I have been thinking of it.  I am sure that I am right in my belief that there are many ways of working for Christ beside working for the church.  I am sure the first thing is for us to work for Christ in our daily, secular affairs.  I am sure that all are not drones who are not buzzing in the ecclesiastical hive.  But I am not so sure that I have not time to take that Bible-class.  I am not so sure that the busy ones in the church are not also the busy ones out of the church.  I remember that when Mr. James Harper was hard at work establishing the business of Harper & Brothers, which has grown to such immense proportions since, at the very time he was working night as well as day to expedite publications, he was a trustee and class-leader in John Street Methodist Church, and rarely missed the sessions of the board or the meetings of the class.  I remember that Mr. Hatch, the famous banker, was almost the founder of the Jersey City Tabernacle Church, and his now President of the Howard Mission.  Yet I suppose there is not a busier man in Wall street.  I remember that Wm. E. Dodge, jr., and Morris K. Jessup, than whom there are few men more industrious, commercially, are yet both active in City Missions and in the Young Men’s Christian Association; the former is an elder in an up-town church, and very active in Sabbath School work.  I remember Ralph Wells, bishop of all the Presbyterian Sabbath Schools for miles around New York, who was, until lately, active in daily business in the city.  Yes I am sure that hard work in the week is not always a good reason for refusing to work in the church on the Sabbath.

“Jennie, I am going to try that Bible class, as an experiment, for the winter.”

“I am glad of it, John.”

CHAPTER VIII.

Mr. Gear.

“Jennie,” said I, “Harry and I are going out for our walk.”

It was Sunday afternoon.  I had enjoyed my usual Sunday afternoon nap, and now I was going out for my usual Sunday afternoon walk.  Only this afternoon I had a purpose beside that of an hour’s exercise in the fresh air.

“I wish I could go with you John,” said Jennie, “but it’s Fanny’s afternoon out, and I can’t leave the baby.  Where are you going?”

“Up to the mill village, to see Mr. Gear,” said I.  “I am going to ask him to join the Bible class.”

“Why John he’s an infidel I thought.”

“So they say,” I replied.  “But it can’t do an infidel any harm to study the Bible.  I may not succeed; I probably shan’t; but I certainly shan’t if I don’t try.”

“I wish I could do something to help you John.  And I think I can.  I can pray for you.  Perhaps that will help you?”

Help me.  With the assurance of those prayers I walked along the road with a new confidence of hope.  Before I had dreaded my errand, now I was in haste for the interview.  I believe in the intercession of the saints; and Jennie is a—­but I forget.  The public are rarely interested in a man’s opinion about his own wife.