THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
331 
When Doctor Dean closed his remarks there 
was quite an interval of silence, as though there 
was a reluctance to break the spell, but finally 
Davidson said : 
“ Doctor, you will believe me when I say 
that we have no language in which adequately 
to thank you for the deep interest which you 
have taken in our welfare and the exceedingly 
interesting lessons which you have so kindly 
given us. It is to our shame that we must 
confess that when we first formed your acquaint¬ 
ance we had been led into gross errors as re¬ 
gards both the ends of knowledge and the pur¬ 
poses of life. Study was a burden and life an 
aimless thing. Our thoughts had been how 
soonest to escape the one, and foolishly to 
squander the other. Although we are not pre¬ 
pared to express any positive acceptance of re¬ 
ligion as an experimental reality, yet it may be 
pleasing to you to know that your instructions 
have convinced us that its great principles are 
the only true inspirations to a noble life; and 
in taking our leave of you and your most ex¬ 
cellent family it is no mere formal utterance 
when we most earnestly solicit an interest in 
your daily supplications, that we may be 
