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with almost the authority and solemnity of one of God's ancient
prophets。
〃Yes； my child； yes； he will be merciful unto youhe will forgive
you。 But in your deep need you require more than the assurance
of a poor sinful mortal like yourself。 Listen to God's own word：
'Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity； whose
name is Holy： I dwell in the high and holy place； with him also
that is of a contrite and humble spirit； to revive the spirit of
the humble； and to revive the heart of the contrite ones。'
〃'Like as a father pitieth his children； so the Lord pitieth them
that fear him。'
〃'If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins； and the blood of Jesus Christ； his Son； cleanseth us from
all sin。' God answers your question himself； my child。〃
〃Oh； may He bless you for your kindness to me！ It has saved me
from despair and death；〃 sobbed Ida； burying her face in her hands；
and giving way to the natural expression of feeling that ever
relieves a heart that has long been overburdened。
For a few moments Mr。 Eltinge said nothing； but gently stroked the
bowed head as he might caress a daughter of his own。 At last he
asked； with a voice that was broken from sympathy with her emotion；
〃How about my Master； whose kind providence has brought all this
about？〃
Ida gradually became more quiet； and as soon as she could trust
herself to speak she lifter her head and answered：
〃Mr。 Eltinge； I think I can learn to love God as you portray him
to me。 But in my imperfection and wickedness I have not dared to
think of him till I came here。〃
〃Now； isn't that just like the devil's work！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Eltinge。
〃It was our imperfection and wickedness that brought Christ to
our rescue； and yet you have been made to believe that your chief
claim upon our Divine Friend is a hopeless barrier against you！〃
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 said Ida； slowly； as if she were trying to be sure
that each word expressed her thought； 〃it was that word； FRIEND；
as you used it last night； that caught my ear and revived my hopes。
I now believe that if you had spoken only of duty or truth； or even
of God in the ordinary way； I should now be〃she buried her face
in her hands and shuddered〃I should not be in this sunny garden
with the memory that your hands have rested on my hands in blessing。
If I am to live； I shall need； above all things； a friend； and
a very patient and helpful one； or else my burden will be heavier
than I can carry。 I have told you about my parents； and you thus
know what I must look forward to in my own home。 But such is my
weakness and folly； I have a far worse trouble than that。 You may
smile at it and think that time will bring speedy relief。 Perhaps
it willI hope so。 I feel that I know so little about myself and
everything else that I can never be sure of anything again。 Mr。
Eltinge； I have been so unfortunate as to give my whole heart's love
to a man who despises me。 At first he seemed somewhat attracted；
but he soon discovered how imperfect and ignorant I was； and coldly
withdrew。 He is now paying his addresses； I believe； to another
lady； and I must admit that she is a lovely girl； and every way
worthy of him。 I think she will return his regard； if she does not
already。 But whether she does or not cannot matter； for he is so
far my superior in every respect that he would never think of me
again。 In order to hide my foolish； hopeless passion； I received
attentions from another man that I detested； and who has since proved
himself an utter villain； but it so happened that my name became
so closely associated with this low fellow； that when my heart was
breaking for another reason； all thought that it was because I was
infatuated with a man I loathed。 Even Mr。 Van Berg thought so；
and I intended to compel him to respect me； or at least to think
better of me； even if I had to die to carry out my purpose。 I was
desperate and blind with disappointment and despair。 To a strong
man； I suppose； these things do not count so greatly； but I'm inclined
to think what with us poor women our heart…life is everything。 I
fairly shiver at the thought of the future。 How can I carry this
heavy burden； year after year？ Oh； how can I bear it？ How can I
bear it？〃 and her eyes became full of desperate trouble again； at
the prospect before her。
〃Well； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Eltinge in broken tones； 〃my heart goes
out to you in sympathy as if you were my own daughter； but old
James Eltinge can do but little towards curing your deep troubles。〃
〃I do not hope to be cured；〃 said Ida； despondently； 〃but I would
be very glad if I could think my life would not be a burden to
myself and others。〃
Mr。 Eltinge pondered a few moments； and then brightened up； as if
a pleasant thought had struck him。
〃What do you think of this pear…tree against which I'm leaning？〃
he asked。 〃You remember I said it owed me a good turn； and perhaps
I can get my best fruit from it to…day。〃
〃I think it is a pretty tree；〃 said Ida； wonderingly； 〃and now I
notice that there are some fine pears on it。〃
〃Yes； and they are about ripe。 Let us see if we can't reverse
the old story with which the Bible commences。 The man shall tempt
the woman this time； and this shall be a tree of the knowledge of
good； not of evil。 Poor child； you know enough about that already；〃
and the old gentleman climbed up on his chair； and with his cane
loosened a large yellow pear with a crimson blush on its sunny
side。
〃Take my hat and catch it；〃 he had said to Ida； and she did so。
〃Now； I've made you an accomplice already； and so you may as well
eat the pear while I tell you a bit of history concerning this
tree。 It may help me to suggest some very encouraging truths。〃
But Ida held her pear and looked wistfully at the speaker。 Her
heart was still too sore to enter into the half…playful manner by
which he sought to give a less gloomy cast to her thoughts。
〃Some years ago；〃 said Mr。 Eltinge； resuming his seat； 〃we had a
night of darkness and violent storm like that through which you；
poor child； have just passed。 The garden fence was blown down；
and some stray cattle got in and made sad havoc。 This pear…tree
was a little thing then； and when I came out in the morning it was
in a bad plight； I can tell you。 The wind had snapped off the top；
and it lay withering on the ground。 Worse than this； one of the
cattle had stepped on it； bruising it severely； and half breaking
it off near the root。 I don't know which of the young men you
have named this unruly beast typifiesboth of 'em； I'm inclined
to think。〃
Here Ida shook her head in protest against Van Berg being classed
with Sibley； and at the same time could not forbear the glimmer of
a smile at the old man's homely imagery。
〃Well； according to my creed；〃 continued Mr。 Eltinge； 〃'while there's
life there's hope；' so I lifte