s hapless fate, and all the
other sorry tricks that fortune had played upon him--at least that was
the way in which he had always regarded his disappointments and griefs.

This, then, was the personage whose moral rehabilitation was to be
accomplished by the Daughters of Zion. But how?

"Who will volunteer to visit Mr. Moody?" blandly asked the president.

VISIT MR. MOODY! It was a wonder the roof of the barn chamber did not
fall; it did, indeed echo the words and in some way make them sound more
grim and satirical.

"Nobody'll volunteer, Rebecca Rowena Randall, and you know it," said
Emma Jane.

"Why don't we draw lots, when none of us wants to speak to him and yet
one of us must?"

This suggestion fell from Persis Watson, who had been pale and
thoughtful ever since the first mention of Jacob Moody. (She was fond of
Granny Garlands; she had once met Jacob; and, as to what befell, well,
we all have our secret tragedies!)

"Wouldn't it be wicked to settle it that way?"

"It's gamblers that draw lots."

"People did it in the Bible ever so often."

"It doesn't seem nice for a missionary meeting."

These remarks fell all together upon the president's bewildered ear the
while (as she always said in compositions)--"the while" she was trying
to adjust the ethics of this unexpected and difficult dilemma.

"It is a very puzzly question," she said thoughtfully. "I could ask Aunt
Jane if we had time, but I suppose we haven't. It doesn't seem nice to
draw lots, and yet how can we settle it without? We know we mean right,
and perhaps it will be. Alice, take this paper and tear off five narrow
pieces, all different lengths."

At this moment a voice from a distance floated up to the haymow--a voice
saying plaintively: "Will you let me play with you, girls? Huldah has
gone to ride, and I'm all alone."

It was the voice of the absolutely-without-guile Thirza Meserve, and it
came at an opportune moment.

"If she is going to be a member," said Persis, "why not let her come up
and hold the lots? She'd be real honest and not favor anybody."

It seemed an excellent idea, and was followed up so quickly that
scarcely three minutes ensued before the guileless one was holding the
five scraps in her hot little palm, laboriously changing their places
again and again until they looked exactly alike and all rather soiled
and wilted.

"Come, girls, draw!" commanded the president. "Thirza, you mustn't chew
gum at a missionary mee