The Reign of Law

ilding on it a schoolhouse also, stood some miles distant across the country. The vast estate of the pioneer had been cut to pieces for his many sons. With the next generation the law

of the other boys in the neighborhood had received his simple education in that school; and he had al

Protestant believers with their parti-colored guides had for over fifty years found the place a very convenien

l denominations in the neighborhood, eager to hear the new plea, the new pleader. David's father and mother, intense sectarians and dully pious souls, sat among them. He himself, on a rearmost bench, was wedged fast between t

recious accumulations of that preceding time had been scattered; books lost, apparatus ruined, the furniture of lecture rooms destroyed, one college building burned, another seized and held as a hospital by the federal government; and he concluded with painting for them a vision of the real university which was now to arise at last, oldest, best passion of the people, measure of the height and breadth of the better times: knowing no North, no South, no latitude, creed, bias, or political end. In speaking of i

preparation of young men for the Christian ministry, that they might go into all the world and preach the Gospel. One truth he bade them bear in mind: that this training was to be given without sectarian theology; that his brethren themselves represented a revolution among b

f the Bible especially, he asked, then,

in low, confidential tones certain subjects discussed less frankly with their guests. These related to the sermon of the morning, to the university, to what boys in the neighborhood would probably be ent

his hand, his eyes on the g

of!" he muttered. "It's of no use; he wouldn

a pause in which she seemed to be surveying the boy's wh

r, striking his knee with clenched fi

ne, having it out with himself, perhaps shrinking, most of all, from this first exposure to his parents. Such an

stood before them, pallid a

the

he voice, but what they had never

know, and I don't expect to go at once. But I shall begin my preparations, and as soon as it

ountenances an incredible change of expression, he nat

me comes; it would be useless. Try to learn while I am getting ready t

d out of the yard gate toward th

mother, unmindful of what she had just said, began to recall little incidents of the lad's life to show that this was what he was always meant to be. She loosened from her throat the breast-pin containing the hair of the three heads braided together, and drew her husband's attention to it with a smile. He, too, disregarding his disparagement of the few minutes previous, now began to admit with warmth how good a m

always needed an explanation. But no wonder; he was to be a minister. An

inking at the candle-light, his father began to talk to him as he had never believed po

got away as soon as he could into the sacred joy of the night Ah, those thrilling hours when the young disciple, having f