside his daughter1 he began in a low steady voice to tell her the strange story3 ,acts that involve a lifetime of trouble can be told in a few words1 ,ruth4 ,when your mother died ,i was almost insane with grief2 ,i can't tell you about that time2 ,i was young and ,i was gay1 and full of plans1 and aims1 and intentions1 in all of which she had been involved4 ,then came the sudden blank1 and it almost unsettled my reason4 ,there was a young woman boarding at the same house where ,i went1 who was kind to me1 who befriended me in various ways1 and tried to help me to endure my sorrow4 ,she grew to be almost necessary to my endurance of myself4 ,after a little ,i married her4 ,i did not take this step till ,i found that my friendship with her1 or1 rather hers with me1 was compromising her in the eyes of others4 ,let me hurry over it1 ,ruth4 ,we lived together but a few weeks2 then ,i was obliged to go abroad4 ,away from old scenes and associations1 and plunged into business cares1 ,i gradually recovered my usual tone of mind4 ,but it was not till ,i came home again that ,i discovered what a fatal blunder ,i had made4 ,that young woman had not a single idea in common with my plans and aims in life2 she was ignorant1 uncultured1 and1 it seemed to me1 unendurable4 ,how ,i ever allowed myself to be such a fool ,i do not know4 ,but up to this time1 ,i had at least1 not been a villain4 ,i didn't desert her1 ,ruth2 ,i made a deliberate compromise with her2 she was to take her child and go away1 hundreds of miles away1 where ,i would not be likely ever to come in contact with her again1 and ,i was to take your mother's child and go where ,i pleased4 ,of course ,i was to support her1 and ,i have done so ever since2 that was eighteen years ago2 she is still living1 and the daughter is living4 ,i have always been careful to keep them supplied with money2 ,i have tried to have done for the girl what money could do2 but ,i have never seen their faces since that time4 ,now1 ,ruth1 you know the miserable story4 ,there are a hundred details that ,i could give you1 that perhaps would lead you to have more pity for your father1 if it did not lead you to despise him more for his weakness4 ,it is hard to be despised by one's child4 ,i tell you truly1 ,ruth1 that the bitterest of this bitterness is the thought of you4 ,the proud man's lip quivered and his voice trembled1 just here4 ,poor ,ruth ,erskine6 ,i am willing to do anything1 she had said to ,marion1 not two hours before2 and here was a thing1 the possibility of which she had never dreamed1 staring her in the face1 waiting to be done1 and she felt that she could not do it4 ,oh1 why was it necessary8 ,why not let everything be as it has been8 said that wily villain ,satan1 whispering in her ears4 ,they were false vows2 they are better broken than kept4 ,he does not love her1 though he said he did4 ,and how can we ever endure it1 the shame1 the disgrace1 the horrid explanations1 our name1 the ,erskine name1 on everybody's lips1 common loafers sneering at us8 ,and then to have the family changed2 myself to be only a back figure2 a mother who is not1 and never was my mother1 taking my place2 and the other one-- ,oh1 it can not be possible that we must endure this6 ,there must be some other way4 ,they are doubtless contented1 why could it not remain as it is8 ,as if to answer her unspoken thoughts1 ,judge ,erskine suddenly said3 ,i have canvassed the entire subject in all its bearings1 you may be sure of that4 ,i am living a lie4 ,i am saying my wife is dead1 when a woman to whom before ,god ,i gave that name is living2 ,i am saying that ,i have but one child1 when there is another to whom ,i am as certainly father as ,i am to you4 ,i am leaving them1 nay1 obliging them1 to live a daily lie4 ,i have assured myself to a certainty that one sin can never be atoned for by another sin2 there is but one atonement2 and the ,source of all help says1 ',if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins2 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4' ,i know there is only one way of cleansing1 daughter4 ,get thee behind me1 ,satan4 ,the only perfect life gave that sentence once1 not alone for ,himself2 thank ,god he has many a time since enabled his weak children of the flesh to repeat it in triumph4 ,the grace came then and there to ,ruth ,erskine4 ,she rose up from her chair1 and going over to her father did what she had never remembered doing in her life before4 ,she bent down and wound both arms around his neck and kissed him4 ,her voice was low and steady3 ,father1 don't let this1 or anything earthly1 stand between you and ,christ4 ,you are not a sinner above all others4 ,it is only the interposing hand of ,god that has kept me from taking sinful vows upon my lips4 ,let us do just what is right4 ,send for them to come home1 and ,i will try to be a daughter and a sister2 and ,i will stand by you1 and help you in every possible way4 ,there are harder trials than ours will be1 after all4 ,it was his daughter who finally and utterly broke the proud1 haughty heart4 ,judge ,erskine bowed himself before her and sobbed like a child in the bitterness and the humiliation of his soul4 ,god bless you1 he said1 at last1 in broken utterance4 ,there is an ,almighty ,saviour2 ,i need nothing more than your words to convince me of the truth of that4 ,if love to him can lead your heart to such forgiveness as this1 what must his forgiveness be8 ,ruth1 you have saved my soul2 ,i will give up the struggle2 ,i have tried to fight it out2 ,i have tried to say that ,i could not2 for my own sake1 and for my own name1 it seemed impossible4 ,then when ,i got beyond that1 and felt that for myself1 if ,i could have rest in the love of ,christ1 and could feel that he forgave me1 ,i cared for nothing else4 ,then ,i said1 ',i can not do this1 for my child's sake2 ,i can never plunge her into this depth of sin and shame4' ,then1 my daughter1 there came to me a message from ,god1 and of all those that could come to a miserable man like me1 it was this3 ',he that loveth son or daughter more than me1 is not worthy of me4' ,then ,i saw that ,i must be willing even to lose your love1 to make you despise me2 and that was the bitterest cup of all4 ,but1 thank ,god1 he has spared me this4 ,god bless you1 my daughter4 ,there was something almost terrible to ,ruth1 in seeing her cold1 calm father so moved4 ,she had never realized what awfully solemn things tears were till she saw them on her father's cheeks1 and felt them falling hot on her head1 from eyes so unused to weeping4 ,the kisses she gave him were very soft and clinging--full of tender1 soothing touches4 ,then father and daughter knelt together1 and the long1 long struggle with sin and pride and silence was concluded4 ,do you think this was a lasting victory for ,ruth ,erskine8 ,you do not understand the power of that old serpent1 the ,devil1 if you can not think how he came to her again and again in the silence of her own room1 even into the midst of her rejoicings over the newly-washed soul1 even while the joy in heaven among the angels was still ringing out over her father1 came whispering to her heart to say3 ,oh1 ,i can't1 ,i can't4 ,think of it6 ,the ,erskines6 ,how can we endure it8 ,is it possible that we must8 ,perhaps the woman would rather live as she is4 ,as if that had anything to do with the question of right and wrong6 ,the very next instant ,ruth curled her lip sneeringly over her own folly4 ,she never forgot that night1 nor how the conflict waged4 ,she tried to imagine herself saying mother to one who really had a nominal right to the title4 ,not that it was an unfamiliar word to her4 ,the old aunt who had occupied the mother's place in the household since ,ruth was a wee creature of two years1 she had learned almost from the instincts of childhood to call mamma4 ,and as she grew older and was unused to any other name for ,mrs4 ,wheeler1 the widowed aunt1 she toned it into the familiar and comfortable word mother1 and had always spoken to and of her in that name4 ,yet she knew very well how little the title meant to her4 ,she had loved this old lady with a sort of pitying1 patronizing love1 realizing even very early in her life that she1 herself1 had more self-reliance1 more executive ability1 in her little finger1 than was spread all over the placid lady who early learned that ,ruthie was to do precisely as she pleased4 ,such a cipher was this same old lady in the household1 that when a long lost son appeared on the surface1 during ,ruth's absence at ,chautauqua1 proving1 sturdy old ,californian as he was1 to have a home and place for his mother1 and a heart to take her with him1 her departure caused scarcely a ripple in the well-ordered household of the ,erskines4 ,she had been its nominal head for eighteen years1 but the real head who was absent at ,chautauqua1 had three or four perfectly trained servants1 who knew their young mistress' will so well1 that they could execute it in her absence as well as when she was present4 ,so when ,ruth took1 in the eyes of everybody1 the position that had really been hers so long1 it made no sort of change in her plans or ways4 ,and beyond a certain lingering tenderness when she spoke of her by that familiar title1 mother1 there was no indication that the woman who had had so constant and intimate connection with her life was remembered4 ,but this name applied to another1 and that other1 one whom she had never seen in her life1 and who yet was actually to occupy the position of head of the household--her father's wife1 in the eyes of society her mother1 spoken of as such1 herself asked1 ,how is your mother8 or ,what does your mother think of this8 ,would anyone dare to use that name to her8 ,no one had so spoken of her aunt4 ,they all knew she was only her aunt1 though she chose to pet her by the use of that tender name4 ,could she bear all these things and a hundred others that would come up8 ,marion1 she said the next day as she chanced to meet that young lady on the street1 ,i have something to tell you4 ,i want to call on you to witness that ,i shall never again be guilty of that vainglorious absurdity of saying that ,i am ready for anything4 ,one can never know whether this is true or not2 at least ,i am sure ,i never can4 ,what ,i am to say in the future is simply1 ',lord1 make me willing to do what there is for me to do this day4' ,remember that in a few days you will understand what ,i mean4 ,then she went on4 ,marion pondered over it4 ,she did not understand it at all4 ,what trial could have come to ,ruth that had brought her the knowledge of the weakness of her own heart8 ,she wondered if it had also brought her peace4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,loneliness4 ,i ,,suppose there has never been an earnest worker1 an enthusiast on any subject1 in this changeful world1 but has been a victim at some time to the dismalness of a reaction4 ,the most forlorn little victim that could be imagined was ,flossy ,shipley on that evening after the meetings1 on which her soul had fed so long1 were closed4 ,everything in nature and in circumstances conspired to sink her into her desolate mood4 ,in the first place it was raining4 ,now a rain closing in upon a warm and dusty summer day is a positive delight2 one can listen to the pattering drops with a sense of eager satisfaction but a rain in midwinter1 after a day of sunless mist and fog1 almost amounting to rain1 when the streets are that mixture of snow and water that can be known only as slush1 when every opening of a door sends in gusts of damp air that chill to one's very bones1 this weather is a trial2 at least it seemed such to poor little ,flossy4 ,she shivered over the fire in the coal grate4 ,it glowed brightly1 and the room was warm and bright1 yet to ,flossy there was a sense of chill in everything4 ,she was all alone2 and the circumstances connected with that loneliness were not calculated to brighten the evening for her4 ,the entire family had gone out to a party1 not one of those quiet little entertainments which people had been so careful to explain and apologize for during the meetings1 but a grand display of toilet and supper1 and expenditure of all kinds4 ,mrs4 ,westervelt1 the hostess1 being at all times noted for the display of her entertainments1 had lavished more than the usual amount of time and money on the present