i 82 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
for the delightful service. Miss Ella took her 
place at the parlor-organ, and, after running 
over some sweet chords as a prelude, tenderly- 
started off with “ Almost Persuadedand as 
the whole family joined with their well-trained 
and harmonized voices, the effect was deep and 
impressive. After this the eighth chapter of 
Second Corinthians was read with some com¬ 
ments, showing that the extreme poverty which 
calls forth our deepest sympathy and promptest 
relief is nothing compared with the spiritual 
poverty that involves the entire race of Adam. 
To relieve the poverty of our suffering neigh¬ 
bors costs us but the sacrifice of a small por¬ 
tion of our earthly goods, but to take us out 
of our miserable estate made large demands on 
both the grace and treasures of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. To those who accept the proffered 
goodness he makes a transfer of his infinite 
riches. Strange that any human being should 
ever hesitate for a moment in accepting so di¬ 
vine and dearly-bought a treasure ! 
In the prayer that followed it was fervently 
urged that the joy which had lately been expe¬ 
rienced in relieving extreme poverty might bring 
to all a clearer apprehension of the marvellous 
