St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-08
managed to get all her ideas about this

Arnold Toynbee and east end London
and institutional church work in Amer
lea than good many professional slum
workers She has been spending nearly
all summer in getting information. "
Rollin was beginning to feel more at
ease as they talked over this coming
work for humanity 1t was safe COM
mon ground.
"What have you been doing all sum-
mer2 have not seen much Of you,
Rachel suddenly asked, and then her
face warmed with its quick flush of
tropical color. as if she might have i'm
piled too much interest in Rollin or too
much regret at not seeing him oftener.
II have been busy" replied Rollin
briefly
''Tell me something about it, per-
sisted Rachel ''You say so little Have
l right to ask2'
She put the question very frankly,
turning toward Rollin in real interest.
eyes, certainly, he replied, with a
grateful smile. II am not so certain
that | can tell you much have been
trying to find some way to reach the
men | once knew and win them into
more useful lives. .
He stopped suddenly, as if he were
almost afraid to go on. Rachel did not
venture to suggest anything.
81 have been member of the same
company to which you and Virginia be-
long," continued Rollin, beginning
again. 81 have made the pledge to do
as | believe Jesus would do, and it is
in trying to answer this question that
| have been doing my work. "
"That is what do not understand
Virginia told me about the other. 1t
seems wonderful to think that you are
trying to keep that pledge with us. But
what can you do with the clubmen ?"
"You have asked me a direct ques-
ton, and | shall have to answer it
now," replied Rollin, smiling again.
"You see, | asked myself after that
night at the tent, you remember'-he
spoke hurriedly, and his voice trembled
little-"what purpose l could now
have in my life to redeem it, to satisfy
my thought of Christian discipleship,
and the more thought of it the more
was driven to place where / knew l
must take up this cross Did you ever
think that of all the neglected beings
in our social system none are quite so
completely left alone as the fast young
men who fill the clubs and waste their
time and money as l used to9 The
churches look after the poor, miserable
creatures like those in the Rectangle,
they make some effort to reach the
workingmen they have large con-
stituency among the average salary
earning people, they send money and
missionaries to the foreign heather, but
the fashionable, dissipated young men
around town, the clubmen, are left out
of all plans for reaching and Christian
izing, and yet no class of people needs
it more. l said to myself; 4 know these
men, their good and bad qualities.
have been one of them. am not fitted
to reach the Rectangle people. | do moi
know how. But think l could possibly
reach some Of these young men ant
boys who have money and time tt
spend So that is what | have beer
trying to do When l asked, as yor
did, What would Jesus dol? that wa
my answer 1t has been also m.
cross. p"
Rollin' voice was so low on the las
sentence that Rachel had difficulty il
hearing him above the noise aroun,
them, but she knew what he had said
She wanted to ask what his method
were, but she did not know just how t
ask him. Her interest in his plans wa
larger than mere curiosity. Rollin Pag
was so different now from the fashion
able young man who had asked her t
be his wife that she\ could not hel
thinking of him and talking with hir
as if he were entirely new acquaint
ance.
They had turned off the avenue an
were going up the street to Rachel
home 1t was the same street whe1
Rollin had asked Rachel why she coul
not love him. They were both stricke
by sudden shyness as they went OIL
Rachel had not forgotten that day, an
Rollin could not forget it. She final
broke long silence by asking him whs
she had not found words for before.
"In your work for the clubmen, wit
your old acquaintance, what sort {
reception do they give your How c
you approach them9 What do the
say2"
Rollin was silent when Rachel spok
He answered after noment:
"Oh, it depends on the mani A GOO
many of them think | am o crank.
have kept my membership up and a
in good stnnding in that way. try
be wise aid not provoke any unnece
,, sary criticism, but you would be SUI
prised to know how many of the me
, have responded to my appeal. | cou
hardly make you believe that only
few nights ago dozen men BEGAN
honestly and earnestly engaged in
conversation over religious question
have had the great joy of seeing son
of the mon give up bad habits and b
gin new life What would Jesus do
keep asking it. The answer com
slowly, for | am feeling my way alon
One thing | have found out-the m,
are not fighting shy of me. THU
that is a good sign Another thing
: have actually interested some of the
3 in the Rectangle work, and when it
t started up they will give something
bolD ,nolya II mora toworf,,l oDd