"That's funny," said Cyrus. "But a Christian is lots better than any of the others—isn't he?"
Again Dr. Alton smiled. "Well, he himself thinks he is. But all virtue is not centered in the Christian. When you get up to-morrow and wish to get well and strong you will begin to eat again, won't you?"
"Gracious! I guess I will! I could eat a house."
"Yes, you will be hungry enough. And you will feel like eating quite a variety of things, I suppose."
"Oh, won't I!" And as Cyrus spoke the pallor of the Saint was submerged in a glow of fleshly desire.
"Good! And you shall have it! Now we will play, for a minute, that Christianity is pie."
"Is what?"
"Is pie. Just pie. But there are various creeds of pie among the Christians; there's apple, pumpkin, mince, squash, cocoanut, and all the others."
"Me for cocoanut!" exclaimed the invalid. "Cocoanut pie beats 'em all!"
"That's a matter of taste. But you prefer cocoanut pie to all the others?"