The rector gave a number of notices from which I felt the church must be
one of the great forces of the city for work among the poor, yet, when I
glanced around, I could not see a poor person in the pews except myself
and two old ladies in rusty black, who had been seated near the door. I
was struck by the interest shown in the notices by my young lady of the
large hat, from whose shapely little head with its well-coiled brown
hair my eyes did not long stray.
"I have," he said, "in addition to the notable work already mentioned,
carried on, through my assistant in charge, the work of St. Andrew's
chapel with gratifying success. This work has reached, and I am glad to
be able to say, is reaching more than ever before, the great ignorant
class that swarms in our midst, and exhibits a tendency to unrest that
is most disturbing. This is the class which causes most of the
uneasiness felt in the minds of the thoughtful."
I observed that he did not mention the name of "the assistant in
charge," and my sympathy rather went out to the nameless priest, doing
his work without the reward of even being mentioned.
As to the sermon, I can only say that it was twenty minutes long, and
appeared aimed exclusively at the sins of Esau (whom I had always
esteemed a quite decent sort of fellow), rather than at those of the
doctor's congregation, whom he appeared to have a higher opinion of than
of the Patriarchs. I recall the text: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and all these things shall be added unto you." He made it very plain
that to be pious and prudent was the best way to secure wealth. He held
up a worldly motive and guaranteed a worldly reward. Such a sermon as
that would have eased the most uneasy conscience in Christendom.
When the congregation came out I dawdled in the aisle until my young
lady passed, when I feasted my eyes on her face and finely curved cheek,
straight nose, and soft eyes veiled under their long lashes. My two old
ladies in black were waiting in the end of a pew and, as I observed by
their smiles when she approached, waiting like myself to see her. I had
already recognized them as the old ladies of the bundles, whom I had
once helped on the street. How I envied them the smile and cordial
greeting they received in return! I made the observation then, which I
have often had confirmed since, that tenderness to the aged, like that
to the very young, is the mark of a gentle nature.
I heard them say, "We know who has done the work out at the Chapel," and
she replied, "Oh! no, you must not think that. My poor work has been
nothing. Your friend has done it all, and I think that the Doctor ought
to have said so," to which they assented warmly, and I did the same,
though I did not know their friend's name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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