"Good evening, neighbor," said a voice, "don't you want to go to our
prayer meeting next Wednesday night?"

Robert looked up from his work and saw it was old Peter Newby.

"Why, yes, I guess so. Sure," said Robert. "What kind of a prayer
meeting is it?"

"We have a good one," said Peter, "come and see."

"All right, we'll come," said Robert.

This prayer meeting was held at Fairmount school house, a fine school
building situated on the brow of a lilac-covered hill at the bottom of
which hill one of the finest and largest springs in the country gushed
forth. It was, as stated, ostensibly a neighborhood prayer meeting,
but Peter Newby just about dominated it, and was carrying it on just
about to suit himself. The method pursued was to read a chapter, and
follow with a free-for-all exposition of it. Everybody had a chance
to speak and expound the texts, whether he knew anything about them or
not. Some queer theories were advanced in these discussions, which we
have neither time nor inclination to speak of now.

Robert Davis and Mary began to attend this prayer exposition meeting
as soon as they could. The Book of Romans was being read and studied
at this time, and chapter 5 was up for discussion. After the reading
of the chapter, Peter Newby, as usual, was on his feet ready to tell
the class all about it. He noticed Robert and Mary and, knowing that
they were strangers, he put on his most condescending and insinuating
air. Raising himself to his full height, and giving his grizzled head