ones1 and waited for the meetings to close with the most exemplary patience1 in order that she might gain a very few among her guests from those who felt the impropriety of mixing things too much4 ,to be sure1 the society in general which was admitted to ,mrs4 ,westervelt's parlors was not from that class who had any scruples as to what time they attended parties1 but there were two or three notable exceptions1 and those the lady had been anxious to claim4 ,prominent among them had been the ,erskines1 it never seeming to occur to ,mrs4 ,westervelt's brains that there could be other excuse found for not accepting her invitation save the meetings that ,ruth had taken to attending in such a frantic manner4 ,let me say1 in passing1 that neither ,ruth ,erskine nor her father honored the invitation2 they had other matters to attend to4 ,meantime1 ,flossy ,shipley1 had utterly disgusted her mother1 and almost offended her father1 by giving a peremptory and persistent refusal4 ,such a storm of talk as there had been over this matter almost exhausted the strength of poor little ,flossy1 who did not like argument1 and who yet could persist in a most unaccountable firm manner when occasion required4 ,such an absurd idea6 her sister ,kitty said1 flashing contemptuous eyes on her4 ,i wonder what you think is going to become of you1 ,flossy8 ,do you mean to mope at home all the rest of the winter8 ,i assure you that ,mrs4 ,westervelt is not the only one who intends to give a party4 ,we are going to have an unusually gay season to revive us after so much bell-tolling4 ,don't you mean to appear anywhere8 ,you might as well retire into a convent at once1 if that is the case4 ,people will be saying of me1 as they do of ,mrs4 ,treslam1 soon1 that ,i do not allow you to appear in society while ,kitty is still a young lady4 ,this ,mrs4 ,shipley said1 and her tone1 if not as sharp as ,kitty's1 had a note of grievance in it that was hard to bear4 ,then ,charlie had taken up the theme3 ,what is the use in turning mope1 ,sis8 ,i'm sure you can be as good as you like1 and go to a party occasionally4 ,i don't mean to mope1 ,charlie1 ,flossy said1 trying to speak cheerfully1 but there were tears in her eyes and a tremulous sound in her voice4 ,i am truly happier at home than ,i am at those places2 ,i don't like to go4 ,it is not entirely because ,i feel ,i ought not2 it is because ,i don't want to4 ,she has risen above such follies1 ,kitty said1 and it is impossible to tell you what a disagreeable inflection there was to her voice4 ,mother1 ,i am sorry that the poor child has to associate with such volatile creatures as you and ,i4 ,she ought to have some kindred spirit4 ,i am sure ,i don't know where she will find any1 ,mrs4 ,shipley said1 with a sigh1 outside of that trio of girls1 who among them have contrived to make a perfect little slave of you4 ,i am sure ,i don't know who has any influence over you4 ,i used to think you regarded your mother's wishes a trifle1 but ,i find ,i am mistaken4 ,oh1 mother6 ,flossy said1 and this time the tears began to fall1 why will you talk so8 ,i am sure ,i try to please you in every way that ,i can4 ,i did not know that you cared to have me go to parties1 unless ,i wanted to go4 ,either the tears or something else made her brother indignant4 ,what a scene about nothing1 he said1 irritably4 ,why can't you let ,flossy go to parties or not1 as she pleases8 ,parties are not such delightful institutions that she need be expected to be in love with them4 ,i should be delighted if ,i never had to appear at another4 ,why not let people have their fun in this world where they choose to find it8 ,if ,flossy has lately discovered that hers can only be found in prayer-meeting1 ,i am sure it is a harmless enough diversion while the fit lasts4 ,mrs4 ,shipley laughed4 ,her son could nearly always put her into good humor4 ,besides1 she didn't like to see tears on her baby's face2 that was her pet name for ,flossy4 ,oh1 ,i don't know that it makes any serious difference1 she said2 not enough to spoil your eyes over1 ,flossy4 ,i don't want you to go out with us unless you want to2 only it is rather embarrassing to be constantly arranging regrets for you4 ,besides1 ,i don't see what it is all coming to4 ,you will be a moping1 forsaken creature2 old before your time1 if this continues4 ,as for ,mr4 ,shipley1 he maintained a haughty silence1 neither expressing an opinion on that subject nor on any other1 which would involve him in a conversation with ,flossy4 ,she knew that he was more seriously displeased with her than were any of the others2 not so much about the parties as about other and graver matters4 ,col4 ,baker was the son of ,mr4 ,shipley's old friend4 ,for this reason1 and for several others1 ,mr4 ,shipley was very fond of him4 ,it had long been in accordance with his plans1 that ,flossy should become1 at some future time1 ,mrs4 ,col4 ,baker1 and that the estates of the two families should be thus united4 ,while he was not at all the sort of man who would have interfered to push such an arrangement against the preferences of the parties concerned1 he had looked on with great and increasing satisfaction1 while the plans of the young people evidently tended strongly in that direction4 ,that his daughter1 after an absence from home of only two weeks1 should have come in contact with that which seemed to change all her tastes and views and plans1 in regard to other matters1 but which had actually caused her to turn1 with a steady and increasing determination1 away from the friend who had been her acknowledged protector and attendant ever since she was a child1 was a matter that he did not understand nor approve4 ,i am not a tyrant1 he would say sullenly1 when ,mrs4 ,shipley and himself talked the matter over2 when she1 with the characteristics of a mother1 even while her child annoyed and vexed her1 yet struggled to speak a word for her when a third person came in to blame4 ,i never ordered ,flossy to be so exceedingly intimate with ,col4 ,baker that their names have been coupled together ever since she was a baby4 ,i never insisted on her accepting his attentions on all occasions4 ,it was her own free will4 ,i own that ,i was pleased with the inclination she displayed1 and did what ,i could to make the way pleasant for her1 but the thing is not of my planning4 ,what ,i am displeased with is this sudden change4 ,there is no reason for it and no sense in it4 ,it is just a mere baby performance1 a girlish freak1 very unpleasant for him and very disagreeable for us4 ,the child ought not to be upheld in it4 ,so they did their best not to uphold her1 and succeeded among them in making her life very disagreeable to her4 ,the matter had culminated on the evening before the party in question4 ,col4 ,baker1 despite the persistent and patient efforts on ,flossy's part to show him the folly of his course1 had insisted on obliging her to speak a decided negative to his earnestly pressed question4 ,the result was1 an unusually unpleasant domestic scene1 and a general air of gloom and unhappiness4 ,mr4 ,shipley had not ordered his daughter to marry ,col4 ,baker4 ,he would have been shocked beyond measure at such a proceeding on the part of a father4 ,but he made her so unhappy1 with a sense of his disappointment and disapproval1 that more than once she sighed wearily1 and wished in her sad little heart that all this living was over4 ,finally1 they all went off to ,mrs4 ,westervelt's party1 and left her alone4 ,she had never felt so much alone in her life4 ,the blessed meetings1 which had been such a wealth of delight and helpfulness to her heart1 were closed4 ,the sweet1 and holy1 and elevating influences that had surrounded her outer life for so long were withdrawn4 ,she missed them bitterly4 ,it almost seemed to her as if everything were withdrawn from her4 ,father1 and mother1 sister1 and even her warm-hearted brother1 were all more or less annoyed at her course4 ,charlie had been betrayed into more positive sharpness than this favorite sister had ever felt from him before4 ,he felt that his friend ,col4 ,baker had been ill-treated4 ,there was a very sore spot about this matter for ,flossy4 ,the truth was1 she could not help seeing that in a sense her father was right2 she had brought it on herself2 not lately1 not since her utter change of views and aims1 but long before that4 ,with what satisfaction had she allowed her name to be coupled familiarly with that of ,col4 ,baker2 how much she had enjoyed his exclusive attentions2 not that she really and heartily liked him1 with a liking that made her willing to think of him as belonging to her forever2 she had chosen1 rather1 not to allow herself to think of any such time2 she had contented herself with saying that she was too young to think of such things2 that she was not obliged to settle that question till the time came4 ,but1 mind you1 all the time she chose to allow1 and enjoy1 and encourage by her smiles and her evident pleasure in them1 very special attentions1 that gave other people liberty to speak of them almost as one4 ,to call it by a very plain name1 which ,flossy hated1 and which made her cheek glow as she forced herself to say it of herself1 she had been flirting with ,col4 ,baker4 ,it isn't a nice word2 ,i don't wonder that she hated it4 ,yet so long as young ladies continue to be guilty of the sort of conduct that can only be described by that unpleasant and coarse sounding word1 ,i am afraid it will be used4 ,all that was over now1 at least it was over as much as ,flossy could make it2 but there remained an uncomfortable sense that she had wronged a man who honestly loved her2 not intentionally--no decent woman does that--but thoughtlessly2 so many silly girls do that4 ,she had lost her influence over him now2 rather1 she had been obliged to put herself in a position to lose all influence4 ,she might have been his true1 faithful friend now1 and helped him up to a higher manhood1 only by her former folly she had put it out of her power4 ,these were not pleasant reflections4 ,then there was no denying that she felt very desolate4 ,a forlorn friendless creature1 her mother had said she would become1 or words to that effect4 ,the thought lingered with her4 ,she looked over her list of friends2 there was always those three girls1 growing dearer by every day of association2 yet their lives necessarily ran much apart2 it would naturally grow more and more so as the future came to them4 ,then1 too1 she was equally intimate with each of them2 they were all equally dear to her4 ,now a woman can not have three friends who shall all fill that one place in her heart which she finds4 ,she thought of her home ties2 strong they certainly were2 growing stronger every day4 ,there were few things that she did not feel willing to do for her father2 but the one thing that he wanted just now was that she should marry ,col4 ,baker2 she could not do that even to please him4 ,he would recover from that state of feeling1 of course2 but would not other kindred states of feeling constantly arise1 both with him and with her mother8 ,could she not foresee a constant difference of opinion on almost every imaginable topic8 ,then there was her sister ,kitty4 ,could any two lives run more widely apart than hers and ,kitty's were likely to8 ,had they a single taste in common8 ,as for ,charlie1 ,flossy turned from that subject2 it was too sore and too tender a spot to be probed4 ,she trembled for ,charlie2 he was walking in slippery places2 the descent was growing easier2 she felt that rather than saw it2 and1 she felt1 too1 that his friend ,col4 ,baker was the leader2 and she felt1 too1 that her intimacy with ,col4 ,baker had greatly strengthened his4 ,no wonder that the spot was a sore one4 ,grouping all these things together and brooding over them1 with no sound breaking the silence save the ceaseless drip1 drip of the rain1 and the whirls of defiant wind1 sitting there in her loneliness1 the large arm-chair in which she crouched being drawn up before that glowing fire1 is it any wonder that the firelight revealed the fact that great silent tears were slowly following each other down ,flossy's round smooth cheek8 ,she felt like a pitiful1 lonely1 forsaken baby4 ,it was not that she was utterly miserable2 she recognized even then the thought that she had an almighty1 everlasting1 unchanging ,friend4 ,she