s of the truth against us or our profession;
but it does not, therefore, follow that we are to decline a path which
plainly opens before us in God's providence, just because that path may
be a smooth one, or may lead to a position of wealth and influence. To
choose another path which will gain us high credit for self-denial,
because we turn away from that which is naturally more attractive to
ourselves, may after all be only another though subtler form of
selfishness. Surely the right course is just to go in honesty of
purpose unreservedly where God's hand is plainly guiding us and he will
take care both of our character and of his own cause in connection with
that character, as he orders everything else that is really essential to
the welfare and usefulness of each of his own dear children."

CHAPTER NINE.

RUBY GRIGG.

Horace Jackson had come to take a deep interest in the inhabitants of
Bridgepath, especially since his engagement; for Mary Stansfield's heart
was thoroughly in her work in that once benighted place, and she was
only too glad to lead one now so dear to her to concern himself in the
truest welfare of those in Bridgepath who were still living without
thought of any world but this.

Things had indeed greatly improved through the diligent and loving
exertions of the excellent schoolmaster, who was evidently determined to
tread down all opposition that came in his way by the firm and weighty,
though gentle, steps of a steady and consistent Christian walk. His
task, it is true, was no easy one, for parents and scholars seemed for a
time to be in league against all endeavours on his part to remove
existing abuses. It was all very right, they allowed, that he should
teach the children head-knowledge--this they were content to put up
with; but as for his influencing the heart, or inducing them to change
their conduct, and thereby to give up the pleasures of sin in which they
had so long delighted, this was not to be tolerated; they were
determined not to submit to it. And so the boys, when they could no
longer carry on their encounters and settle their differences with the
fist after school without interruption and remonstrance from the master,
revenged themselves for this interference with their privileges by a
thousand little sly tricks and bits of mischief at his expense, and with
the full approbation, or, at any rate, connivance, of their friends.

As for the grown-up people generally, they gav