Yes; but then that didn’t make it improper.  No; but—­then, she—­it—­Well, it was fanatical.  Oh yes, that was it.  She knew it was improper in some way.  It was strange that that very convenient word should have escaped her for a little.  This talk Ester held hurriedly with her conscience.  It was asleep, you know; but just then it nestled as in a dream, and gave her a little prick; but that industrious, important word, “fanatical,” lulled it back to its rest.  Meantime there hung the tract, and fluttered a little in the summer air, as the door opened and closed.  Was no one to give it voice?  “I’d like dreadful well to hear it,” an old lady said, nodding her gray head toward the little leaf on the wall; “but I’ve packed up my specs, and might just as well have no eyes at all, as far as readin’ goes, when I haven’t got my specs on.  There’s some young eyes round here though, one would think.” she added, looking inquiringly around.  “You won’t need glasses, I should say now, for a spell of years!”

This remark, or hint, or inquiry, was directed squarely at Ester, and received no other answer than a shrug of the shoulder and an impatient tapping of her heels on the bare floor.  Under her breath Ester muttered, “Disagreeable old woman!”

The brown silk rustled, and the blue ribbons fluttered restlessly for a minute; then their owner’s clear voice suddenly broke the silence:  “I’ll read it for you, ma’am, if you really would like to hear it.”

The wrinkled, homely, happy old face broke into a beaming smile, as she turned toward the pink-cheeked, blue-eyed maiden.  “That I would,” she answered, heartily, “dreadful well.  I ain’t heard nothing good, ’pears to me, since I started; and I’ve come two hundred miles.  It seems as if it might kind of lift me up, and rest me like, to hear something real good again.”

With the flush on her face a little hightened, the young girl promptly crossed to where the tract hung; and a strange stillness settled over the listeners as her clear voice sounded distinctly down the long room.  This was what she read.

SOLEMN QUESTIONS.

“Dear Friend:  Are you a Christian?  What have you done to-day for Christ?  Are the friends with whom you have been talking traveling toward the New Jerusalem?  Did you compare notes with them as to how you were all prospering on the way?  Is that stranger by your side a fellow-pilgrim?  Did you ask him if he would be?  Have you been careful to recommend the religion of Jesus Christ by your words, by your acts, by your looks, this day?  If danger comes to you, have you this day asked Christ to be your helper?  If death comes to you this night, are you prepared to give up your account?  What would your record of this last day be?  A blank?  What!  Have you done nothing for the Master?  Then what have you done against Him?  Nothing?  Nay, verily!  Is not the Bible doctrine, ‘He that is not for me is against me?’