that you may need, and every convenience that science can afford."
Miss Church-Member wept tears of gratitude at this proffered kindness,
and began to feel that this dark intruder was a friend with a rough
exterior but a warm and congenial heart.
"It is quite evident that you have been grossly misrepresented to me,"
she faltered as her voice trembled with emotion. "I was told that you
are the embodiment of envy, malice, and hatred, and vigorously opposed
to everything religious."
Satan looked at her in well-counterfeited amazement. "How wrongly I
am judged by my enemies! How can I be opposed to all religion when I
attend church and prayer-meeting regularly, and sedulously listen to
the sermons and prayers while many sleep who claim to be better than
I? You will pardon me, Miss Church-Member," he continued, "but allow
me to bear the light burden you are carrying under your arm, and let
us hasten from this sickly atmosphere to the refreshing air beyond the
summit of the hill."
"You are very kind, indeed," she said. "Please carry these books
carefully, as I prize them very highly."
As they pushed their way up the hill, I looked at Blackana who, with
his eyes fixed upon me, sat as cold and motionless as a statue.
"Tell me," I asked, "why Satan has falsified so greatly to Miss
Church-Member."
Blackana, with a show of uneasiness, answered interrogatively: "Wherein
has he falsified?"
"Did he not just inform Miss Church-Member that there is no way of
reaching the King's Highway from the place where she had been standing?
He well knew that there is a way opened by the Prince of the House of
David. Why did he not tell her?"
Blackana again grinned horribly while my indignation waxed stronger.
Then came his pertinent reply: "My master is about his own business;
that is why he is so successful in his work. It is not his business
to point people away from his kingdom; his delight is rather in leading
them upon his own Highway."
"Oh! for the voice of a thousand trumpets, that I might reach the ear
of Miss Church-Member, and break unto her the words of truth and life.
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