34 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
only trying to tease you, for he has one of the 
best minds in his class, and is of unimpeachable 
habits.” 
“ I most sincerely pity the rest then, brother,” 
was the answer, “ for their stock of knowledge 
would be a meagre outfit for a ‘cheap John.’ 
If he was trying to tease me, he was none the 
less rude to talk so lightly of sacred things; 
and if serious, as I am persuaded he was, he 
was very stupid or wickedly blind.—Why, 
father, he said he was not sure whether he 
had any soul or not, or that there is a God 
or a hereafter. Is not that perfectly awful ?” 
“ It is certainly,” replied Mr. Dean, “ no very 
commendable state of mind to be in; but let 
us hope that Mr. Davidson is not quite so be¬ 
clouded as you have inferred. It is not uncom¬ 
mon for young and active minds while in a state 
of formation to pass through such experiences 
as are now perplexing this young man; and let 
me say that it is a work worthy of our best ef¬ 
forts to try to remove such baleful notions from 
a beclouded mind. Perhaps in this good work 
not only your sister, but all of us, may take an 
important share. P'or one, I feel so great an in¬ 
terest, that I shall take special pains to so shape 
