God. It
is the coming home to God after the toil of the week. They had to have
a time when other things did not call them away from spending a whole
day with Him and getting acquainted, from getting to know what He
wanted and how to shape their lives, or they would just as surely get
interested in the world and forget God."

"Well, I don't see why we have to go to church, anyway," declared
Leslie discontentedly. "This is a great deal better out here under the
trees, reading the Bible."

"Yes," said Allison. "Cloudy, that minister's dull. I know I wouldn't
get anything out of hearing him chew the rag."

"O Allison, dear! Don't speak of God's minister that way!"

"Why not, Cloudy? Maybe he isn't God's minister. How did he get there,
anyway? Just decided to be a minister, and studied, and got himself
called to that church, didn't he?"

"Oh, no, dear! I trust not. That is terrible! Where ever did you get
such an idea? There may be some unworthy men in the ministry. Of
course there must be, for the Bible said there would be false leaders
and wolves in sheep's clothing; but surely, _surely_ you know that the
most of the men in the pulpit are there because they believe that God
has called them to give up everything else and spend their lives
bringing the message of the gospel to the souls of men. The office is
a holy office, and must be reverenced even if we do not fancy the man
who occupies it. He may have a message if you listen for it, even
though he may seem dull to you. If you knew him better, could look
into his life and see the sacrifices he has made to be a minister, see
the burdens of the people he has to bear!"

"O Cloudy, come now. Most of the ministers I ever saw have automobiles
and fine houses, and about as good a time as anybody. They get big
salaries, and don't bother themselves much about anything but church
services and getting people to give money. Honestly, now, Cloudy
Jewel, I think they're putting it over on you. I'll bet not half of
them are sincere in that sacrifice stuff they put over. It may have
been so long ago; but ministers have a pretty soft snap nowadays, in
cities anyhow."

"Allison! Didn't you ever see any true, sincere ministers, child?
There are so many, many of them!"

"To tell you the truth, Cloudy, I never saw but one that didn't have
shifty eyes. He was a little missionary chap that worked in a slum
settlement and would have taken his eye-teeth out for anybody. Oh, I
don't mea