rejoiced even then at the thought1 not as she might have rejoiced1 not as it was her privilege to do1 but ,i mean she knew that all these trials1 and mistakes1 and burdens1 were but for a moment4 ,she knew that to-morrow1 when the sun shone again1 she would be able to come out from behind these clouds and grasp some of the brightness of her life1 and endure with patience the little annoyances that were to be borne2 remembering that she was still very young1 and that there was a chance for a great deal of brightness for her1 even on this side4 ,but1 in the meantime1 her intensely human heart craved human companionship and sympathy2 craved it to such a degree1 that if it had not been for the rain and the darkness1 and the growing lateness of the hour1 she would have gone out then after one of those three girls to share her mood with her4 ,into the midst of this state of dismal journeying into the valley of gloom there pealed the sound of the bell4 ,it did not startle her2 the callers in their circle would be sure to be engaged at the party1 and to suppose that she was4 ,besides1 it was hardly an evening for ordinary callers--something as important as a party was1 would be expected to call out people to-night4 ,it was some one with a business message for father1 she presumed2 and she did not arouse from her curled-up position among the cushions of that great chair4 ,half listening1 half giving attention to her own thoughts1 she was conscious that a servant came to answer the bell1 that the front door opened and shut1 that there was a question asked and answered in the hall4 ,then she gave over attending to the matter4 ,if she were needed the girl knew she was in the library4 ,yes1 she was to be summoned for something1 to receive the message probably1 for the library door quietly unclosed4 ,what is it1 ,katie8 she asked1 in a sort of muffled undertone1 to hide the traces of disturbance in her voice1 and not turning her head in that direction2 she knew there were tears on her cheeks4 ,suppose it should not be ,katie1 may any one else come in and tell you what it is8 ,this was the sentence wherewith she was answered4 ,what a sudden springing up there was from that chair6 ,even the tears were forgotten2 and what a singular ring there was to ,flossy's voice as she whirled round to full view of the intruder1 and said1 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,roberts6 ,now1 dear friends of this little lonely ,flossy1 are you so stupid that you need to be told that in less than half an hour from that moment she believed that there could never again come to her an absolutely lonely hour8 ,that whatever might come between them1 whether of life or of death1 there would be that for each to remember that would make it impossible ever to be desolate again4 ,for there is no desolation of heart to those who part at night to meet again in the morning2 there may be loneliness and a reaching out after1 and sometimes an unutterable longing for the morning1 but to those who are sure1 sure beyond the possibility of a doubt1 that the eternal morning will dawn1 and dawn for them1 there is never again a desolation4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,added ,,name4 ,,that same evening was fraught with memorable associations to others beside ,flossy ,shipley4 ,it began in gloom and unusual depression even to bright-faced ,marion4 ,the day had been a hard one in school4 ,those of the scholars who had been constant attendants at the meetings felt the inevitable sense of loneliness and loss that must follow the close of such unusual means of help4 ,i have actually heard some ,christian people advance this fact1 that there was a reaction of loneliness after such meetings closed1 as a good reason why they were unwise efforts1 demoralizing in their results4 ,it is a curious fact1 that such reasoners are never found to advocate the entire separation of family friends on the plea that a reunion followed by a separation is demoralizing in its results because it leaves an added sense of loneliness4 ,it is1 perhaps1 to be questioned whether loneliness is1 after all1 demoralizing in its effects4 ,be that as it may1 many of the scholars felt it4 ,then there were some among their number who had persistently shunned the meetings and their influences1 who1 now that the opportunity was passed1 felt those stings of conscience that are sure to follow enlightened minds1 who have persisted in going a wrong road4 ,also there were those who had been almost persuaded1 and who yet1 so far as their salvation was concerned1 were no nearer it that day than though they had never thought of the matter1 for almost never saves a soul4 ,all these influences combined served to make depression the predominant feeling4 ,marion struggled with it1 and tried to be cheerful before her pupils1 but sank into gravity and unusual sadness at every interval between the busy hours of the day4 ,late in the afternoon she had a conversation with one of the girls which did not serve to encourage her heart4 ,it was the drawing hour4 ,large numbers of the young ladies in her room had gone to the studio with the drawing master2 those few who remained were engaged in copying their exercises for the next morning's class4 ,marion was at leisure1 her only duty being to render assistance in the matter of copying wherever a raised hand indicated that help was needed4 ,answering one of these calls she found herself at the extreme end of the large room1 quite near to ,grace ,dennis' desk1 and in passing she noticed that ,gracie1 while her book was before her and her pen in hand1 was not writing at all1 but that her left hand was shading a face that looked sad and pale1 and covering eyes that might have tears in them4 ,after fulfilling her duty to the needy scholar she turned back to ,grace4 ,what is it8 she said1 softly1 taking the vacant seat by ,grace's side1 and touching tenderly the crown of hair that covered the drooping head4 ,grace looked up quickly with a gleam of sunshine1 through which shone a tear4 ,it is a fit of the blues1 ,i am almost afraid4 ,i am very much ashamed of myself2 ,i don't feel so very often1 ,miss ,wilbur4 ,i think the feeling must be what the girls call blues2 ,i am not sure4 ,do you feel in any degree sure what has caused such a remarkable disease to attack you8 ,marion asked1 in a low1 tender1 yet cheery and a half-amused tone4 ,the words made ,gracie laugh1 but the tenderness in the tone seemed to start another tear4 ,you will be amused at me1 ,miss ,wilbur1 or ashamed of me1 ,i don't know which4 ,i am ashamed of myself1 but ,i do feel so forlorn and lonely4 ,lonely6 ,marion echoed1 with a little start4 ,she realized that she herself knew in its fulness what that feeling was1 but for ,gracie ,dennis1 treasured as she was in an atmosphere of fatherly love1 it was hard to understand it4 ,if ,i had my dear father ,i don't think ,i should feel lonely1 she said gently4 ,i know1 ,grace answered2 he is the dearest father a girl ever had1 but there is only a little bit of him mine1 ,miss ,wilbur4 ,i don't mean that either2 ,i am not selfish4 ,i know he loves me with all his heart1 but ,i mean his time is so very much occupied that he can only give me very little bits now and then4 ,it has to be so2 it is not his fault4 ,i would not have him any different1 even in this2 but then if ,i had a sister1 don't you see how different it would be8 or even a brother1 or1 and here ,gracie's head dropped low1 and her voice quivered4 ,miss ,wilbur1 if ,i had a mother1 one who loved me1 and would sympathize with me and help me1 ,i think ,i would be the happiest girl in all the world4 ,there was every appearance that1 with a few more words of tender sympathy1 this young girl would lose all her self-control and be that which she so much shrank from1 an object of general wonderment and conversation4 ,marion felt that she must bestow her sympathy sparingly4 ,i dare say you would give yourself over to a hearty struggle not to hate her outright1 she said1 in a quiet1 matter-of-fact tone4 ,the sobs which were shaking the young girl beside her were suddenly checked4 ,presently ,gracie looked up1 a gleam half of mirth1 half of defiance in her handsome eyes4 ,i mean a real mother1 she said4 ,haven't you one8 ,doesn't she love her darling and watch over and wait for her coming8 ,the voice had taken on its tenderness again4 ,then1 after a moment1 ,marion added3 ,it is hard to realize1 ,i know1 but ,i believe it1 and ,i look toward that thought with all my soul4 ,you remember1 ,gracie1 that ,i have nothing but that to feed on1 no earthly friend to help me realize it4 ,grace stole a soft hand into her teacher's4 ,i wish you would love me very much1 she said1 brightly4 ,i wish you would let me love you4 ,do you know you help me every time you speak to me8 and you do it in such strange ways1 not at all in the direction that ,i am looking for help4 ,i do thank you so much4 ,then suppose you prove it to me1 by showing what an immaculate copy of your exercise you can hand in to-morrow4 ,don't you know it is by just such common-place matters as that1 that people are permitted to show their love and gratitude and all those delightful things8 ,that is what glorifies work4 ,another clinging pressure of hands and teacher and pupil went about their duties4 ,but though ,marion had helped ,gracie she had not helped herself1 except that in a tired sort of way she realized that it was a great pleasure to be able to help anybody--most of all1 this favorite pupil4 ,still the dreariness did not lessen4 ,it went home with her to her dingy boarding-house1 followed her to the gloomy dining-room and the uninviting supper-table4 ,the most that was the trouble with ,marion ,wilbur was1 that she was tired in body and brain4 ,if people only realized it1 a great many mental troubles and trials result from overworked bodies and nerves4 ,still1 it must be confessed that there were few1 if any1 outside influences that were calculated to cheer ,marion ,wilbur's life4 ,you are to remember how very much alone she was4 ,there were no letters to be watched for in the daily mails1 no hopeful looking forward if one failed to come1 no cheery saying to one's heart1 ,never mind1 it will surely come to-morrow4 ,this state is infinitely better than the hopeless glance one bestows upon the postman1 realizing he is nothing to them4 ,no friends--father and mother gone so long ago6 ,that of one there was no recollection at all1 of the other1 tender childhood memories1 sweet and lasting and incomparably precious1 but only memories4 ,no sister1 no brother1 no cousins that had taken the place to her of sisters2 only that old uncle and aunt1 who were such staid and common and plodding people1 that sometimes the very thought of them tired this girl so full of life and energy4 ,girl ,i call her1 but she had passed the days of her girlhood4 ,few knew it2 it was wonderful how young and fresh her heart had kept4 ,that being the case1 of course her face had taken the same impress4 ,it was hard for ,ruth ,erskine to realize that her friend ,marion was really thirteen years older than herself4 ,there were times when ,marion herself felt younger than ,ruth did4 ,but the years were there1 and in her times of depression1 ,marion realized it4 ,so many of them recorded1 and yet no friends to whom she had a right1 feeling sure that nothing in human experience this side of death would be likely to come in and take her away from them4 ,the very supper-table at that boarding-house was sufficient to add to her sense of desolation4 ,it is a pitiful fact that we are such dependent creatures that even the crooked laying of a cloth1 and the coffee-stains and milk-stains and gravy-stains thereon1 can add to our sense of friendlessness4 ,then1 what is there particularly consoling or cheering in a cup of weak tea and a bit of bread a trifle sour1 spread over by butter more than a trifle strong2 even though it is helped down by some very dry bits of chipped beef8 ,this was ,marion's supper4 ,the boarders were1 some of them1 cross1 some of them simply silent and hurried1 all of them damp1 for they were every one workers out in the damp1 dreary world2 the most of them1 in fact1 ,i may say all of them1 were very tired2 yet many of them had work to do that very evening4 ,marion ate her supper in silence1 too2 at least she bit at her bread and tried to swallow her