An Ambitious Man

ing woman, yet she had never united wit

was cast, she made it her business to discover which church the fashionable people of th

y of our churches to-day. They believed that people who did not go to church would stand a very poor chance of heaven; and that a strict observance of a Sunday religion would ensure them a passport into God's favour. When they returned from divine service and mangled the character and attire of their neighbours over the Sunday dinner-table, no idea entered their heads or hearts that they had si

rd, and it proved equally true of their spir

that of a powerful and cruel speculator, who did not hesitate to pauperise his nearest friends if they placed themselves in his reach. That he was a thief and a robber, no one ever denied; yet so colossal were his thefts, so bold and successful his robberies, the public gaze

occupied his high-priced church pew,

he holy communion, nor was his

r of monopoly, and from confiding fools by smart lures and scheming tricks. But this young clergyman, having recently been called to preside ov

were large charities to be sustained, not to mention its rector's princely salary. The millionaire pewholder was a liberal giver. It rarely occurs to the fashionable dispensers of spiritual knowledge to ask

nd maintain these standards for their followers, there might be

allowed to take the holy sacrament and avow himself a humble follower of Christ, what a revolution might ens

eir wealthy parishioners is often a touching lesson in char

k of charity were cast over the sins of the liberal rich? Christ is crucified

ere was a vein of sincerity in his nature which forbade his feigning a faith he did not feel; and the daily lives of the three feminine members of his family were so in disaccord with his views of religion that he felt no incentive to follow in their footsteps. Judge Lawrence he knew to be an honest, loyal-hearted, God and humanity loving man. "A true Christian by nature and educ

he church made; he believed in churches as benevolent if not sou

alian, and whatever originality of thought or expression he may have lacked, his strict observance of the High Church code of ethics maintained the tone of his church and rendered him an object of reverence to hi

n some remote way her family claimed relationship with Ralph Waldo. Her father and grandfather and several uncles had been clergymen. She married a broker, who left her a ri

watches over, prunes and waters, and exposes to sun and shade,

pendent in fortune, and of excellent lineage on the mother's side, it was not surprising that he was called to take charge of the spiritual welfare of fashionable St Blank's Church on the death of the old pastor; or that, having taken the charge, he became immensely popular, especia

r Stuart's congregation went home to dream, not of the Creator and Maker of all things, nor of the divine Man, but of the handsome face, stalwart form and magnetic voice of the young rector. They feasted their eyes upon his agreeable person, rather than their souls

her souls; but his strong magnetism was perceptible to all, and they did not

occupied the organ loft; and inquiry elicited the fact that the old man who had officiated in that capacity during many years

St Blank's. The new organist seemed inspired; and many people in the fashionable congregation, hearing that this wonderful mus

and satin skin and eyes of velvet darkness were but her lesser charms. That which riveted the gaze of every beholder, and drew all e

the grown up, however young, are really happy in expression? Discontent, restlessness, longing, unsatisfied ambition or ill health mar ninety and nine of every hundred faces we meet in the d

see her pass out. Among those who lingered was the Baroness; and all day she carried about with her the memory of that sparkling co

made the Baroness unhappy, now that both

ich certain perfumes awake in us-vague reminders of joys lost or unattained, of dreams broken or unrea

as she buried her face in her pillow that night. "And

o sleep with a feeling of bitter resentment against it