e bloom and reserve of her woman's nature with every
touch.

Miriam could never tell how sick hearted she grew as she looked.
_That_ was this girl's livelihood; to go through all sorts of
situations, with all sorts of men, for the amusement of other people.
O yes, it paid well. Had she been a teacher,--had she painted cups or
stitched seams for a living,--her salary, her wages, would have been
brought down to the lowest figure; but on the stage, at _that_ work,
give her what she asks!--or make her so popular that the manager will.
Does she not "amuse" us all?

If ever anybody was thoroughly cured of theatre going, that was Miriam.
It had been the greatest temptation of her life; but now a great recoil
came over her, so that from that day, the mere thought of the stage
brought only loathing and disgust. And so all women, _as_ women,
should set their faces against it in every shape; even down to the most
"private" of private theatricals. There cannot possibly be a wholesome
imitation of a bad thing.

I know it is very unfashionable doctrine. I know that even while I
write, the newspapers set forth an advertisement of a play, prepared by
a clergyman, to be acted by Sunday Schools in this sweet Christmas
time. Alas poor Sunday Schools!--in full training for service under
"the world, the flesh, and the devil."--"Feed my lambs," the Lord Jesus
said,--and between meals you give them whiskey and water! Nor is it
the children only who suffer. I could tell of one lady in that very
man's church, who being much delighted with some such performance in
the Sunday School, went off the very next night to a theatre, to see
the same thing _done better_.

N. B.--She had never been before.

"I will have dances at home for my children, lest they seek them
elsewhere."--

"I will take my boys to the theatre, because I do not want them to go
anywhere without me."--

Real sayings, of real mothers, church members both. Which sayings, in
everyday English, read thus, "Since I want my children to keep out of
the world, I will bring the world to them at home."--"Since my boys
will do what I do not approve, I will guard them by doing it too." Far
different from the strong stern-words of Scripture:

"Come out of her, my people."

"Touch not the unclean thing."

And then the wonderful sayings of Psalm i. 1.

If anybody thinks I have given an unfair instance, or that I
characterize it unfairly, let them take other testimony where