superintendent and
said, "Will you take me as a teacher?" "Gladly," he said, but she looked
so small and frail that he was afraid the work would be too rough for
her.

What a time she had at first! The boys and girls did not want anybody to
bother about them: those who came to the meeting were wild and noisy;
those who remained outside threw stones and mud and tried to stop the
work. Mary faced them, smiling and unafraid, and dared them to touch
her. Some grew ashamed of worrying the brave little teacher, and these
she won over to her side. But there were others with sullen eyes and
clenched fists who would not give in, and they did their best to make
her life a misery.

One night a band of the most violent lay in wait for her, and she found
herself suddenly in their midst. They hustled and threatened her.

"We'll do for you if you don't leave us alone," they cried.

She was quaking with fear, but she did not show it. She just breathed a
prayer for help, and looked at them with her quiet eyes.

"I will not give up," she replied. "You can do what you like."

"All right," shouted the leader, a big hulking lad. "Here goes."

Out of his pocket he took a lump of lead to which was tied a bit of
cord, and began to swing it round her head. The rest of the gang looked
on breathless, wondering at the courage of the girl. The lead came
nearer and swished past her brow. Pale, calm, unflinching, she stood
waiting for the blow that would fell her to the ground. Suddenly the lad
jerked away the weapon and let it fall with a crash.

"We can't force her, boys," he cried, "she's game."

And, like beaten foes, they followed her, and went to the meeting and
into her class, and after that there was no more trouble. The boys fell
under her spell, grew fond of her, and in their shy way did all they
could to help her. On Saturday afternoons she would take them into the
country away from the temptations of the streets, and sought to make
them gentle and kind and generous. Some of the most wayward amongst them
gave their hearts to Jesus, and afterwards grew to be good and useful
men.

What was it that gave her such an influence over these rude and unruly
boys? They did not know. She was not what is called a pretty girl. She
was plain and quiet and simple, and she was poorly clad. But she was
somehow different from most teachers. Perhaps it was because she loved
them so much, for the love that is real and pure and unselfish is the
gre