THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 183 
grace of God—the only one entitled to be called 
Good, because he alone is ever doing matchless 
deeds of grace. “ We give but a few dollars, 
but he gave his only-begotten Son. We see 
the extreme poverty of our neighbors, and find 
ourselves more blest in the giving than they are 
in the receiving. We are disposed to say that 
we ‘ are rich, and increased with goods, and have 
need of nothing,’ and know not that we are 
‘ wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, 
and naked.’ Teach us to know our poverty, 
and where true relief can only be found.” 
The occasion was a solemn one, and the 
prayer was urged with all earnestness and unc¬ 
tion. At its conclusion nothing was said be¬ 
yond a hearty “ good-night ” as the parting 
grasp was given. 
The young friends walked home in silence, 
each pondering over his own thoughts, but we 
are not yet deep enough into their secrets to 
set forth their meditations, and must leave 
events to unravel the mystery. 
