don't see how any but a Christian
could, and that although his principles are scarcely those of one who
had given up all for the truth. He is like the son in the parable who
said, I go not, but went; while I, much I fear me, am like the other who
said, I go, sir, but went not. Alas! I have always found it hard to be
grateful; there is something in it unpalatable to the old Adam; but from
the bottom of my heart I thank Mr. Jones, and I will pray God for him
ere I open a book. Dorothy, I begin to doubt our way of
church-membership. It _may_ make the good better; but if a bad one gets
in, it certainly makes him worse. I begin to think too, that every
minister ought to be independent of his flock--I do not mean by the pay
of the state, God forbid! but by having some trade or profession, if no
fortune. Still, if I had had the money to pay that bill, I should now be
where I am glad not to be--up on my castletop, instead of down at the
gate. He has made me poor that He might send me humility, and that I
find unspeakably precious. Perhaps He will send me the money next. But
may it not be intended also to make us live more simply--on vegetables
perhaps? Do you not remember how it fared with Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, when they refused the meat and the wine, and ate
pulse instead? At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer
and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of
the king's meat. Pulse, you know, means peas and beans, and every thing
of that kind--which is now proved to be almost as full of nourishment as
meat itself, and to many constitutions more wholesome. Let us have a
dinner of beans. You can buy haricot beans at the grocer's--can you not?
If Ducky does not thrive on them, or they don't agree with you, my
Dorothy, you will have only to drop them. I am sure they will agree with
me. But let us try, and then the money I owe Mr. Jones, will not any
longer hang like a millstone about my neck."

"We will begin this very day," said Dorothy, delighted to see her father
restored to equanimity. "I will go and see after a dinner of herbs.--We
shall have love with it anyhow, father!" she added, kissing him.

That day the minister, who in his earlier days had been allowed by his
best friends to be a little particular about his food, and had been no
mean connoisseur in wines, found more pleasure at his table, from
lightness of heart, and the joy of a new independence, than he had h