"Why, to be sure, Sir, you now put a question which never struck me before." "And do you think that a person of affluence and respectability sustains any loss of reputation by visiting the poor and afflicted?" "O, no, I have often thought of doing it myself; but really, Sir, I don't know what I could say to them. I suppose it would be necessary to descend." "Yes, Madam; the Lord of life and glory descended, when he assumed a human form to accomplish our redemption; but I rather fear, from the general strain of your remarks, that you have no accurate conception of the design of his mission, or of his death." "O dear, Sir, I wonder at your remark. He came to teach us to be religious." "And, Madam, the first lesson he has taught us is to this effect: 'Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" "Do you know, Sir, I never could understand the meaning of that language; and I have asked several of my friends, but they can't tell me; and one evening when I met the Rev. Mr. Cole at a card party, I proposed the question to him, but he was so much engaged that he could not attend to it." "But you perceive, that unless we are born again, '_we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven_.' I can tell you who can explain it to you." "Who, Sir?" "The Rev. Mr. Ingleby." "O dear, you alarm me. Do you think I could ever go and ask him?" "Would you then rather live and die ignorant of the meaning of the subject, than go and ask him to explain it to you?" "Why, Sir, if I were to be seen speaking to him, my friends would cut me, and I should never be able to appear at any of our social parties." "But, Madam, it is a serious thing to die without possessing that which Jesus Christ says is absolutely necessary to fit us for heaven." "But, Sir, I am not going to die yet." "I hope not, Madam, but you must die, and must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and then do you think that a recollection of your card parties will afford you any pleasure?" "But I hope to prepare for death." "Can you, Madam, prepare too soon, when you do not know but you may die suddenly?" "O dear, Sir, the subject begins to depress me, and I must decline pursuing it any farther, if you please." "Read, Madam, before you retire to rest this evening, the third chapter of the gospel of John; ponder over what you read, it may do you some spiritual good." SABBATH EVENING AT FAIRMOUNT.