THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. II 7 
lets • on its borders are not so gloomy and un¬ 
attractive, after all, if looked at from a proper 
point of view and with the mist of prejudice 
no longer before the eyes.” 
“ I much fear, brother,” interposed the viva¬ 
cious Minnie, “ that Mr. Davidson has been so 
greatly exercised over the spoiled gloss of his 
clothes, that he fails to appreciate the brightness 
of our native landscape, and that he will go 
away denouncing it as the * Slough of Despond ’ 
in spite of all our laudations; but I give him 
fair warning that I shall repay any unfavorable 
comments on its natural attractions by a plain 
statement of the cause of the averment.” 
“A truce, then. Miss Minnie,” said the young 
man pleasantly, “ and I will accept your terms 
of amnesty; so, no slander spoken, no secrets 
revealed.” 
“ That, of course,” interposed Rudolph, “ in¬ 
cludes all parties in the transaction, and so I 
may consider myself as safe under the terms 
of the treaty.” 
Well,” was the reply, “ as we are on a mis¬ 
sion of m*ercy to-day, I suppose you will have 
to receive favor under the conditions named; 
but let it be distinctly understood that all future 