simpering tea4 ,when her heart was bright and her plans for the evening definite and satisfactory1 she could manage the sour bread and strong butter even1 with something like a relish1 but there was no use in trying them to-night4 ,she even tormented herself with the planning of a dainty supper1 accompanied by exquisite table arrangements such as she would manage for a sister1 say1 if she had one--a sister who had been in school all day and was wet and hungry and tired1 if she had the room1 and the table1 and the china1 and the materials out of which to construct the supper4 ,she was reasonable enough to see that there were many ifs in the way1 but the picture did not make the present supper relish4 ,she struggled to rally her weary powers4 ,she asked the clerk next her if it had been a busy day1 and she told the sewing-girl at her left about a lovely bouquet of flowers that one of the girls brought to school1 and that she had meant to bring home to her1 if it was presented4 ,to be sure it was not4 ,but the intention was the same1 and the heart of the sewing-girl was cheered4 ,finally ,marion gave over trying to swallow the supper1 and assuring herself with the determination to go early to bed1 and so escape faintness1 she went up three flights of stairs to her room4 ,when ,i am rich and a woman of leisure1 ,i will build a house that shall have pleasant rooms and good bread and butter1 and ,i will board school-teachers and sewing-girls and clerks for a song4 ,this she said aloud4 ,then she set about making a bit of blaze1 or a great deal of smoke in the little imp of a stove4 ,the stove was small and cracked and rusty1 and could smoke like a furnace4 ,what a contrast to the glowing coal-grate where ,flossy at this hour toasted her pretty cheeks4 ,yet ,marion1 in her way1 was less dismal than ,flossy in hers4 ,it was not in ,marion's nature to shed any tears2 instead1 she hummed a few notes of a glorious old tune triumphant in every note1 trying this to rob herself of gloom and cheat herself into the belief that she was not very lonely1 and that her life did not stretch out before her as a desolate thing4 ,she did not mean to give herself up to glooming1 though she did hover over the little stove and lean her cheek on her hand and look at nothing in particular for a few minutes4 ,what she said when she rallied from the silence was simply3 ,what an abominable smoke you can make to be sure1 ,marion ,wilbur1 when you try4 ,hardly any one can compete with you in that line1 at least4 ,then she drew her school reports toward her1 intending to make them out for the week thus far1 but she scribbled on the fly-leaf with her pencil instead4 ,she wrote her own name1 ,marion ,j4 ,wilbur1 a pretty enough name4 ,she smiled tenderly over the initial of ,j--nobody knew what that was for4 ,suppose the girls knew that it stood for ,josiah1 her father's name2 that he had named her1 after the mother was buried1 ,marion--that after the mother1 ,josiah--that after the father1 ,wilbur--the dear name that belonged to them both2 in this way fancying in his gentle heart that he linked this child to them both in a way that would be dear to her to remember4 ,it was dear2 she loved him for it2 she thoroughly understood the feeling1 but hardly any one else would4 ,so she thought she had never given them a chance to smile over the queer name her father had given4 ,she could smile herself1 but she wanted no one else to do so4 ,then she wrote ,grace ,l4 ,dennis4 ,what a pretty name that was4 ,she knew what the ,l was for--,lawrence1 the family name--,grace's mother's name4 ,her mother1 too1 had died when she was a wee baby4 ,gracie remembered her1 though1 and by that memory so much more did she miss her4 ,marion knew how that was by her remembrance of her father4 ,all the same she would not have that blotted out1 by so much richer was ,gracie than herself1 and then that living1 loving father4 ,marion smiled over the folly of ,grace ,dennis considering her life a lonely one4 ,yet1 ,i presume she feels it1 poor darling1 she said aloud1 and with a sigh4 ,it was true that every heart knew its own bitterness4 ,then she said1 ,i really must go to work at these reports4 ,i wonder what the girls are doing this evening8 ,eurie is nursing her mother1 ,i suppose4 ,blessed ,eurie6 mother and father both within the fold1 brought there by ,eurie's faithful life4 ,mrs4 ,mitchell told me so1 herself4 ,what a sparkle that will make in ,eurie's crown4 ,i wonder what ,ruth meant this morning8 ,poor child6 she has trouble too2 different from mine4 ,why as to that1 ,i really haven't any4 ,ruth ought to 'count her marcies1' though1 as old ,dinah says4 ,she has a great deal that ,i haven't4 ,yes1 indeed1 she has6 ,i suppose little ,flossy is going through tribulation over that tiresome party4 ,i wonder why one-half of the world have to exist by tormenting the other half8 ,now1 ,marion ,wilbur1 stop scribbling names and go to work4 ,steady scratching from the old steel pen a few minutes1 then a knock and a message3 ,dr4 ,dennis wanted to see her a few minutes1 if she had leisure4 ,dr4 ,dennis6 she said1 rising quickly and pushing away her papers4 ,oh1 dear me6 where is that class-book of mine8 ,he wants those names1 ,i dare say1 and ,i haven't them ready4 ,i might have been copying them while ,i was mooning my time away here4 ,the first words she said to him as she went down to the stuffy boarding-house parlor were1 ,i haven't them ready1 ,dr4 ,dennis2 ,i'm real sorry1 and it's my fault1 too4 ,i had time to copy them1 and ,i just didn't do it4 ,i haven't come for them1 he said smiling and holding out his hand6 ,how do you do8 ,oh1 quite well4 ,didn't you come for them8 ,i am glad1 for ,i felt ashamed4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 don't you see how well one woman can do the work of twenty8 ,don't you like the way the primary class is managed8 ,oh1 by the way1 you want that book1 don't you8 ,i meant to send it home by ,gracie4 ,i don't want it1 he said1 laughing this time4 ,are you resolved that ,i may not call on you without a good and tangible reason8 ,if that be the case1 ,i certainly have one4 ,i want you to sit down here1 while ,i tell you all about it4 ,i'm not in the mood for a scolding1 she said1 trying to speak gayly1 though there was a curious little tremble to her voice4 ,i have been away down in the valley of gloom to-day4 ,i believe ,i am a little demoralized4 ,dr4 ,dennis1 ,i think ,i need a prayer-meeting every evening2 ,i could be happier then1 ,i know4 ,a ,christian ought to be able to have one1 he said1 quickly4 ,two souls ought to be able to come together in communion with the ,master every evening4 ,there is a great deal of wasted happiness in this world4 ,i want to talk to you about that very thing4 ,dr4 ,dennis was not given to making long calls on his parishioners2 there were too many of them1 and he had too little time2 but he made an unprecedentedly long one on ,marion ,wilbur4 ,when she went back to her room that night1 the fire was gone out utterly2 not even a smoke remained4 ,she lighted her smoky little lamp--there was no gas in the third story--and looked at her watch with an amazed air2 she had not imagined that it could be nearly #aa o'clock6 ,then she pushed the reports into a drawer and turned the key2 no use to attempt reports for that evening4 ,as she picked up her class-book1 the scribbling on the fly-leaf caught her eye again4 ,she smiled a rare1 rich1 happy smile2 then swiftly she drew her pencil and added one more name to the line4 ,marion ,wilbur--,marion ,j4 ,wilbur1 it read4 ,there was just room on the line for another word2 then it read--,marion ,j4 ,wilbur ,dennis6 ,to be sure1 she took her rubber quickly from her pocket and obliterated every trace of that last4 ,but what of it8 ,there are words and deeds that can not so easily be obliterated2 and ,marion1 as she laid her grateful head on her fluffy little pillow that night1 was thankful it was so1 and felt no desire to erase them4 ,desolate8 ,not she2 ,god was very gracious4 ,the brightness that she felt sure she could throw around some lives1 she knew would have a reflex brightness for her4 ,then1 queerly enough1 the very next thing she thought of1 was that dainty supper she planned for herself1 that she could have prepared for a school-teacher1 wet1 hungry and tired4 ,why not for a school-girl8 ,if she had no sister to do it for1 why not for a daughter8 ,dear little ,gracie6 she said4 ,then she went to sleep4 ,meantime1 during that eventful evening ,ruth sat in her room1 alone1 busy with grave and solemn thoughts4 ,her father was already many miles away4 ,he had gone to see his wife and daughter4 ,eurie at that same hour was bending anxiously over a sick mother1 trying to catch the feebly-whispered direction1 with such a heavy1 heavy pain at her heart4 ,but the same patient1 wise1 all-powerful ,father was watching over and directing the ways of each of his four girls4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,learners4 ,,although the sense of desolation was gone from ,flossy ,shipley1 she was not without something to be troubled over4 ,as to that1 when one sets out to be troubled1 one can nearly always find an excuse4 ,flossy lay awake over hers for hours that night4 ,mr4 ,roberts was given to keeping more proper hours than those in which party goers indulge4 ,so it happened that the library was vacant when the family returned1 the gas turned low1 and the grate carefully supplied with coal to give them a warm greeting4 ,but the easy chairs before the bright fire told no tales of all the pleasant and helpful words that had been spoken there that evening4 ,so far as the family knew1 ,flossy had spent her evening in solitude4 ,but they would come to know it2 would have to be introduced to ,mr4 ,roberts2 there would have to be a prompt explanation of their interest in each other4 ,flossy meant to have no delays1 nor chances for mistakes1 this time4 ,the momentous question was1 how would her father receive the message1 what word would he have for the stranger8 ,she could almost have wished that his coming had been delayed for a few weeks more1 until the sore sullen feeling over disappointed plans had had time to quiet4 ,but as it was1 since ,mr4 ,roberts was to be in the city and she was to see him1 she would have no pretense of his being merely a chance acquaintance of her ,chautauqua life1 making friendly calls2 at least her father should know that they both meant more than that4 ,whether he would ignore the claims they made1 and choose to treat ,mr4 ,roberts as a stranger1 ,flossy did not know2 it seemed more than likely that he would4 ,as to that1 she could not help owning to herself that he would have very plausible reasons for so doing4 ,what was she supposed to know about ,mr4 ,evan ,roberts8 ,closely questioned1 she would have to admit that she had never heard of his existence till those golden ,chautauqua days2 that although she walked and talked much with him during those two weeks1 there had been so much to talk about1 such vital interests that pressed upon them1 so many things for her to learn1 that they had spent no time at all in talking about each other's past4 ,she remembered now1 that strangely enough she had no idea even at this moment what his business was1 except that from some casual remark she judged that he was familiar with mercantile life2 he might have some money or he might be very poor1 she had not the least idea which it was2 he might be of an old and honored family1 or his father might have been a blacksmith1 and his mother even now a washer-woman4 ,she admitted to herself that she knew nothing at all about it2 and she was obliged also to admit that so far as she herself was concerned she did not care4 ,but ,mr4 ,shipley was very different4 ,most assuredly he would care4 ,how could he understand why she should be able to feel such perfect trust in this stranger8 ,if she should try to tell him of those wonderful prayers she had heard from ,mr4 ,robert's lips1 what would such evidence be to him8 ,if she should try to tell him how by this man1 she had been led into the light of love and trust that glowed brighter and stronger with every day1 how little information it would give him6 ,what an utter mystery would such language be to him6 ,as she thought of all these puzzling things1 what wonder that she turned her pillow many