ered the boy. "You've got something to take
hold of, with a body."

"And the body ceases to exist when the soul departs. Never forget that,
my boy."

"But you work so hard," insisted Jason, "and you get so little for it. I
don't mean money alone," flushing as if at some memory, "but it doesn't
seem as if the people care. They'll take all they can get out of each
minister as he comes along, and then forget him."

Brother Wilkins looked at Jason, thoughtfully. "Sixteen is very young,
Jason. I'm afraid you were born carnal minded. I pray every night of my
life that as you grow older, you'll grow toward Christ and not away
from Him."

Again Jason flushed uncomfortably and a silence fell that lasted until
they reached the remote hill settlement where service was to be held
that night. The settlement consisted of a log church, surrounded by a
scattered handful of log houses, each already with its tiny glow of
light, for night comes early in the hills. The two had eaten a cold
lunch in the saddles, for church service would begin as soon as they
arrived.

There were twenty-five or thirty people in the rough little church. They
crowded round Brother Wilkins enthusiastically when he entered and he
called them all by name as he shook hands with them. Jason slid into a
back seat. His father mounted to the pulpit.

"Let us open by singing

'How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see--'"

The old familiar tune! Jason wondered how many meetings his father had
opened with it. The audience sang it with a will. In fact with too much
will. A group of young men on the rear seat opposite Jason sang with
unnecessary fervor, quite drowning out the female voices in the
congregation. Jason saw his father, his face heavily shadowed in the
candle-light, glance askance at the rear seat.

"Let us pray," said Brother Wilkins. There was a rustle as the
congregation knelt. "O God, I have come to You again in this mountain
place after many years and many wanderings. I thank You for giving me
this privilege. I have greeted old friends who have not forgotten me and
who all these years have remembered You and Christ, Your only begotten
Son. Tonight, O Heavenly Father, I have brought with me to this sacred
fold my own one lamb that he might see how sacred and how great is Your
power. Look on him tonight, O Supreme Master, and mark him for Your
own. And remember, that if the young men in the rear seat plan any
distur