Imagine Paul preaching as a candidate to the people of Athens or Corinth, and submitting his claims as an apostle to the popular verdict!

Or imagine, Mr. Laicus, a client coming to you and saying I have an important case to be tried sir, and I think of placing it in your hands.  Will you oblige me by making a neat little speech for me.  I want to see what kind of a speech you can make.

Since I wrote that last sentence I have read this letter over, and have been on the point, two or three times, of tearing it up and sending in its place a simple declination.  But I feel as though I were writing to a friend, and it shall go.  I am sorry it must be so.  I should like to go to Wheathedge.  That it is a beautiful place, and has pleasant people, and is a far more important field of labor than this I recognize fully; and then, what possibly influences me quite as much, Helen, whom your wife knows very well, is waiting patiently for me, and I am waiting impatiently for her, and I never can marry on the little pittance I receive here.  But she is of one mind with me in this matter, I know, for we have often talked it over together, and she holds me nobly to my resolution.  She, I am sure, would not have me write other than I do.

My kind regards to Mrs. Laicus and my sincere thanks to yourself.  A kiss to Harry too, if you please, if he is not too old to take one.  The baby I have never seen.  Yours sincerely, Maurice Mapleson.

“Well,” said Jennie after I had finished reading the letter, “I believe he is right; but I am sorry John; sorrier than I was before.”

“Sorry that he won’t come, Jennie?”

“Sorry that he is right,” said Jennie.  “That is, if he is right.”

“Do you doubt it, Jennie?” said I.

“Well I don’t know, John.  I go with him.  I like him better for his letter.  I cannot gainsay it.  And yet it seems to me that it puts the ministers in a rather hard position.”

“Yes?” said I interrogatively.

“Yes,” said Jennie.  “You know perfectly well John that our church here wouldn’t call a man that isn’t settled somewhere.  The very fact that he was out of a parish,, would be almost conclusive against him.  And they won’t call a man without trying him.  Must Maurice Mapleson live and die in that little out of the way corner?  And if he is ever going to get out of it, how is it to come about?  How does a minister have any chance for a change if he takes such a ground as that?  It’s high and noble John, and I honor him for it; but I am afraid it isn’t practicable.”

“Little woman,” said I, “whatever is truly high and noble is practicable, and you would be the first to tell me so another time.  Don’t let our wanting Maurice Mapleson here blind us to that.”

Jennie smiled her assent.  “Well John,” said she, “what you are going to do about it?”

“Do?” said I.  “Nothing.  There is nothing to be done, except to read Mr. Mapleson’s letter to the committee, to-morrow night at our first meeting.  And I am curious to see what they’ll say to it.”