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I rise up, strong and refreshed! Ah, my young friend,
Alfred Stevens, I trust thou didst not mean me harm in giving me
that poisonous liquor?"
"Far from it, sir, I rather thought to do you a great benefit."
"How couldst thou think to do me benefit by proffering such poison
to my lips? nay, wherefore dost thou thyself carry it with thee,
and why dost thou drink of it, as if it were something not hurtful
as well to the body as the soul? Take my counsel, I pray thee,
Alfred Stevens, and cast it behind thee for ever. Look not after
it when thou dost so, with an eye of regret lest thou forfeit
the merit of thy self-denial. If thou wouldst pursue the higher
vocation of the brethren, thou must seek for the needful strength
from a better and purer spirit. But what unhappy teacher could
have persuaded thee to an indulgence which the good men of all the
churches agree to regard as so deadly?"
"Nay, Mr. Cross--"
"John Cross, I pray thee; do I not call thee Alfred Stevens?--Mr.
is a speech of worldly fashion, and becomes not one who should put
the world and its fashions behind him.


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