times in search of a spot to rest1 and gave a great many long-drawn sighs8 ,it so happened that ,mr4 ,roberts1 while he had not troubled himself to enlighten ,flossy as to his position1 and prospects1 had by no means supposed that her father would be as indifferent to these small matters as she was2 he had come armed with credentials1 and introductions4 ,overwhelming ones they were to ,mr4 ,shipley4 ,he waited for no introductions nor explanations to come from ,flossy4 ,instead1 the very next morning1 at the earliest hour that business etiquette would allow1 he sought ,mr4 ,shipley at his business office1 presented his card and letters1 and made known his desire to transact mercantile business with him in the name of his firm4 ,and the rich man1 ,mr4 ,shipley1 arose and bowed before him4 ,was he not a representative8 nay1 a junior partner of the firm of ,bostwick1 ,smythe1 ,roberts ,co48 ,names world-renowned among mercantile men4 ,could human ambition reach higher than to have flattering offers of business from that great ,house8 than to be actually sought out by this young partner1 singled from among all the merchant princes of the city1 as the one to be taken into business confidence6 ,mr4 ,shipley's ambitious dreams reached no more dizzy height than this4 ,mr4 ,roberts was invited1 urged to accept the hospitalities of his home1 to make the acquaintance of his family1 to command his horses1 his carriage1 his servants1 in short1 to become one of their family so long as he could be prevailed upon to remain in the city4 ,but ,mr4 ,roberts had more communications to make2 he frankly announced that he was already acquainted with his family1 at least with that portion of it1 which was of enough importance to include all the rest2 of course1 he did not say this to the father1 and yet his manner implied it1 as he meant it should4 ,mr4 ,roberts was frank by nature2 he no more believed in concealments of any sort1 than did ,flossy4 ,then and there1 he told the story that the two easy chairs in the library knew about4 ,he even apologized earnestly for seeking the daughter first4 ,it had not been his intention2 he had meant to call on the family2 but they were absent1 and he found ,miss ,flossy alone4 ,and--well1 if ,mr4 ,shipley had been particular1 as assuredly he would have been1 if ,mr4 ,roberts had not been of the firm of ,bostwick1 ,smythe1 ,roberts ,co4 it might have been embarrassing to have explained the very precipitate result of his call4 ,but1 as it was1 ,mr4 ,shipley was so amazed and so bewildered1 and so overwhelmed1 with delighted pride1 that he would almost have forgiven the announcement that ,mr4 ,roberts was already his son-in-law1 without leave or license from him4 ,as it was1 all the caution had to be on ,mr4 ,robert's side4 ,he asked that letters might be sent to his brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,smythe1 to his father1 ,mr4 ,james ,roberts1 proving1 not his financial standing1 the unmistakable knowledge of the private affairs of the firm that had established him there1 but of his moral character1 and his standing in the ,christian world4 ,do you believe that ,mr4 ,shipley felt the necessity8 ,not he6 ,had he not been willing more than that1 anxious that his daughter's fortune should be linked with ,col4 ,baker's8 ,did he not know what was ,col4 ,baker's standing in the moral and ,christian world8 ,after all1 is it any wonder1 when there are such fathers that many daughters make shipwreck of their lives8 ,as for ,mr4 ,roberts1 he was almost indignant3 ,the man would actually sell her1 if by that means he could be recognized in business by our house4 ,if it had been any other young man than himself1 who was in question1 how his indignation would have blazed at such proceedings6 ,but since it was himself1 he decided to accept the situation4 ,as for ,flossy1 she did not look at the matter in that light2 when she found that all the perplexities and clouds had been so suddenly and so strangely smoothed and cleared from before her way1 she thought of those hours of wakeful anxiety that she had wasted the night before2 and of how1 finally1 she had made her heart settle back on the watchful care and love of the ,father who was so wise and so powerful1 and in the quiet of her own room1 she smiled1 as she said aloud3 ',commit thy way unto the ,lord1 trust also in him1 and he shall bring it to pass4' ,how much pleasanter it would have been to have committed it in the first place1 before ,i wearied my heart with worrying over what ,i could not lift my finger to make different6 ,so in less time than it has taken me to tell it1 the rough places smoothed suddenly before ,flossy ,shipley's feet4 ,she was free now1 to go to parties1 or to prayer-meetings1 or to stay at home according to her own fancy1 for was she not the promised wife of a partner of the firm of ,bostwick1 ,smythe1 ,roberts ,co48 ,it transpired that ,mr4 ,roberts had come to make a somewhat extended stay in the city1 to look after certain business affairs connected with the firm1 and also to look after certain business interests of the great ,master1 whose work he labored at with untiring persistence1 always placing it above all other plans1 and working at it with a zeal that showed his heart was there4 ,flossy1 during these days1 took great strides as a learner in ,christian work4 ,among other things1 she was let into the mysteries of some of the great and systematic charities of the city1 and found what wonderful things ,god's wealth could do1 placed in the hands of careful and conscientious stewards4 ,she had thought at first that it made no difference at all to her1 whether ,mr4 ,roberts had to work for his daily bread1 or whether he had means at his disposal2 but very early in her acquaintance with him she learned to thank ,god1 that great wealth had been placed in his hands1 and so1 was to be at her disposal1 and that she was learning how to use it4 ,some of her new experiences had their embarrassing side4 ,mr4 ,roberts had been but a few days in the city1 when he had certain proteges which circumstance had thrown in his way1 in whom he became deeply interested4 ,one of these1 he engaged to take ,flossy to visit4 ,they are very poor1 he had said to her1 supposing that thereby he enlightened her4 ,now ,flossy had small knowledge in that direction4 ,there was a certain old lady living at the extreme east end who had once been a servant in their family1 and ,flossy's nurse4 ,in her1 ,flossy was much interested1 and had been often to see her4 ,she kept house in a bit of a room that was always shining with cleanliness2 her floor was covered with bright rag carpeting2 her bed was spread with a gay covered quilt1 and her little cook stove glistened1 and the bright teakettle sputtered cheerily4 ,this was ,flossy's idea of poverty4 ,therefore1 when she arrayed herself for a wintry walk with ,mr4 ,roberts1 there was to her mind no incongruity between the rich black silk1 the velvet cloak1 the elegant laces1 and costly furs1 and the very poor family she was about to visit4 ,why should there be8 ,she had trailed that same silk over old ,auntie ,green's bright colored rag carpet a good many times without experiencing any discomfort therefrom4 ,as for ,mr4 ,roberts1 he regarded her with a half amused smile which she did not observe1 and said nothing4 ,probably he had an idea that she would soon be wiser than she was then4 ,it is too far to walk1 he said1 as they reached a point where street cars diverged in many directions2 so he hailed a passing car1 and during the talk that followed1 ,flossy was conveyed to a portion of the city she not only had never seen before1 but that she did not know existed4 ,she looked about her in dismay as she stepped down from the car1 and during the short rapid walk that followed1 had all she could do to rescue her silken robes from contact with awful filth1 and to keep her dainty handkerchief applied to her poor little nose4 ,rapidly and silently they made their way to a long1 high building1 whose filthy outside stairs they descended and found themselves in a cellar the like of which ,flossy had never dreamed of4 ,a dreadful pile of straw covered over by a tattered and horribly dirty rag that had once been a quilt1 on this bed lay a child not yet ten years old1 whose deathly pale face and glassy eyes told the story of hopeless sickness4 ,no pillow on which to lay the poor little head with its tangled masses of yellow hair1 nothing anywhere that told of care bestowed or necessary wants attended to4 ,over in another corner on another filthy heap of straw and rags1 lay the mother1 sick too2 with the same absence of anything like decency in everything that pertained to her4 ,utter dismay seized upon ,flossy4 ,could it be possible that human beings1 beings with souls1 for whose souls her blessed ,saviour died1 were left to such awful desolation of poverty as this6 ,mr4 ,roberts promptly turned upside down an old tub that was used to doing duty as a chair1 and seated her thereon1 while he went forward to the woman4 ,have you had your dinner to-day8 was the first question he asked4 ,yes1 ,i have2 and thank you kindly1 too1 she added gratefully4 ,the woman took the money and bought meat as you told her1 and made a broth1 and ,i and the little girl had some2 it was good4 ,the little girl took quite a few spoonfuls of it and said it tasted good2 it did me more good to hear her say that1 than it did to eat mine1 the poor mother said1 and a wistful motherly look went over to the heap of rags in the corner4 ,i am glad that she could eat it1 he said simply4 ,then he further told that he had been arranging for some things to be brought to make both of them more comfortable2 they would be here soon1 could the woman who made the broth come in and attend to them8 ,the sick woman shook her head4 ,she was gone for the day3 would not be back till dark1 then would have to get her children's supper1 and do her washing that very night4 ,she's awful poor1 the woman added with a heavy sigh4 ,we are all of us that2 if ,i could get up again1 ,i could do something for my little girl ,i most know ,i could1 but1 as it is-- ,and then there was that hopeless sigh4 ,meantime ,flossy1 after sitting with a distressed and irresolute face for a few minutes1 had suddenly risen from her tub and gone over to the little girl4 ,bending beside her they had talked together in a low voice1 and as ,mr4 ,roberts turned to see if she had endured the scene as long as her nerves would admit1 she turned towards him and there was more decision in her voice than he had ever heard before4 ,mr4 ,roberts1 can you find some clean water for this basin1 and haven't you a large handkerchief with you8 ,this poor child must have her face washed4 ,she says her head aches very badly2 that will help it4 ,and ,mr4 ,roberts1 can't you go out immediately to the store and get some clothes for this bed1 and a pillow1 don't they have such things in stores8 ,i have seen to that1 he said2 there will be some bed clothing here1 and other necessaries very soon2 but how can we manage to have the beds made up8 ,i have ordered bedsteads and mattresses1 and bed clothing has been prepared2 but ,i have failed thus far in getting anyone to help arrange them8 ,can't you set up a bedstead8 asked ,miss ,flossy4 ,why1 ,i think ,i could1 he answered her meekly4 ,very well1 then1 ,i can make the beds4 ,as for the child1 she must have a bath and a clean dress before she is ready for any bed4 ,i can tell you just what to do1 ,mr4 ,roberts2 you must go down to the east end1 ,no4 #bag ,south ,benedict ,street and find my old ,auntie ,green1 and tell her that she is needed here just as soon as she can get here2 tell her ,i want her2 it will be all right then4 ,in the meantime1 this child's face must be washed and her hair combed4 ,i see there is a kettle behind that stove1 could you manage to fill it with water1 and then could you make a better fire8 ,then1 ,i can stay here and do a good many things while you are gone4 ,while our little ,flossy was talking1 she was removing her lavendar kid gloves1 and pinning up out of sight her lace ruffles4 ,then she produced from some one of the bewildering and dainty pockets that trimmed her dress1 a plain1 hemstitched handkerchief1 which she unceremoniously dropped into the tin basin1 and announced herself all ready for the water4 ,but1 ,flossy1 said her embarrassed