modest girls, who would have made capital ministers' wives. Why will
ministers be so shortsighted?

"But, mother," Tom Graves asked, "aren't you pretty fast? How do you
know but she is sensible and modest; you never heard her speak a
word?"

"Anybody with half an eye don't need to hear her speak to know all
about her."

"The idea of a minister's wife," said Mrs. Meggs, "with her hair
frizzed, and such a long trail for church!"

"She paints, I know she does!" said sallow Miss Pry. "There never was
such a complexion as that born on to a human being."

Those who did not say anything, who made it a rule never to speak
uncharitably of anyone, seemed well satisfied to have others to do it
for them, and looked and sighed their holy horror that their minister
should have shown so little discretion in choosing a wife. Just to
think of her leading the female prayer-meeting and being president of
the Missionary society, humph!

Ah! if there had been one dear "mother in Israel," with love enough
to bear this young thing in the arms of her faith to the mercy seat
and plead a blessing for her--with courage enough to try to win her
to see the blessedness of living a consecrated life, it might all
have been different.

When Thane Eldred first met Vida Irving he was immediately taken