CHAPTER XI SUNDAY

esenseoftheword." "Thenyouare!"andBenlookedasifheractshadbeenabetterdefinitionthanherwords. "Itrytobe,butIveryoftenfailsoeverySundayImakenewresolutions,andworkhardtokeepthemthroughtheweek.Thatisagreathelp,asyouwillfindwhenyoubegintotryit." "DoyouthinkifIsaidinmeetin','Iwon'teverswearanymore,'thatIwouldn'tdoitagain?"askedBen,soberlyforthatwashisbesettingsinjustnow. "I'mafraidwecan'tgetridofourfaultsquitesoeasilyIwishwecould:butIdobelievethatifyoukeepsayingthat,andtryingtostop,youwillcurethehabitsoonerthanyouthink." "Ineverdidswearverybad,andIdidn'tmindmuchtillIcameherebutBabandBettylookedsoscaredwhenIsaid'damn,'andMrs.Mossscoldedmeso,Itriedtoleaveoff.It'sdreadfulhard,though,whenIgetmad.'Hangit!'don'tseemhalfsogoodifIwanttoletoffsteam." "Thornyusedto'confound!'everything,soIproposedthatheshouldwhistleinsteadandnowhesometimespipesupsosuddenlyandshrillythatitmakesmejump.Howwouldthatdo,insteadofswearing?"proposedMissCelia,nottheleastsurprisedatthehabitofprofanity,whichtheboycouldhardlyhelplearningamonghisformerassociates. Benlaughed,andpromisedtotryit,feelingamischievoussatisfactionattheprospectofout-whistlingMasterThorny,asheknewheshouldfortheobjectionablewordsrosetohislipsadozentimesaday. TheBenwasringingastheydroveintotownand,bythetimeLitawascomfortablysettledinhershed,peoplewerecomingupfromallquarterstoclusteraroundthestepsoftheoldmeeting-houselikebeesaboutahive.Accustomedtoatent,wherepeoplekepttheirhatson,Benforgotallabouthis,andwasgoingdowntheaislecovered,whenagentlehandtookitoff,andMissCeliawhispered,asshegaveittohim,— "Thisisaholyplacerememberthat,anduncoveratthedoor." Muchabashed,Benfollowedtothepew,wheretheSquireandhiswifesoonjoinedthem. "Gladtoseehimhere,"saidtheoldgentlemanwithanapprovingnod,asherecognizedtheboyandrememberedhisloss. "Hopehewon'tnestleroundinmeeting-time,"whisperedMrs.Allen,composingherselfinthecornerwithmuchrustlingofblacksilk. "I'lltakecarethathedoesn'tdisturbyou,"answeredMissCelia,pushingastoolundertheshortlegs,anddrawingapalm-leaffanwithinreach. Bengaveaninwardsighattheprospectbeforehimforanhour'scaptivitytoanactiveladishardtobear,andhereallydidwanttobehavewell.Sohefoldedhisarmsandsatlikeastatue,withnothingmovingbuthiseyes.Theyrolledtoandfro,upanddown,fromthehighredpulpittothewornhymnbooksintherack,recognizingtwolittlefacesunderblue-ribbonedhatsinadistantpew,andfindingitimpossibletorestrainamomentarytwinkleinreturnforthesolemnwinkBillyBartonbestoweduponhimacrosstheaisle.TenminutesofthisdecorousdemeanormadeitabsolutelynecessaryforhimtostirsoheunfoldedhisarmsandcrossedhislegsascautiouslyasamousemovesinthepresenceofacatforMrs.Allen'seyewasonhim,andheknewbyexperiencethatitwasaverysharpone. Themusicwhichpresentlybeganwasagreatrelieftohim,forundercoverofithecouldwaghisfootandnooneheardthecreakthereofandwhentheystooduptosing,hewassosurethatalltheboyswerelookingathim,hewasgladtositdownagain.ThegoodoldministerreadthesixteenthchapterofSamuel,andthenproceededtopreachalongandsomewhatdullsermon.Benlistenedwithallhisears,forhewasinterestedintheyoungshepherd,"ruddyandofabeautifulcountenance,"whowaschosentobeSaul'sarmor-bearer.Hewantedtohearmoreabouthim,andhowhegoton,andwhethertheevilspiritstroubledSaulagainafterDavidhadharpedthemout.ButnothingmorecameandtheoldgentlemandronedonaboutotherthingstillpoorBenfeltthathemusteithergotosleepliketheSquire,ortipthestooloverbyaccident,since"nestling"wasforbidden,andreliefofsomesorthemusthave. Mrs.Allengavehimapeppermint,andhedutifullyateit,thoughitwassohotitmadehiseyeswater.Thenshefannedhim,tohisgreatannoyance,foritblewhishairaboutandtheprideofhislifewastohavehisheadassmoothandshinyasblacksatin.AnirrepressiblesighofwearinessattractedMissCelia'sattentionatlastfor,thoughsheseemedtobelisteningdevoutly,herthoughtshadflownoverthesea,withtenderprayersforonewhomshelovedevenmorethanDaviddidhisJonathan.Sheguessedthetroubleinaminute,andhadprovidedforit,knowingbyexperiencethatfewsmallboyscankeepquietthroughsermon-time.Findingacertainplaceinthelittlebookshehadbrought,sheputitintohishands,withthewhisper,"Readifyouaretired." Benclutchedthebookandgladlyobeyed,thoughthetitle,"ScriptureNarratives,"didnotlookveryinviting.Thenhiseyefellonthepictureofaslenderyouthcuttingalargeman'sheadoff,whilemanypeoplestoodlookingon. "Jack,thegiant-killer,"thoughtBen,andturnedthepagetoseethewords"DavidandGoliath",whichwasenoughtosethimtoreadingthestorywithgreatinterestforherewastheshepherdboyturnedintoahero.Nomorefidgetsnowthesermonwasnolongerheard,thefanflappedunfelt,andBillyBarton'sspiritedsketchesinthehymnbookwerevainlyheldupforadmiration.BenwasquiteabsorbedinthestirringhistoryofKingDavid,toldinawaythatfitteditforchildren'sreading,andillustratedwithfinepictureswhichcharmedtheboy'seye. Sermonandstoryendedatthesametimeand,whilehelistenedtotheprayer,BenfeltasifheunderstoodnowwhatMissCeliameantbysayingthatwordshelpedwhentheywerewellchosenandsincere.Severalpetitionsseemedasifespeciallyintendedforhimandherepeatedthemtohimselfthathemightrememberthem,theysoundedsosweetandcomfortableheardforthefirsttimejustwhenhemostneededcomfort.MissCeliasawanewexpressionintheboy'sfaceassheglanceddownathim,andheardalittlehummingathersidewhenallstooduptosingthecheerfulhymnwithwhichtheyweredismissed. "Howdoyoulikechurch?"askedtheyounglady,astheydroveaway. "First-rate!"answeredBen,heartily. "Especiallythesermon?" Benlaughed,andsaid,wit