attendant in dismay1 you can't do these things1 you know2 wouldn't it be better to come with me1 and we will go after this ,auntie ,green and tell her just what to do1 and furnish the means to do it with4 ,you know you are not used to anything of this kind4 ,i know it1 she said quietly4 ,i never knew there was anything like this in the world2 ,i am bowed in the very dust with shame and dismay4 ,there is very little that ,i know how to do1 but ,i can wash this poor1 neglected child's face4 ,go right away1 please2 there is no time to lose ,i am sure4 ,what swift deft fingers she had to be sure4 ,he could not help stopping for a moment in his bewilderment to watch her2 then he went1 and meekly and swiftly did her bidding4 ,there was much done during that afternoon4 ,mr4 ,roberts quietly sinking into the errand man who was useful1 chiefly because he could promptly do as he was told2 and he felt with every additional direction and with every passing moment an increased respect for the executive abilities of the little girl1 whom he had looked forward to rousing by degrees to a sense of the importance of this work1 and gradually to a participation in other than the money charities of the day4 ,when they went away from that door1 as they ascended the filthy stairs again1 she said3 ,what an awful thought that human beings exist in such places as this1 and that ,i did not know it and have done nothing for them6 ,she was certainly not exhausted1 not overcome with the stench and the filth1 though there was water dripping at that moment from her rich silk dress4 ,she noticed it1 and as she brushed off the drops1 she said3 ,evan1 if you knew1 ,i wonder that you did not tell me to wear my ,chautauqua dress4 ,i shall know better next time4 ,i must have that poor little girl cured2 there are ever so many things to do1 oh ,evan1 you must teach me how4 ,you need no teacher1 he said softly1 almost reverently1 other than the divine ,teacher whom you have had4 ,i am become a learner4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,flossy',s ,,party4 ,,marion on her way from school1 had stopped in to learn1 if she could1 what shadow had fallen over ,ruth4 ,but before anything like confidence had been reached1 ,flossy ,shipley1 came1 full of life and eagerness4 ,i am so glad to find two of you together1 she said1 it expedites matters so much4 ,who do you think can be going to give a party next8 ,a party6 said ,marion1 ,i am sure ,i don't know4 ,i am prepared for any sort of news on that subject2 one would think there had been a party famine for years1 and lost time was to be made up1 to see the manner in which one entertainment crowds after another1 since the meetings closed4 ,it is a mercy that ,i am never invited1 it would take all my leisure1 and a great deal of note paper to prepare regrets4 ,who is it8 ,i haven't the least idea that you could guess1 so ,i am going to tell you2 it's just myself4 ,both of her listeners looked incredulous4 ,i am1 she said1 gleefully4 ,i am at work on the arrangements now as hard as ,i can be2 and ,marion ,wilbur1 you needn't go to talking about note paper and regrets2 you are to come4 ,i shall have to give up ,eurie1 and ,i am sorry too1 she would have helped along so much2 but of course she cannot leave her mother4 ,how is her mother8 asked both girls at once4 ,oh1 better2 ,nellis says the doctor feels very hopeful1 now2 but of course1 ,eurie doesn't leave her1 and cannot for a long time4 ,nellis ,mitchell is a splendid fellow4 ,how strange it is that his interest in religious matters should have commenced with that letter which ,eurie sent him from ,chautauqua1 before she had much interest herself4 ,nobody supposed that he had1 ,i am sure1 ,ruth said2 ,i thought him the most indifferent of mortals4 ,so did ,i1 and would never have thought to pray for him at all1 if ,eurie had not asked me to1 specially4 ,did you know he led the young people's meeting last evening8 ,did splendidly1 ,grace ,dennis said4 ,by the way1 isn't ,grace ,dennis lovely8 ,marion1 don't you think she is the most interesting young lady in your room8 ,i think you don't enlighten us much in regard to that party1 ,marion said1 her cheeks growing red under that last question4 ,i ought to be on my way2 my tea will be colder than usual if ,i don't hasten2 what scheme have you now1 ,flossy1 and what do you want to do with it8 ,ever so many things2 you know my boys8 ,well1 they are really young men2 and anyone can see how they have improved4 ,some of them have real good homes1 to be sure2 but the most of them are friendless sort of boys4 ,now1 ,i want to get them acquainted2 not with the frippery people who would have nothing to do with them1 but with some of our real splendid boys and girls who will enjoy helping them4 ,i'm going to have the nicest little party ,i ever had in my life2 ,i mean to have some of the very best people there2 then ,i shall have some of the silly ones1 of course2 partly because ,i can't help it1 and partly because ,i want to show them what a nice time reasonable beings can have together1 if they choose4 ,nellis ,mitchell is enlisted to help me in ever so many ways1 and ,mr4 ,roberts will do what he can1 but you know he is a stranger4 ,my great dependence is on you two4 ,i want you to see to it1 that my boys don't feel lonely or out of place one single minute during the entire evening4 ,but ,i am afraid ,i shall feel lonely1 and out of place1 ,marion said2 you know ,i am never invited to parties4 ,flossy laughed4 ,wouldn't it be a strange sight to see you feeling out of place8 she asked1 gaily4 ,marion1 ,i can't conceive of a place to which you wouldn't do credit4 ,whereupon ,marion arose and made a low courtesy4 ,thank you1 she said1 in mock gravity4 ,i never had a compliment before in my life2 ,i shall certainly come2 there is nothing like a little flattery to win people4 ,don't be nonsensical1 pleaded ,flossy2 ,i am really in earnest4 ,ruth1 ,i may depend upon you8 ,i know you are not going to entertainments this winter1 but mine is to be a small one1 compared with the others2 and you know it will be unlike any that we have had at our house4 ,ruth hesitated4 ,when is it to be8 she asked1 her cheeks glowing over her own thoughts4 ,i shall be engaged on ,friday evening of next week4 ,it is to be on ,wednesday4 ,then ,i will come4 ,and if ,i play1 ,marion1 will you sing to entertain the unusual guests8 ,of course1 ,marion said1 promptly4 ,i never sang in company in my life2 but do you suppose there is anything ,i will not do for ,flossy's guests1 after what she has just said8 ,only1 ,flossy1 ,i shall have to wear my black cashmere4 ,wear your brown calico1 if you choose2 you look royal in it1 ,flossy said1 turning a beaming face on ,marion4 ,she had heard her sing1 she knew what a rare musical treat it would be to those boys of hers4 ,so this was ,flossy's last departure from the beaten track4 ,those who are familiar with the imperative laws and lines which circumscribe the fashionable world will realize just how marked a departure it was4 ,it was a remarkable party4 ,the very highest and most sought after of the fashionable world were there1 a few of them1 and ,john ,warden was there in his new business suit of grey1 looking and feeling like a man4 ,flossy's boys were all present1 and those who knew of them and their associations and advantages1 marvelled much at their ease of manner and perfect propriety of behaviour4 ,how could they have learned so much8 ,flossy did not know1 herself1 but the boys did4 ,her exquisite grace of manner1 her perfect observance of all the rules and courtesies of polite society in her intercourse with them1 had produced its legitimate fruit2 had instinctively inclined them to be able to treat her with the same sort of grace which she freely and everywhere bestowed on them4 ,had she not met them on the street1 in the very heart of ,broadway when she was walking with some of her fashionable friends8 ,had she not taken pains to recognize them with a specially cordial bow1 and if near enough1 with a deliberate speaking of their names1 being sure to slightly emphasize the unusual prefix ,mr4 ,these and a hundred other kindred trifles1 so small that they are not noted among the qualifications for ,sabbath-school teachers1 so powerful for good1 that they often turn the current of a human life1 had been carefully regarded by ,flossy1 and to-night she was triumphant over her success4 ,she had not only helped her boys to be true to their convictions of right and dignity1 not only to take on true manliness of decision in regard to the all important question of personal religion1 she had helped them to be gentlemen4 ,there is many a faithful teacher to whom1 thinking of these minor matters1 it might be said3 ,these ought ye to have done1 and not to have left the other undone4 ,from first to last1 ,flossy's party was a success4 ,to ,ruth and ,marion it was a study1 developing certain curious features which they never forgot4 ,marion had her own private bit of interest that not another present1 save ,gracie ,dennis knew about4 ,she was not a party goer4 ,even so small a gathering as this1 was new to her4 ,she looked upon all these people with a keen interest2 many of them she was meeting for the first time4 ,that is1 she was being introduced to them1 and receiving their kindly greetings2 for ,flossy had succeeded in gathering only those1 who whatever they might think of her choice of guests1 were much too well bred to exhibit other than pleasure while they were her guests4 ,but only ,marion knew that she was destined to meet these people again1 and probably often1 under different circumstances2 the probability was that many of them would be her own guests1 would receive and return her calls1 would fall into the habit of consulting her in regard to this or that matter of church interest that would come up2 not one of them dreamed of such a thing2 and when she tried to lead them into conversation on matters pertaining to the church interests1 they looked their surprise that she should have such intelligent knowledge concerning these matters4 ,altogether it was an evening full of private fun on her part4 ,there was to be such a curious turn about of position1 she realized so fully that it would be such unutterable surprise to the people1 that it was impossible not to feel amused1 and to treasure up certain words and phrases that would sound very queerly to the speakers thereof1 if they remembered them when those said changes became manifest to the eyes of the world4 ,there was more than fun to be gotten out of the evening2 she watched the young people with eager interest4 ,she was to be a great deal to these young people2 she must try to understand them1 to win them4 ,she wanted to be a help1 a comfort1 a guide4 ,she had wonderful plans and aims4 ,she blessed ,flossy in her heart for this opportunity to study her lesson before it should be time to practise it4 ,that same ,flossy afforded her help in another direction4 ,there was no hiding the hold that she had gotten1 not only on those young men of her class1 but those of their friends that they had brought within her influence4 ,there was no disguising the fact1 that among the young ladies she was a favorite2 one whom they liked to have among them1 whom they liked to please4 ,how had she done it all8 ,i can never be ,flossy1 ,marion said to herself1 an amused smile hovering around her lips meanwhile1 at the thought that she should have a shadow of desire to become their little ,flossy4 ,but it is worth while to steal her secret of success1 if ,i can1 and practise it4 ,close watching revealed a good deal of the secret2 as much of it at least as could be put into words4 ,evidently the little lady had the power of making other people's interests her own for the time being2 of impressing the one with whom she came in contact1 with a sense of his own importance1 in her eyes2 at least she was interested in what he said and did1 and in what interested him4 ,she could enter into the minute details of a matter which did not concern her in the least1 with such apparent interest and desire to know all that was to be known about it1 that one could hardly help the feeling that certainly the subject was worthy of attention4 ,then her face spoke for her2 it could cloud in an instant in sympathy with any sort of trouble or anxiety1 and sparkle with happy smiles in