ngry female women could, over a double spoonful of watery
squash; I fear he did not appreciate it though, for when a deep Amen
rolled down the hall, after the thanks were given, he meanly growled
out--well, a very peculiar word, that made my heart jump into my mouth.
In any other place, I should write out boldly that Cousin Dempster--but
in that out-door sanctuary--no, the secret of what he said shall go with
me to my grave.

LXXXIII.

LIONS AND LAMBS.

Sisters:--The tabernacle under that tin roof will hold, well packed, six
hundred anxious souls--each with a weak, human body attached. The seats
are all cushioned with the softest pine, and have luxurious board backs.
A stage rises grandly for the ministers of many churches who harmonize
and fraternize like lions and lambs, each shepherding his own flock and
drawing converts into his fold, wherever he can find a straggling sinner
on his knees. The dining-room all at once emptied itself into the
tabernacle; the ministers mounted the stage, and out in front came a man
whose first words woke you up like the blast of a war trumpet.

A stout, smart, almost grand-looking man, who looked over the crowd as
if he owned every man and woman in it, and meant to regenerate them in
flocks, or turn them over to what-you-may-call-him at once. His dark
face, broad forehead, and silver-gray hair looked strong, if not
handsome. His light eyes gleamed out from behind a pair of gold
spectacles, and when he got in earnest his heavy brows drew together and
left deep lines between them which made him look stronger yet.

"Who is that?" I whispered to Cousin D.

"Inskip," says he, "the greatest gun amongst them."

"Dear me!" says I.

There was no time to say more, for that great gun was pouring a hot
storm of eloquence into the crowd, and stirring it up as a north-easter
lashes the hemlocks on our mountains. Sisters, the scene was wonderfully
impressive. I felt the old revival spirit in all my bones. When he
stopped a minute for the crowd to say Amen, the word rattled out like a
discharge of guns on a training day.

By and by his discourse grew warmer and more startling. He just pitched
headforemost into the cause, and stirred up that great congregation like
a tornado. The Amens grew noisy, and were let off from lip to lip like
fire-crackers on a Fourth of July. Then some one sang out "Hallelujah!"
and another "Glory, Glory, Glory!" till the whole congregation broke
into a youn