The letter-writer’s laugh rang out merrily, but she faithfully added the postscript. “Now for the address,” she said. “Have you a stamp?” The man afterwards confided to a mate that the thought of going out of town seemed to have been “too much for the Basket Woman,” for he had caught her “giggling like anything.” CHAPTER XIX. A NEW MINISTER. A church and congregation in Granchester were without a minister, and had been for some time. If there were not many of them, there were many minds among them, so that it was not quite easy to find a pastor who met the wishes of them all. It was unfortunate. The congregation became smaller and smaller, the week-night service was so neglected that there seemed little use in keeping it on at all, until at length it dwindled into a prayer-meeting held by half-a-dozen men, whose one cry was, “Send us a man,” one good brother on one occasion solemnly adding, “and let him come clothed and in his right mind.” And at length he did. Every one was surprised that the Rev. George Collinson accepted the invitation, for there was no doubt that he was a very superior man. He preached one Sunday, and everybody was so delighted that they gave him a unanimous invitation that same evening to become their pastor. And he, without asking for time to consider, took them at their word and accepted at once. Mr. Collinson knew very well what he was doing. He was young and full of vigour, and desired earnestly the work of a minister. He enjoyed the idea of occupying a difficult post, and coveted anything rather than ease or inactivity. He foresaw the chances for work there were in Broad street, and he was ready and even eager for the fray. The church that had secured him was no longer to be considered unfortunate. He was a man with a purpose, and this purpose was to live and work almost entirely for the young. His few years of ministry had convinced him that this was the future work of the Church. He had entered the profession with his heart full of enthusiasm, and already he had been disappointed almost to despair. But the formation of this Society of Young Crusaders had reawakened his youthful interest, and now he meant to devote all his powers to the service of the young, and he began as he meant to go on. The adult population of Granchester had many preachers, the young should at least have one. So he told the men of Broad Street who had invited him, and they at once saw that he was a man of independent spirit, who formed his own plans, and executed them without consulting others. He accepted the salary that was offered him; but he had private means, and was, therefore, not entirely dependent for support upon the church. This fact, perhaps, at first contributed to his popularity, and it certainly made it impossible for capricious people to starve him out if they should ever desire to get rid of him, which he hoped they would not do.