94 That John Mason. [February, 



conviction to all but a few, who carped and quibbled at every tiling be 

 said, and in a very churlisb manner. Several of those quibblers 1 hap- 

 pened to know. He represented one set of views, and they another. He 

 bad regard to the public good ; theirs looked, it was plain, to sectional 

 and private interests. 



• How do you like our little town ? ' said the individual to me, after 

 the meeting had adjourned, and little knots of individuals were gath- 

 ered here and there for conversation. 



' A'eiy well,' I replied. 



< And the people ? ' he added. 



' The people,' I added, ' appeared to be about a fair sample of what 

 are found everywhere — gond and bad mixed up together.' 



'Yes. Ihat, 1 suppose, is a good general estimate.', 



' Of course," 1 added, 'we find in all communities certain individuals 

 who stand more prominent than the rest — distinguished for good or 

 evil. This appears to be the case here as well as elsewhere.' 



' You have already discovered, then, that even in Moorfield there are 

 some bad men ? ' 



' Oh, yes ! there's John Mason, for instance.' 



The man looked a little surprised, but remarked, without any change 

 of tone: 



' So you have heard of him, have you ? ' 



'Oh, yes.' 



' As a very bad man ? ' 



' Of course. You know him, I suppose ? ' 



* Y^es, very well. Have you ever met him ? ' 



* No, and never wish to.' 



' Y'ou've seen him, I suppose ? ' 



* Never. Is hs here ? ' 



The man glanced around the room and said, ' I don't see him.' 

 ' He was here, I suppose ? ' 



* Oh, yes ; and addressed the meeting several times.' 



* In one of those sneering, ill-tempered answers to your remarks, no 

 doubt.' 



The man slightly bowed his head, as if acknowledging a compliment. 



* It's a pity that such men as this John IMason often have wealth and 

 shrewdness of mind, to give them power in the community,' said I. 



' Perhaps,' said my auditor, ' your prejudices against this man are too. 

 strong. He's not perfect, I know ; but even the devil is often painted 

 blacker than he is. If you knew him, I rather think you would esti- 

 mate him differently.' 



