The Chautauqua Girls At Home

ld looks as though it was made over new in the night," Eurie had said, as she threw open her blinds, and drew in whiffs of the sweet, soft air. And the church, whither these

t to-day, this glowing, glorious August day, it was something infinitely above and beyond all this; it was the visible temple of the invisible God, their Saviour, and they were going up to worship-aye, really and truly to worship. They, in their different ways, according to their very different

he right shade of necktie, gloves and sash, to set off the beauty of the dress, with the soft and delicate laces about her white throat, for which she was

a summer day before; and Marion, in her corner in the gallery, was simply the grave, somewhat weary-looking school-teacher at one of the w

et-"a thing which could hardly be expected, since she had thrown away so much money on that

n his reach after a higher type of religion. What could these four girls know about a higher type, when they had no religion at all, and had been spending two lawless weeks in looking at the subject

as not to be sought for here; nothing less than the absolute likeness should give absolute satisfaction; and this likeness was to be forever eagerly

d ever heard, or was it that four girls had been to Chautauqua, and there learned how to listen? Their cheeks glowed

determination, and the satisfaction of realizing that she belonged to the great royal family. No more obscurity for her. She was a child of the King, and the kingdom was in view. A crown

ly they felt; how much it seemed to them as if they were children who had come to a party uninvited, and as if they must at this

hink of such a thing as asking them to go. It would have been so much less awkward if they coul

d good-morning, not gladly, not even graciously; he dreaded those girls, and their undoubted influence. They had not the least idea how much mischief they had done him in the way of frittering away his influence heretofo

to think of going to him in his s

all think of such a thing. I couldn

ill come to a visit to his study if we are to unite with the

em the thought of that duty had never occurred before; they di

, because nobody knows enough to invite us to go up-stairs? It is clear that we are not to be

mmenced; I hate to go in when it is co

e to be invited. I'll tell you what, girls, if we ever get to feel that we do belong, let's constitute

sy says, it isn't pleasant to go in after the exercises have fairly opened?" As she said this, for the first time in her li

confessed, bold spirits that they were, so dreaded this ordeal, that each hoped the o

n't be any easier next Su

of idiots we are! Marion, what would you think of a day-scholar who would stand shivering outsi

to stand by the door and be peeped at by irreverent children; then they had to invite them

e in to visit our school? Glad to see you; i

ie said, in undertone, as he pass

ing uncomfortable under such prolonged gazing. "What is

our graceful lives. But I must say they make it very easy for people to stay away. Why on earth don't they invi

row funny. They could see that the pastor and the superintendent were engaged in anxious conversation, to judge by the gravity of their

s talk it would have been a sole

intendent was saying; "I don't know what we are to do

wn large class waiting for him

n't want to; it is a class which requires more nervous energy than I have a

e of the young ladies

f the two men turne

stroyed by her conversion. "Look at their troubled faces; they think that we are harbingers of mischief. O

nt that Dr. Dennis'

," he said, gloomily; "Miss Erskine might keep the bo

n that class are in school, in her

s' face g

idel. I don't know what is to be done with that class, as you say. Poor Morris, I am afraid, will never be able to take it again; and he was u

me I suppose we can

there, and try to awe them by her dignity for awhile. And this week

rsonal in his request, so he took the general way of putting a question, resting in th

ith that class at your right, and try to interest them a little? They

but she felt so very ignorant of the Bible. She had come in, hoping and expecting a chance to slip into a grand Bible class, where she might learn some of the inner truths of that glorious lesson that s

least idea what to say to anyone about the Bible lesson." And then they all tur

lesson all the week; I am not sure that I can teach anything, but I

ung men, but without an idea as to the manner of conduct that should honor that name. It would be hard to tell which was the most amazed and embarrassed, the superintendent or the girls whom Flo

an if she were a dove," said Marion, dismay and discomfort struggling

"he came out all right, you know." The

that we can go in? We didn't come to

unutterable astonishment. "Where would they like to go? There were

eft Marion and Eurie to make their way to

hem what chapter and verse were being studied. They found their places, and Mr. Pembrook searched laboriousl

he said, "wh

ed to button a glove that was too small for her; one yawned behind her Bible, and t

was just reading the thirtieth verse: 'As he spake

ered, speaking th

d Jesus

led to, hurriedly looked up th

believed on him, if ye continue in my

"there doesn't seem to be anything to say on that v

't understand even now why her heart should have throbbed so stra

e truth, and the truth

hat?" she as

r. Pembrook looked at her through his glasses; then he pushed his glasses up on his forehead. Finall

ee from sin. The Lord Jesus Christ was speaking

an people fr

honest perplexity, to have a puzzle solved. But she was known as one who held dangerous, even infidel notions,

poke them, and they must mean what they say. We are to accept them in all sincerity and humility,

at and asked the next young

er Lord when she simply longed with all her soul to understand? Did the promise mean, You shall be free from sin? Had she a right to look forward to and hope for the time when sin should have no more dom

t blind and lame, unable to take a step in any direction lest in her ignorance she should err, as already she had. Something i

an knew nothing about his lesson save the questions contained on the bit of paper before him. It was en

stion at them from his lesson paper, and they could read an answer back to him from their Bibles, and this was all that either party expected of the

all the week had proved a disappointment and a failure. She was almost inclined to say that she would ha

ut the lesson than that old man did to-day!" she said to Eur

e dull in the class, if it were known after all that you could make the most bri

ean?" asked Ma

ian life that he has the respect and confidence of everybody. What if he can't preach? He can practice. However, I am willing to admit that the dear old man would be more edifyin

Pembrook; so that by the time she had reached her boarding-house, although his teaching would certainly make a very poor show

't get a single idea to help them in any way. Some of them need ideas badly enough. Two or three of them are members of

de in Marion, but she had to smile at the thought of herself being helped by so very third-rate a brain as that which Allie March possessed.

, Marion Wilbur, to help Allie Ma

. No one to speak to who could understand and would believe in her, even in the Sunday-school

join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." Her experience precisely! They were afraid of her influence; afraid of her tongue; afraid of her example; and, indeed, what reason had they to feel otherwis

arations for church. "Isn't that our experience? I mean I think it is to be ours. Judging f

laugh that had an undertone

hall find a Barnabas to

f belonging to no one. "We must help each other very much, we girl