Christian pastor
left the court-room with the admonition ringing in their ears, that
if they were ever actually found guilty _of preaching the Gospel_
they should be duly punished.

A lone prisoner remained in the dock. The days of the years of
his pilgrimage were not few, and quite probably, except in a
figurative sense, not evil. He was of sturdy build, quiet manners,
and his countenance was indicative of great sincerity. In a voice
extremely deferential he stated that he had once ministered to a
dying Confederate, and it was impossible for him to take the required
oath that he had never expressed any sympathy for any person who
had ever been engaged in the Rebellion.

"Of what church are you a minister?" interrupted the judge.

"The Baptist Church," was the answer.

"The Baptist Church," instantly repeated the judge, and looking
very earnestly at the accused, he asked;

"Do you preach the doctrines of the Baptist Church?"

An affirmative answer having been given, His Honor said:

"Upon his own confession he is guilty, Mr. Prosecutor: the
Court holds the Baptist _to be the true church,_ and this defendant
has been guilty of preaching the Gospel without first taking the
oath to support the Constitution of the State of Missouri. He will
have to be punished."

Addressing the prisoner, he said: "You will have to be punished, sir;
this Court can permit no excuse or evasion."

The graveyard stillness that now fell upon the little assemblage
was at length broken by His Honor reading aloud the prescribed
punishment for preaching the Gospel without first having taken the
required oath.

"Yes, a fine of five hundred dollars or six months in the common
jail, _or both._ A clear case, Mr. Prosecutor, this prisoner must
be made an example of; hand me the docket, Mr. Clerk. Yes, the
full penalty."

Then, before making the fatal entry, suddenly turning to the
prisoner, he demanded:

"How long have you been preaching the Gospel?"

In hardly audible accents, the answer tremblingly given was,

"I have been trying to preach the Gospel ----"

"Only _trying_ to preach the Gospel, only _trying_ to preach the
Gospel!" exclaimed the judge. "There is no law, Mr. Prosecutor,
against merely _trying_ to preach the Gospel. You can go, sir;
but if this Court ever hears that you have succeeded in actually
_preaching_ the Gospel, you will be punished, sir!"

XXVIII
AMONG THE ACTORS

THE GIVING OF PLEASURE THE AC