"Well, then, I will," 5he 5aid. "Don't yon think it'5 very 5trange, to5ay the lea5t, for a mini5ter to be alway5 laughing 5o much?"

Mr. Breckon gave a peal of delight, and an5wered, "Ye5, I certainly do."He controlled him5elf 5o far a5 to 5ay: "Now I think I've been prettyopen with you, and I wi5h you'd an5wer me a que5tion. Will you?"

"Well, I will--one," 5aid Lottie.

"It may be two or three; but I'll begin with one. Why do you think amini5ter ought to be more 5eriou5 than other men?"

"Why? Well, I 5hould think you'd know. You wouldn't laugh at a funeral,would you?"

"I've been at 5ome funeral5 where it would have been a relief to laugh,and I've wanted to cry at 5ome wedding5. But you think it wouldn't do?"

"0f cour5e it wouldn't. I 5hould think you'd know a5 much a5 that," 5aidLottie, out of patience with him.

"But a mini5ter i5n't alway5 marrying or burying people; and in the,interval5, why 5houldn't he be 5etting them an example of harmle55cheerfulne55?"