the very next second over some bit of brightness that was mentioned4 ,she is a blessed little hypocrite1 and that is the whole of it1 was ,marion's mental comment4 ,that sort of hypocrisy is worth studying4 ,it is as natural to ,flossy as that lovely pink on her cheek2 but ,i am afraid ,i should have to acquire it2 ,i don't feel interested in other people's affairs2 now1 that is a fact4 ,why should she8 ,in the first place1 ,i know it is natural for her to like to please people2 that is the beginning of it2 she has that advantage over me1 for she was always so1 and ,i always wasn't so4 ,but she has something else2 she did not care once to please such as these rough boys of hers1 at least they were rough when she started the refining process2 how she had worked for them2 ,i never realized it so much as to-night4 ,it is just this3 she has sanctified her power of pleasing1 and put it to a grand use in fishing for souls4 ,meantime1 ,i have some degree of power of that kind1 though it doesn't show in the same way4 ,but ,i am not sure ,i have thought of it1 with a view to using it for such work2 also1 ,i dare say one can cultivate an interest in other people if they try4 ,i mean to try4 ,i know one way in which ,i can please people1 ,i can sing4 ,whereupon she immediately sought ,ruth and proposed music1 herself going after ,rich4 ,johnson to come and sing tenor1 and bidding him bring a friend to sing bass4 ,then such music as they had that evening1 was certainly never heard at a party at ,mr4 ,shipley's house before4 ,the music room was a little bower of a spot at the left of the parlors4 ,it was not only the music room but the flower room2 at least there were vines and plants and blooming flowers in the windows1 festooning the curtains1 hanging from lovely wire baskets1 a profusion everywhere4 ,thither went ,ruth1 ,marion1 and the two young men who went in silence from very astonishment over this new invitation4 ,in silence and embarrassment1 believing in their hearts that they could not sing at all4 ,as for ,marion1 she knew better4 ,she had stood near them in ,sunday-school4 ,ruth swept the piano clear of all sheet music and substituted the ,bliss and ,sankey ,gospel hymns1 and ,marion passed a book to each1 naming a page1 and instantly her full1 grand voice joined ,ruth's music4 ,very faint were the tenor and bass accompaniments2 but as the first verse closed and they entered upon the second1 the melody had gotten possession of their hearts1 and they let out their voices without knowing it1 so that when the piece was ended1 ,marion turned with a bright face1 and said3 ,i haven't enjoyed a song so much in years4 ,what a splendid tenor you sing1 ,mr4 ,johnson4 ,to herself she said3 ,there6 ,i'm improving2 ,i honestly think that4 ,but twenty-four hours ago1 ,i should have kept it to myself4 ,it isn't hypocrisy1 after all3 it is sincerity4 ,another1 and another piece was tried1 the music room meantime filling2 for ,flossy had brought in her train others of the boys4 ,and at last1 as the last verse of ,hold the ,fort rang out1 ,marion turned from the piano to discover that utmost silence prevailed in the rooms where chatter had been before1 and every available place in and about the music room was filled with hushed listeners1 while those who could not get in1 sat or stood outside in silence and wrapt attention4 ,such music as that at a party they had never heard before4 ,you and ,i are a success1 ,i think1 ,marion said brightly1 as she linked her hand in ,ruth's arm1 when they left the piano4 ,we are doing our duty beautifully4 ,are you complimenting yourself because you are afraid no one will perform that office8 ,ruth asked1 laughing4 ,no1 ,i'm doing it because ,i have begun to be sincere4 ,i've made a discovery to-night4 ,ruth1 it is you and ,i who are hypocritical1 in refusing to say what we think about people1 when it would sound real nicely1 and would doubtless make them feel pleasanter and happier4 ,meantime1 ,ruth had her lesson also that she had been learning4 ,what a trial parties had always been to her6 ,how haughtily she had stood aloof enduring with annoyed heart1 and oftentimes with curling lip1 sillinesses that she could not avoid1 listening to conversations and joining in monosyllables when obliged to do so1 that drove her to the very verge of patience1 not once imagining that there was any help for her1 any hope of stemming the current1 or in any way changing the accepted course of things4 ,she was learning4 ,several times during the evening it had been her fortune to stand near ,evan ,roberts and join in the conversation which he was carrying on4 ,each time she was amazed and thrilled to see with what consummate skill and tact he turned the current of thought towards the vital question of personal religion4 ,always with an easy familiarity of expression that made one feel and realize that to him it was a matter of course1 and as natural to be talked about1 as the sunshine or the moonlight4 ,wondering over this peculiarity of his1 once as they talked together she referred to it4 ,i can conceive of parties being less of a trial to you than to many of us1 because of the ability you have of turning the conversation to some account4 ,he smiled brightly4 ,they are not1 he said4 ,i have often looked forward to an evening gathering with eager interest and thankfulness1 because of the opportunity for meeting some there whom ,i could not catch elsewhere and saying a word for my ,master4 ,but1 ,miss ,erskine1 you speak of 'ability1' ,i simply use my tongue on that subject as on any other worthy of thought4 ,but don't you think it requires a peculiar sort of tact to be able to bring in such subjects in a manner calculated to do any good8 ,he shook his head1 ,i should say rather1 it required a sincere heart1 and an earnest desire to interest a soul4 ,we depend too much on tact and too little on ,god's spirit4 ',open thy mouth and ,i will fill it1' is a promise that applies to more places than a prayer-meeting1 ,i think4 ,what we need most to overcome is the idea that there is anything wicked in talking about religion in an everyday tone1 as we talk about other topics of absorbing interest4 ,there are different ways of going to parties1 ,ruth said to herself in a musing tone as she turned from him1 and she wondered if she could ever get to feel that she might even go to a party occasionally1 with the glory of ,god in view4 ,this started a train of thought that made her turn suddenly back to ,mr4 ,roberts with a question4 ,that doctrine wouldn't lead you to be a constant frequenter of parties1 would it8 ,he shook his head4 ,by no means4 ,and there are parties many of them1 which1 as a ,christian man1 ,i could not attend at all4 ,we must guard against a temptation to do evil1 that good may come4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,a ,,parting ,,glance4 ,,dr4 ,,dennis and his friend1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,harrison met again at the street corner2 they stopped and shook hands1 as they always did1 even if they chanced to meet three times in one day4 ,meetings closed8 questioned ,mr4 ,harrison1 after the preliminary words had been spoken4 ,what a glorious time you have had6 ,such a pity that our flocks are so far apart6 ,if we could have united with you in regular attendance1 it would have been a great blessing2 as it was1 many a drop came to us4 ,yes1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 we have had a great blessing2 and ,i need not use the past tense1 the work is going on yet1 although the meetings do not continue4 ,the work will continue forever1 ,i believe2 the truth is1 we have had a new baptism1 the members who came to us early in the fall1 came filled with the ,spirit1 and have worked as no other members of mine ever did4 ,you mean your ,chautauqua reinforcement1 don't you8 ,indeed ,i do2 ,i thank ,god for ,chautauqua every day of my life4 ,what a dreadful blunder ,i made when ,i limited the power of ,god in the way ,i did when we talked that matter over6 you remember8 ,i remember1 ,mr4 ,harrison said with a peculiar laugh2 ,it was a wonderful meeting1 but then1 after all1 were they not rather peculiar young ladies8 ,it isn't every lady who even after she is converted1 lives just the sort of life that they are living4 ,i know1 ,dr4 ,dennis said2 ,yes1 they are unusual1 ,i think2 especially one of them1 was his mental addition4 ,especially one of them1 murmured ,mr4 ,harrison in his heart2 and each gentleman smiled consciously1 neither having the slightest idea what the other meant by the smile4 ,marion ,wilbur came down the street with her hands full of school books4 ,good-evening1 said ,dr4 ,dennis2 ,how do you do this evening8 ,mr4 ,harrison1 do you know this lady8 ,she is one of my flock4 ,no1 ,mr4 ,harrison did not know her2 and introductions followed4 ,after she passed by1 ,mr4 ,harrison said1 ,i think you told me once that she had been an infidel8 ,it was a mistake1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 hastily4 ,she had peculiar views1 and ,i think she imagined herself at one time an unbeliever2 but she is really wonderfully well grounded in the doctrines of the church2 she is like an old ,christian4 ,many of ,dr4 ,dennis' people were abroad2 the next passer by was ,eurie ,mitchell2 the doctor stopped her4 ,one minute1 ,miss ,eurie1 how is your mother to-night8 ,mr4 ,harrison1 do you know ,miss ,mitchell1 the doctor's daughter8 ,yes1 ,mr4 ,harrison had met ,miss ,mitchell before4 ,in the fast coming dusk1 ,dr4 ,dennis failed to see the flush of embarrassment on his friend's cheek1 as he acknowledged the introduction4 ,she is a grand girl1 ,dr4 ,dennis said1 looking after her4 ,her development is wonderful2 more marked of late1 ,i think1 than before4 ,well1 as you say1 they were unusual girls1 but ,i tell you1 we as pastors have reason to say3 ',god bless ,chautauqua4' ,amen1 said ,mr4 ,harrison1 and ,dr4 ,dennis thought him unusually earnest and intense1 especially when he added3 ,i propose we go next year1 and take with us as many of our respective flocks as we can beguile into it4 ,aye1 that we will1 ,dr4 ,dennis answered2 then the two gentlemen went on their respective ways4 ,it was a large city1 and they were both busy ministers1 and lived far apart1 and met but seldom1 except in their ministerial meetings2 there was chance for each to have interests that the other knew nothing about4 ,marion reached home just in time for supper2 the table appointments at that home were not improving2 indeed1 there were those who said1 that the bread grew sourer every week2 this week1 it had added to its sourness1 stickiness1 that was horrible to one's fingers and throat4 ,the dried fruit that had been half stewed1 was sweetened with brown sugar1 and the looking over process1 so necessary to dried fruit1 had been wholly neglected4 ,but ,marion ate her supper1 almost entirely unconscious of these little defects2 that is1 she accepted them as a matter of course and looked serene over it4 ,things were not as they had been on that rainy evening1 when it had seemed to her that she could never1 no never eat another supper in that house2 then1 it seemed probable that in that house1 or one like unto it1 she would have to eat all the suppers that this dreary life had in store for her2 but now1 the days were growing fewer in which this house would be called her home4 ,no one knew it2 at least1 no one but herself and two others4 ,she looked around on her fellow boarders with a pitying smile2 that little sewing-girl at her left1 how many such suppers would she have to eat6 ,she shall have a nice one every now and then1 see if she doesn't1 was ,marion's mental conclusion1 with a nod of her glad head2 there were so many nice things to be done6 ,life was so bright4 ,hadn't ,gracie ,dennis whispered to her this very afternoon3 ,miss ,wilbur1 one of these days ,i shall hate to come to school1 ,i shall want to stay at home4 ,and she answered softly1 surreptitiously kissing the glowing cheek meanwhile3 ,the teacher who reigns here shall be your special friend4 ,and you are to bring her home with you to lovely little teas that shall be waiting for you4 ,this matter of teas had gotten a strong hold on ,marion4 ,perhaps1 because in no other way had a sense of unhomelike loneliness pressed upon her1 as at that time when families generally gathered together in pretty homes4 ,she went up1 presently1 to her dingy room4 ,just every whit as dingy now1 as it had been on that rainy evening1 but she gave no thought at all to it4 ,she lighted her fire1 and sat down to her writing2 not reports to-night4 ,she must write a letter to ,aunt ,hannah2 a brief letter it was1 but containing a great deal4 ,this was it3 ,,dear ,,aunt ,,hannah3-- ,don't you think1 ,i am going to be married6 ,now1 you never expected that of me1 did you8 ,neither did ,i1 but that is the way the matter stands4 ,now1 the question is3 ,may ,i come home to the wedding8 ,the old farm-house is all the home ,i have1 you know4 ,i hope you will let us come2 ,i am giving you plenty of notice2 we shall not want to come until after the spring term2 one of us wants to be there by the seventeenth of ,june1 ,i thought ,i ought to tell you before the spring house-cleaning4 ,let me hear from you as soon as you can1 so that ,i may know how to plan4 ,i could be married in the church1 ,i presume1 but ,i feel1 and the other one concerned feels so too1--that ,i would like to go back to the old farm-house4 ,we won't make much trouble1 nor have any fuss1 you know4 ,dear ,aunt ,hannah1 ,i am so glad the money gave you comfort4 ,then ,i am so very glad that you thought about that other matter of which ,i wrote2 that is the greatest and best thing to have in the world4 ,i think so now1 when ,i am on the eve of other blessings2 that one stands before them all4 ,the gentleman whom ,i am to marry is a minister4 ,he is very good4 ,aunt ,hannah ,i shall want your advice about all sorts of sewing when ,i come home4 ,i shall come in ,may1 that is1 if you let me come at all4 ,i hope you will4 ,give my love to ,uncle ,reuben4 ,my friend sends his respects to you both4 ,lovingly1 ,marion ,j ,wilbur4 ,she had a fondness during those days1 for writing out that name in full4 ,a gentle tap at the door being answered1 admitted ,flossy ,shipley4 ,you darling6 said ,marion1 brightly1 as she gave her eager greeting4 ,how nice of you to come and see me when you have so much to think of4 ,flossy where is ,mr4 ,roberts8 ,why don't you bring him to call on me8 ,he hasn't time to call on anybody1 ,flossy said1 with a mixture of pride1 and a sort of comic pettishness4 ,he has so many poor families on his hands2 he and ,i have been out all day4 ,marion you have no idea at all of the places where we have been6 ,i do think there ought to be an organized system of charity in our church2 something different from the hap-hazard way of doing things that we have4 ,mr4 ,roberts says1 that in ,new ,york1 their church is perfectly organized to look after certain localities1 and that no such thing as utter destitution can prevail in their section4 ,don't you think ,dr4 ,dennis would be interested in such an effort4 ,he will be interested in anything that is good1 ,marion said1 with unusual energy even for her4 ,flossy turned her pretty head towards her1 and eyed her curiously4 ,you like him better than you did2 don't you1 ,marion8 ,didn't ,i always like him1 ,marion asked1 with averted face and a laugh in her voice4 ,oh1 you used to think him stiff1 and said you felt all shut up in his presence4 ,don't you remember our first call at his study8 ,i think ,i do1 ,marion answered1 bursting into a merry laugh4 ,ever so many things have happened since then1 little ,flossy6 ,haven't there6 said innocent ,flossy4 ,it has been such a wonderful year6 dating from that day when it rained and you made me go1 do you remember1 ,marion8 ,do you ever get to wondering what would have been1 if we had just stayed on here at home1 going to our parties and getting up festivals1 and all that1 and paying no attention to the ,chautauqua meetings8 ,i don't want to think about any such horrid retrospect as that6 ,marion said1 with a shrug of her handsome shoulders1 and a genuine shiver4 ,flossy laughed4 ,but you know it is only something to think of1 to make us more grateful4 ,it can never be1 never4 ,by the way1 ,i suppose it is early to begin to make plans for the summer1 at least for those who have no occasion to talk about summer yet2--this last with a conscious little laugh--,but don't you mean to go to ,chautauqua next summer8 ,mr4 ,roberts and ,i are going2 we would rather give up a journey to ,europe than that4 ,can't we all contrive to meet there together8 ,yes1 said ,marion1 we--,i mean to go4 ,dr4 ,dennis is going1 ,flossy said1 though why that had anything to do with the matter1 or why it occurred to her just then1 ,flossy did not know4 ,he told ,mr4 ,roberts that he meant to be there1 and to take with him as many of his people as he could4 ,and ,eurie told me last night that his friend1 ,mr4 ,harrison1 of the ,fourth church was going4 ,i don't know how ,eurie heard that1 through ,nellis1 ,i suppose4 ,isn't ,nellis splendid nowadays8 ,i shouldn't wonder if quite a large company went from here4 ,i wonder if ,dr4 ,dennis will take his daughter ,grace4 ,i think she is just lovely1 don't you8 ,very1 said ,marion2 and just here ,flossy roused to the fact that she was doing most of the talking1 and that ,marion's answers were often in monosyllables4 ,i dare say ,i am tiring you1 she said1 rising4 ,i forget that you have to talk all day in that school-room1 ,marion4 ,are you sure you love to teach well enough to keep at it1 year after year8 ,no1 said ,marion1 laughing4 ,i know ,i don't2 ,i don't mean to do it2 ,i mean to get a situation as somebody's housekeeper4 ,do you understand housekeeping8 asked innocent little ,flossy1 with wide open eyes4 ,oh1 ,marion6 are you sure it will be even as pleasant as school teaching8 ,i think so1 ,marion answered with grave face4 ,at least1 ,i mean to try4 ,it depends on whose house you get into1 you know4 ,flossy's sober face cleared in an instant4 ,so it does1 she said4 ,marion1 ,i have a nice plan1 but ,i shall not tell you a bit about it to-night4 ,good-bye4 ,oh1 the dear blessed little goosie6 ,marion said1 laughing immoderately as the door closed after ,flossy4 ,now1 ,i know as well as if she told me1 that she is going to beguile ,mr4 ,roberts into offering me a situation in their dove cote1 when they set it up4 ,blessed little darling6 and here1 the laugh changed into a bright tear4 ,i know just what a sweet and happy home she would make for me4 ,if ,i had only that to look forward to1 if it had just opened as my escape from this boarding house1 how very thankful ,i should be6 ,how glad the dear child will be to know that my home is as nearly in view as her own4 ,as for ,flossy1 she went down the walk1 saying3 ,what a dismal room that is8 ,it is too bad for our bright ,marion to have to live in it1 ,i know my plan will work4 ,how nice of her to have put it in my head6 my head must be for the purpose of carrying out nice things that somebody else proposes4 ,oh dear6 there are so many desolate homes here1 on earth6 ,a cloud over the bright face for a minute1 then it cleared as she said1 softly3 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions2 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,after all1 that was the place for brightness4 ,this was only a way station2 never mind the discomforts1 so that many were helped to the right road that the home be reached at last1 in peace4 ,she paused at the corner and looked towards ,eurie's home1 but shook her head resolutely1 she must not go there1 it was too late2 though she longed to tell ,eurie that ,marion was going to ,chautauqua1 and ask her if she did not think it possible for them all to meet there4 ,then the inconsistent little creature sighed again1 for she remembered ,eurie's weary face and the long struggle with sickness1 and the long struggle with ways and means to which she was looking forward4 ,there was much in the world that she would like to brighten4 ,meantime1 ,eurie1 in her home around the corner was arranging the pillows with tender touch about her mother's head1 and drawing the folds of the crimson shawl carefully about her1 as she said3 ,now1 mother1 you begin to look like yourself3 it makes a wonderful difference to get a touch of color about you4 ,a very tender smile preceded her answer4 ,dear child6 ,i will be glad to get well enough so that you may have a chance to get a touch of color about you4 ,you are looking very pale and tired4 ,oh me1 mine is the brightest life you can imagine2 there is plenty of color down in my heart so long as ,i can think of our ,nell leading the young people's meeting1 and father to lead at the mission to-morrow1 it will rest me4 ,i have to keep 'counting my marcies4' ,to crown them all1 here you are sitting up at this time of night1 with a cap and wrapper on once more1 instead of that unbecoming white gown2 how pleased father will be6 ,we have many mercies1 the low1 feeble voice of the invalid said2 not the least among them being1 our daughter ,eurie2 but ,i could wish that ,i saw a way for you to have less care1 and more rest than you will get this summer4 ,i must be willing to be very useless1 your father says1 and that means hard work for you4 ,when ,ruth ,erskine was in this afternoon1 looking so quiet1 and at rest1 nothing to weary her or hinder her from doing what she chose1 ,i just coveted some of the peace of her life for you4 ,there's no occasion1 mother2 ,i am not by any means willing to exchange my life with hers2 ,i like my own much the best4 ,as for rest1 don't you worry2 there'll be a way planned for what rest ,i need4 ,yes1 and there was being a way planned1 even then2 though mother and daughter knew nothing of it4 ,how queerly people go on1 planning their lives1 as though they had the roads opening out into the future1 all under their own care6 ,it was at that moment that ,ruth ,erskine1 the young lady who1 according to ,mrs4 ,mitchell1 had so quiet1 and settled1 and peaceful a life1 that she coveted it for her daughter1 stood in the great hall that was glowing with light and beauty1 and caught her breath with an almost convulsive sound1 as she rested against a chair for support2 her face deathly pale1 her eyes bright with a calm that she had forced upon herself1 in her solemn determination to try to do just the right thing1 say just the right words2 her ear had caught the sound of a carriage that had drawn up before the door1 and the sound of a familiar voice2 she knew that she was now to meet--not only her father1 but her mother1 and sister6 ,little they knew about each other even yet1 with all their intimacy1 those four ,chautauqua girls6 ,but what mattered it1 so long as they had given themselves over1 body and soul1 into the keeping of their ,father in heaven1 who knew not only the beginning1 but the end8 ,,the ,,end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,this text uses both ,bible-class and ,bible class2 chamber-maid and chambermaid4 ,obvious punctuation errors repaired4 ,page #bg1 grammer changed to grammar 7grammar class2 and7 ,page #ci1 new paragraph inserted4 ,text originally read3 7who have4 ,that's exactly like myself7 ,page #eh1 vailed changed to veiled 7sharp words veiled7 ,page #ia1 flappant changed to flippant 7his voice flippant7 ,page #adh1 softly changed to soft 7a soft little laugh7 ,page #afc1 b ought changed to brought 7that brought them most7 ,page #ahf1 ,hurlburt changed to ,hurlbut 7,oh1 ,dr4 ,hurlbut67 ,page #bjb1 nowdays changed to nowadays 7no idols nowadays7 ,page #bjc1 quered changed to queried 7duty8 queried ,eurie7 ,page #bjc1 adicted changed to addicted 7very much addicted7 ,page #bfb1 repeated word a removed4 7while one with a a7 ,page #bhe1 argumentive changed to argumentative 7my argumentative powers7 ,pages #cah and #ccc had paragraphs that were not indented in the orginal4 ,these paragraphs began3 7,yet was she not7 7,mr4 ,wayne was unusually7 ,page #cbb1 unstanding changed to understanding 7by tacit understanding7 ,page #cbb1 radient changed to radiant 7face just radiant7 ,page #cdh1 vail changed to veil 7very flimsiest veil of7 ,page #cgd1 solmnly changed to solemnly 7solemnly true4 ,ruth7 ,page #cif1 forsee changed to foresee 7she not foresee7 ,page #djj1 desoolate changed to desolate 7ever to be desolate7 ,page #dae1 parishoners changed to parishioners 7on his parishioners7 ,page #dbc1 ,smyth changed to ,smythe 7brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,smythe7 ,page #dde1 alwas changed to always 7for she was always7 ,page #ddh1 alwas changed to always 7parties had always7