ld benefit by the truth voiced by any of them, while he nursed
either contempt or criticism of the personality of the teacher?"

"Yes," returned Mr. Evringham, "there is strength in that consideration;
but this blind following of any suggestion your leader makes looks to me
too much like giving up your own rationality."

Julia regarded him seriously. "Supposing you were one of a party who had,
for long years, searched in vain for gold. You had tried mine after mine
only to find you had not the ability to discriminate between the priceless
and the worthless ore, or to discern the signs of promise that lead to
rich discovery. Now, supposing another prospector had proved, over and over
again, that he did know the places where treasure was to be found.
Supposing he had demonstrated, over and over again, that his judgment and
discernment never led him astray, and that reward followed his labor
unfailingly. Now, what if this wise prospector was willing to help you?
Supposing he stated that in certain places, and by certain ways, you could
attain that for which you longed and had striven vainly. When his advice or
directions came to you, from time to time, do you think you would be likely
to stop to haggle or argue over them? No; I think you would hasten to
follow his suggestions, as eagerly and as closely as you were able, and
with a warmly grateful heart. Would that prospector be forcing you? or
doing you a kindness? What are the fruits of Christian Science? What are
the results of the directions of this wise, loving leader who can come so
close to God that He teaches her to help us to come, too. Oh, father, this
obstacle, this foolish argument, meets nearly every one in the path you are
treading, and tries to turn him back. I do hope, for your sake, you will
decline to give that very flabby error-fairy a backbone, or let it detain
you longer. It is marvelous how, without one element of truth or reason, it
seems able to hold back so many, and waste their precious time."

Mr. Evringham was regarding the speaker with close attention. "You are a
good special pleader," he said, when she paused.

"It is easy to speak the truth," she answered.

He nodded thoughtfully. "You have given me a new light on the situation. I
see it now from an entirely new standpoint."

Here the trio on the lawn came running up the steps, father and child
laughing and panting as hard as Topaz, whose tongue and teeth were all in
evidence in the gayety