"It was up a ricketty pair of stairs, and another, and another, to a
filthy garret. There lay the sick boy burning with a fever, mother and
father both drunk, and no one to do anything or care anything for the
boy who was fighting with death. 'Ben,' said his dirty-faced visitor,
bending over him, 'you're pretty bad ain't you? Ben, do you ever pray?'
'No,' says Ben, turning fevered eyes on the questioner: 'I don't know
what that is.' 'Did you know there was a man once named Jesus Christ? He
come to this world on purpose to save people who are going to die. Did
you ever be told about him?' 'No; who is he?' 'Why, he is God; you have
to believe on him.' 'I don't know what you mean.' 'Why, ask him to save
you. When you die you ask him to take you and save you. I heard about
him at school.' 'Will he do it?' 'Yes, he will _sure_. Them says so as
have tried him.' Silence in the garret, Ben with his face turned to the
wall the fever growing less, the pulse growing fainter; suddenly he
turns back. 'I've asked him,' he said; 'I've asked him, and he said he
would.'"

Ruth looked about her nervously. People were weeping softly all around
her. Marion brushed two great tears from her glowing cheeks, and Ruth,
with her heart beating with such a quickened motion that it made her
faint, wondered what was the matter with every one, and wished this
dreadful meeting was over, or that she had gone to Saratoga on Saturday.

It was hard to go back to the puffs on that grenadine dress in the
midst of all this, but with a resolute struggle she threw herself back
into an argument as to whether she would stop on her way to make
purchases, or run down to Albany as soon as she was comfortably settled
at her hotel. Mr. Bliss was the next one who roused her.

You have never heard him sing? Then I am sorry for you. How can I tell
you anything about it? You should hear Ruth tell it! How his voice
rolled out and up from under those grand old trees; how distinctly every
word fell on your ear, as distinctly as though you and he had been
together in a little room alone, and he had song it for you.

"This loving Savior stands patiently--
Though oft rejected,
Calls again for thee.
Calling now for thee, prodigal,
Calling now for thee;
Thou hast wandered far away,
But he's calling now for thee."

What _was_ the matter with everybody? Was this an army of prodigals who
had gathered under the trees this Sabbath after