Six weeks later found Joyce well established in her comfortable little home, and spending her mornings teaching in a summer Bible School connected with the church which she found that first Sunday evening of her stay in Silverdale.
It all came about in this way:
Christian Endeavor was in session when she entered the church and an enthusiastic set of young people were conducting it. The pastor sat in front near the leader in pleasant accord with all that went on. He seemed to be an intimate friend of every boy and girl present. Joyce looked on wistfully. This was like home. Doctor Ballantine had been like that with all the young people of the town.
At the close of the meeting he made several announcements. One which interested Joyce was that there was need of another teacher in the Bible School to take the place of Miss Brown, who had recently lost her health and been obliged to go away for a year. He told them to remember that it meant giving every morning for five days in the week for six weeks to actual teaching and some time to preparing for teaching; that there was a remuneration of ten dollars a week for the work; but that no one need apply who was not a Christian, or did not intend to be present at every session, or who had not had some experience and preparation for teaching.
The pastor, by some magic, was at the door as soon as the meeting was over, and took her hand cordially in welcome. She looked into his grave, pleasant face and impulsively spoke the wish that had been in her heart since she had heard the announcement.
“I’m so interested in your Bible School! I wish I could teach in it, but I don’t suppose you’d care to try a stranger, would you?”
The minute she had spoken the color flooded her face, for she felt as if she had been presumptuous, but the minister’s eyes lighted and he smiled in a kindly way.
“Are you a Christian?” he asked, his pleasant eyes searching her face.
“Oh, yes,” said Joyce, with a proud ring to her voice as if he had asked her if she were the daughter of some great man.
“Have you ever taught in public school?”