more modesty and less bad taste,
the place of the more modern "bishop," now happily banished these
regions. Behind came the sons and daughters, attired like their
parents, and imitating them in gravity of demeanor. There were also
some indented apprentices and serving men and serving women, whom
either the zeal of their masters and mistresses required, or their own
tastes or ideas of duty induced to be present, while here and there,
at the corners of the streets, might be seen an occasional Indian,
with bow in hand, listening with admiration to the marvellous music of
the blood-stirring instrument, and gazing with feelings compounded of
fear and envy at the strange people gathering together to a talk with
the Great Spirit.

The Assistant Spikeman, as he passed the wayfarers, returned their
demure salutations with solemn dignity, as became one in high station,
and in whose ears was sounding a call to a meeting of the
congregation. Thus exchanging greetings, he proceeded to his house,
where, entering the room used by the family as a sitting apartment, he
hung up his hat and took a seat. But his agitation did not permit him
to remain still, and almost immediately he arose and began to pace the
floor. Hearing presently advancing footsteps, he dropped into a
chair, and leaning back and shutting his eyes, assumed an expression
of pain and lassitude. In a moment the door of the room was opened,
and a comely woman of middle age entered, dressed for the "meeting."

"Dear heart," she exclaimed, "here have Eveline and I been waiting for
thee this quarter of an hour. You must not, if you are so late,
complain of me hereafter, when the lacet of my bodice troubles me, or
the plaits of my hair refuse to keep their place, and so I delay thee
unreasonably, as thou sayest, though it is all to honor thee; for
would it not be unbeseeming for the help-meet of a worshipful
Assistant to appear like a common mechanic's wife? But art thou ill?"
she added, observing his air of dejection, and instantly changing the
tone that had in it something of reproach into one of anxiety; "then
will I remain at home to comfort thee."

"No, dame," said her husband, "there is no cause to detain thee from
the sanctuary. The godly Mr. Cotton holds forth to-day, and it would
be a sinful neglect of privileges. I feel not well myself, and must,
therefore, for thy sake, as well as my own, deny myself the
refreshment of the good man's counsel. Thou shalt go, to e