ing as sympathetic as her insufficient nature allowed her to look;
the Irishwoman uncertain between delight at Myrtle's return and sorrow
for her condition; and Miss Cynthia Badlam occupying herself about
house-matters, not unwilling to avoid the necessity of displaying her
conflicting emotions.

Before he left the house, Mr. Gridley repeated the statement is the most
precise manner,--some miles down the river--upset and nearly
drowned--rescued almost dead--brought to and cared for by kind women in
the house where he, Byles Gridley, found her. These were the facts, and
nothing more than this was to be told at present. They had better be
made known at once, and the shortest and best way would be to have it
announced by the minister at meeting that forenoon. With their
permission, he would himself write the note for Mr. Stoker to read, and
tell the other ministers that they might announce it to their people.

The bells rang for meeting, but the little household at The Poplars did
not add to the congregation that day. In the mean time Kitty Fagan had
gone down with Mr. Byles Gridley's note, to carry it to the Rev. Mr.
Stoker. But, on her way, she stopped at the house of one Mrs. Finnegan,
a particular friend of hers; and the great event of the morning
furnishing matter for large discourse, and various social allurements
adding to the fascination of having a story to tell, Kitty Fagan forgot
her note until meeting had begun and the minister had read the text of
his sermon. "Bless my soul! and sure I 've forgot ahl about the letter!"
she cried all at once, and away she tramped for the meeting-house. The
sexton took the note, which was folded, and said he would hand it up to
the pulpit after the sermon,--it would not do to interrupt the preacher.

The Rev. Mr. Stoker had, as was said, a somewhat remarkable gift in
prayer,--an endowment by no means confined to profoundly spiritual
persons,--in fact, not rarely owing much of its force to a strong animal
nature underlying the higher attributes. The sweet singer of Israel
would never have written such petitions and such hymns if his manhood had
been less complete; the flavor of remembered frailties could not help
giving a character to his most devout exercises, or they would not have
come quite home to our common humanity. But there is no gift more
dangerous to the humility and sincerity of a minister. While his spirit
ought to be on its knees before the throne of grace