voice reverently echoing in prayer, and Aunt Stanshy
had such a sense of protection from this world's many storms. On
fair-weather Sundays there would be quite a rush for the old church. The
Browns, Pauls, Randalls, Jamesons, Tapieys, would turn up, smiling,
radiant and self-assured as if they had never been absent from church a
single service. Their manner almost seemed to declare that they had been
there day and night. O, young people, do dare to be rainy-weather
Christians!

Aunt Stanshy and Charlie were walking away from the church the noon of the
Sunday after the grand march. At St. John's, the Sunday-school followed
the morning service.

"Aunty," said Charlie, nudging his companion, "here comes somebody."

That somebody was Mr. Walton, to whom were intrusted the spiritual
interests of the congregation. He was tall, stalwart, owned a fair
complexion, and wore his hair rather long; hair, too, that would curl, no
matter how patiently the brush and comb coaxed it to be straight and
dignified. His blue eyes had a rather sharp look at first when turned
toward you, but you soon felt that they were kindly, sympathetic, and
magnetic. Mr. Walton was very friendly toward the boys, and for that
reason he had a strong hold on the affections of many little fellows.

"Well, Miss Macomber, I am glad to see you out, and as for my boy here, I
should miss him ever so much if he were not in my school."

"I should miss _you_, if you wasn't there," replied Charlie, anxious to
return the compliment.

"Don't you know of some boy you could get into the school, Charlie?" asked
Mr. Walton.

"I know of one who belongs to my club."

"You belong to a club! What is the name of it?"

"The U. T. L. Club."

"U. T. L.! What does that mean?"

"It is Miss Bertha Barry's notion, sir," explained Aunt Stanshy, with an
air that was somewhat critical. Then she had noticed, or fancied that she
had detected, that Mr. Walton, who was single, rather liked Miss Bertha
and her ideas. He did not seem to notice Aunt Stanshy's tone, but
remarked,

"U. T. L.! That means 'Up Too Late!'"

"Ha, ha, guess again," replied the delighted Charlie.

"Useful To Learn!"

"No sir."

"Up With The Lark!"

"You have got one word too many in there. 'Up The' is right."

"Up The--Lane!"

"That's where I live," said Aunt Stanshy, proudly.

"Up The--"

"It's 'Up The Ladder,' sir," said Charlie.

"Well, Up-the-Ladder boys ought to be making advances and g