"The girl came to Miss Adams and demanded the truth, and the mother

confessed. Then the daughter settled into a profound melancholy,

from which nothing seemed to rouse her. She will not go out, remains

in the house, and broods constantly over her disgrace.

"It occurred to me that if Marah Adams could be brought out of

herself and interested in some work, or study, it would be the

salvation of her reason. Her mother told me she is an accomplished

musician, but that she refuses to touch her piano now. I thought you

might take her as an understudy on the organ, and by your influence

and association lead her out of herself. You could make her

acquaintance through approaching the mother who is a milliner, on

business, and your tact would do the rest. In all my large and

wealthy congregation I know of no other woman to whom I could appeal

for aid in this delicate matter, so I am sure you will pardon me. In

fact, I fear were the matter to be known in the congregation at all,

it would lead to renewed pain and added hurts for both Miss Adams and

her daughter. You know women can be so cruel to each other in subtle

ways, and I have seen almost death-blows dealt in church aisles by

one church member to another."

"Oh, that is a terrible reflection on Christians," cried Joy, who, a

born Christ-woman, believed that all professed church members must

feel the same divine spirit of sympathy and charity which burned in

her own sweet soul.

"No, it is a simple truth--an unfortunate fact," the young man

replied. "I preach sermons at such members of my church, but they

seldom take them home. They think I mean somebody else. These are

the people who follow the letter and not the spirit of the church.

But one such member as you, recompenses me for a score of the others.

I felt I must come to you with the Marah Adams affair."

Joy was still thinking of the reflection the rector had cast upon his

congregation. It hurt her, and she protested.

"Oh, surely," she said, "you cannot mean that I am the only one of

the professed Christians in your church who would show mercy and

sympathy to poor Miss Adams. Surely few, very few, would forget

Christ's words to Mary Magdalene, 'Go and sin no more,' or fail to

forgive as He forgave. She has led such a good life all these

years."

The rector smiled sadly.




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