in times past."

"I believe you sir," said the old man. "Now, there's one who's been
touched already--Jim Grimes, who keeps `The Old Fighting-Cocks' at
Bridgepath. He were mightily surprised at first when he seed as I'd
given up my old ways; he wouldn't believe as it were the true thing, and
he were for chaffing me out of it. But he found out after a bit as I
was real. 'Tain't for me to boast--it were the Lord's doings, not
mine--but when he came to be persuaded as I had taken to the better way
in earnest, he couldn't make it out at first; but now he has come to set
his feet on the right road, too, I trust, and this has made me think as
there's work for the Lord for me to do in a quiet way without giving up
the van--in a quiet way, I say, sir, for I don't want to be put in a
`mag.'"

"Put in a `mug,' old friend!" exclaimed Horace, in amused surprise;
"what can you mean? Is it slang for putting you in prison? Why should
any one put you in prison for such a work as you are purposing to carry
on? If any one tries to get you into trouble, come or send to me; they
shan't interfere with you."

"Nay, nay, sir," replied Ruby Grigg, with a laugh. "Thank you kindly
for what you say; but you've not got hold of my meaning. What I'm
driving at is this: I don't want people to put me in a `mag,'--mag's
short for `magazine,'--one of them monthly or weekly papers as is full
of pictures, and serves as town-crier to all the good deeds as is being
done."

"Ah, I understand you now," said Horace, smiling in return; "you want to
work quietly for Christ in the shade, and not to be made a public
character of."

"That's just it, sir; I wouldn't be put in a `mag' for all the world.
I've knowed many a good man spoilt by being put in a `mag.' It blows
'em up with pride; and then them as don't get put in the `mag' is fit to
burst with envy and jealousy."

"I believe, my friend," said Horace, "that there may be a great deal of
truth in what you say. A good man's usefulness may be injured by his
being dragged into public notice; for no sin needs such watchfulness on
the part of Christians, especially those at the beginning of their
course, as pride. There is too much of this trumpeting in our day; it
spoils the simplicity and reality of many a character."

"I've seen it, sir," replied Reuben. "I used to laugh at it formerly,
but I grieve over it now. At any rate I'm sure, sir, as you won't put
me in a `mag.' I don't want to se