opic both ill-timed and impertinent and unsafe
to which we are not invited to contribute anything. "I am a very
ignorant man," he went on to say; and, if that was said in any humility,
Feeble-mind never said a truer word. "It is with me as it is with a weak
man among the strong, or as with a sick man among the healthy, or as a
lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease." All which only
brought Greatheart out in his very best colours. "But, brother," said
the guide, "I have it in commission to comfort the feeble-minded, and to
support the weak. You must needs go along with us; we will wait for you,
we will lend you our help, we will deny ourselves of some things, both
opinionative and practical, for your sake; we will not enter into
doubtful disputations before you; we will be made all things to you
rather than that you shall be left behind."

7. The first thing that did Mr. Feeble-mind any real good was his being
made military guard over the women and the children while the men went
out to demolish Doubting Castle. _Quis custodiet_? you will smile and
say when you hear that. Who shall protect the protector? you will say.
But wait a little. Greatheart knew his business. For not only did
Feeble-mind rise to the occasion, when he was put to it; but, more than
that, he was the soul of good company at supper-time that night. "Jocund
and merry" are the very words. Yes; give your feeble and fault-finding
folk something to do. Send them to teach a class. Send them down into a
mission district. Lay a sense of responsibility upon them. Leave them
to deal with this and that emergency themselves. Cease carrying them on
your back, and lay weak and evil and self-willed people on their back.
Let them feel that they are of some real use. As Matthew Arnold says,
Let the critic but try practice, and you will make a new man of him. As
Greatheart made of Feeble-mind by making him mount guard over the
Celestial caravan while the fighting men were all up at Doubting Castle.

8. "Mark this," says Mr. Feeble-mind's biographer on the early margin of
his history, lest we should be tempted to forget the good parts of this
troublesome and provoking pilgrim--"Mark this." This, namely, which
Feeble-mind says to his guide. "As to the main, I thank Him that loves
me, I am fixed. My way is before me, my mind is beyond the river that
has no bridge, though I am, as you see, but of a feeble mind." And that
leads us with re