ted with several families of McDonaldites, but I never yet learned
why they take the 'jerks,' or what they signify, but I know that there are
many good religious people belonging to the sect."

"But they might be good people on _account_ of their religion or in _spite_
of it," said Dexie.

Mrs. Gardner looked over at Dexie with a serious face.

"I wonder if you can repeat the first verse of the first Psalm. Try it, my
dear," she said.

"I do not think I can say it word for word, Mrs. Gardner," said Dexie,
presently; "but it is something like this, 'Blessed is the person who never
goes where he knows he ought not to be, and who never sits down in the seat
of the scornful.' Thank you, Mrs. Gardner, I see the application," she
added, smiling. "I fear I have been on that seat to-day, and I have no
right to be scornful when I am such a heathen myself. Yet I never attend an
impressive service that I do not wish I were a good member of that
particular church, no matter what denomination it happens to be. But
to-day, although I have witnessed the most impressive service of my life, I
never wished I was a good McDonaldite; no, not once. Now, you needn't
laugh, Elsie, for you know yourself I can jump around just as lively as
most people, and I am sure I could go through some of the most surprising
movements if I tried, but I never once felt the least desire to emulate the
members of that church, so I conclude that I have not been benefited by
attending that wonderful gathering; yet I have always thought that any
religious service that does not inspire you with a desire to join heart and
soul in it, is a miserable failure. I am afraid if I had to choose between
the two, I would rather be a dancing dervish than a McDonaldite. However,
perhaps if I understood the doctrines of each I might choose the other way.
But that brings me back to the beginning again, and makes me wonder how it
is that no one seems to really know why they take the 'jerks,'" turning to
Mrs. Gardner.

"Well, since none of us _do_ know, let us try to forget about them for the
rest of the evening," said she. "It is a comfort to know that there is a
religion which the simplest can understand, and a service in which we can
all unite without committing any impropriety."

A few preparations followed, and they were soon on their way to the
Methodist chapel, where the reverential feeling that always filled Elsie's
heart when inside a place of worship was not now wa