et enough subscribers to build a
toboggan slide? I never was in such high spirits and in such humor for
fun."

Eleanor looked amazed, but she relieved her mind by replying,--

"I never saw religion work that way on other people."

"Indeed! Where have your blessed eyes been? Hasn't your own father been
a religious man for many years, and is there any one in town who knows
better how to enjoy himself when he is not at work?"

"Oh, yes; but father is different from most people."

"Quite true; he must be, else how could he be the parent of the one
incomparable young woman--"

"Ray!"

"Don't try to play hypocrite, please, for you're too honest. You know
you agree with me."

"About father? Certainly; but--"

"'About father?' More hypocrisy. You know very well what I mean. Dear
little girl, listen to me. I suppose there are people scared into
religion through fear of the wrath to come, who may become dull and
uninteresting. It is a matter of nature, in a great many cases. I
suppose whatever is done for selfish reasons, even in the religious
life, may make people uncertain and fearful, and sometimes miserable.
But when a man suddenly determines to model his life after that of the
one and only perfect man and gentleman the world ever knew, he does not
find anything to make him dull and wretched. We hear so much of Jesus
the Saviour that we lose sight of Jesus the man. He who died for us was
also He whose whole recorded life was in conformity with the tastes and
sympathies of people of His day. Do you imagine for an instant that if
He had been of solemn, doleful visage, any woman would ever have
pressed through a crowd to touch the hem of His garment, that she might
be made well? Do you suppose the woman of Samaria would have lingered
one instant at the well of Jacob, had Jesus been a man with a face
like--well, suppose I say Deacon Quickset? Do you think mothers would
have brought their children to Him that He might bless them? Do you
imagine any one who had not a great, warm heart could have wept at the
grave of his friend Lazarus, whom He knew He had the power to raise
from the dead? Didn't He go to the marriage jollification at Cana, and
take so much interest in the affair that He made up for the deficiency
in the host's wine-cellar? Weren't all His parables about matters that
showed a sympathetic interest in the affairs which were nearest to the
hearts of the people around Him? If all these things were possible to