spectacles, and,
in mildest accents, says, "The Lord will indeed reward such
disinterestedness." Brother Mansfield says motives so pure will ensure a
passport to heaven, he is sure. Brother Sharp, an exceedingly lean and
tall youth, with a narrow head and sharp nose (Mr. Sharp's father
declared he made him a preacher because he could make him nothing else),
pronounces, with great emphasis, that such self-sacrifice should be
written in letters of gold. A unanimous sounding of her praises
convinces Mrs. Swiggs that she is indeed a person of great importance.
There is, however, a certain roughness of manner about her new friends,
which does not harmonize with her notions of aristocracy. She questions
within herself whether they represent the "first families" of New York.
If the "first families" could only get their heads together, the heathen
world would be sure to knock under. No doubt, it can be effected in time
by common people. If Sister Slocum, too, would evangelize the world--if
she would give the light of heaven to the benighted, she must employ
willing hearts and strong hands. Satan, she says, may be chained,
subdued, and made to abjure his wickedness. These cheering
contemplations more than atone for the cold reception she met at the
house of Sister Slocum. Her only regret now is that she did not sell old
Cicero. The money so got would have enabled her to bestow a more
substantial token of her soul's sincerity.

Tea over, thanks returned, a prayer offered up, and Brother Spyke,
having taken a seat on the sofa beside Mrs. Swiggs, opens his batteries
in a spiritual conversation, which he now and then spices with a few
items of his own history. At the age of fifteen he found himself in love
with a beautiful young lady, who, unfortunately, had made up her mind to
accept only the hand of a clergyman: hence, she rejected his. This so
disturbed his thoughts, that he resolved on studying theology. In this
he was aided by the singular discovery, that he had a talent, and a
"call to preach." He would forget his amour, he thought, become a member
of the clergy, and go preach to the heathen. He spent his days in
reading, his nights in the study of divine truths. Then he got on the
kind side of a committee of very excellent ladies, who, having duly
considered his qualities, pronounced him exactly suited to the study of
theology. Ladies were generally good judges of such matters, and Brother
Spyke felt he could not do better t