Nor was it simply the First Church people that gathered there that morning. In every church there is a part of the congregation that has itching ears. These remembered the intimate relation the First Church pastor had held with the arrested lad; and it happened, therefore, that a goodly number from every church in the town deserted their usual church homes that morning, and ran off to the First Church, just to hear what its pastor would have to say respecting this most remarkable circumstance. So, when Mr. Carleton entered his pulpit, he found himself face to face with a congregation that filled the large house to its utmost capacity; nor could he account for it, since he, poor man! had not even heard of Ray's arrest. The services moved on in their regular order without the slightest circumstance to gratify the curiosity of the expectant throng until Mr. Carleton announced his text; then each one glanced at his nearest neighbor significantly, and settled himself as comfortably in his seat as possible to hear what he felt sure would follow. Poor Mr. Carleton saw their glances, and for the life of him could not account for them. Was his necktie awry? Had he forgotten his cuffs? Or, had he quoted his text wrongly? He glanced quickly at his wrists--no; his cuffs were on. He raised his hand quickly to his collar--no; his tie was in its place. It must be then he had misquoted his text. So, louder and more distinctly, he repeated it: "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." Again those meaning glances and the same settling back in the pews with an expectant air. This repetition of the text promised well, and the dullest ear in that house was now alert. Mr. Carleton proceeded with his sermon, but the unusual attitude of his congregation had in a measure disconcerted him, and he hardly spoke with his accustomed freedom; while a tremulousness, of which he was absolutely unconscious, was detected in his tones by his attentive hearers. They all felt sure, then, as he stated Judas' sin to be that of avarice, and went on to show how through his slight pilferings from the bag he bore the sin had grown upon him until he was even ready to betray his Lord for his own gain, that he had in mind the arrested boy, and that he, with them, was now ready to pronounce him guilty. "An able discourse, and so appropriate to the occasion!" "How delicately, and yet how pointedly, he alluded to that boy's sin!" and similar comments were heard on all sides, as the vast congregation left the house. But Mr. Carleton, ignorant of the fact that he had been encouraging his people to commit that most despicable of sins, the speaking evil of one another, came down from the desk, and, meeting Mr. Bacon, shook hands with him, remarking, pleasantly: "We had a large congregation to-day, Brother Bacon." "Yes; and judging by your sermon, pastor, you evidently know the cause of it."