to disturb his mind any further. 'Milk for babes,' you
know the apostle says, 'and strong meat for men.' After he has proved
himself to be equal to meat, there will be ample time to experiment
with some of the dry bones which you seem anxious that I should force
upon him."

"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, with considerable dignity, "I didn't
expect this kind of talk from you. I have been sitting under your
ministrations a good many years, and, though sometimes I didn't think
you were as sharp-set as you ought to be, still I knew you were a man
of level head and good education and knew everything that was essential
to salvation; otherwise, why did the best college of our own
denomination make you a doctor of divinity? But I've got to let out
what is in my heart, doctor, and it is this, that there is no
stopping-place for any one that begins to walk the straight and narrow
way; he has got to keep on as long as he lives, and if he don't he is
going to be crowded off to one side."

"You are quite right, deacon," said the minister; "and therefore I
object to putting any stumbling-blocks in any such person's way."

"Do you mean to say, Dr. Guide," asked the deacon, earnestly, "that all
the articles of faith that you have always taught us were essential to
salvation are to be looked at as stumbling-blocks when they are offered
to somebody like that poor dying sinner?"

"I mean exactly that, deacon," said the minister, "and I mean still
more, and I mean to preach earnestly on the subject in a short time,
and at considerable length, that they have been stumbling-blocks to a
great many members of my congregation who should by this time be better
men and women than they are. For instance, deacon," said the minister,
suddenly, looking very stern and judicial, "Mrs. Poynter has been to me
several times to explain that the reason that she does not pay her
subscription to the last collection for the Missionary Association is
that she cannot get the interest on the mortgage that you have been
holding for her for a long time, and which, she says, you have
collected."

"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, icily, "religion is religion, and
business is business. You understand religion--to a certain extent;
though I must own that I don't think you understand it as far as I once
thought you did. But about business, you must excuse me if I say you
don't know anything, especially if it's business that somebody else has
to carry on. If Mrs. Poyn