Jack remarked:

"I'm crowded out, father. I'll find a place, somewhere."

"There isn't any," said the blacksmith. "Every place is full."

He shook his head until the points of his Sunday collar scratched him,
but off went Jack, and that was the last that was seen of him until
they were all at home again.

Mary Ogden had her reasons for not expecting to sing in the choir that
day, but she went when sent for. The gallery was what Jack called a
"coop," and would hold just eighteen persons, squeezed in. Usually it
was only half full, but on a great day, what was called the "old choir"
was sure to turn out. There were no girls nor boys in the "old choir."
There had been three seats yet to fill when Mary was sent for, but Miss
Glidden and Miss Roberts and her elder sister from Mertonville came in
just then. So, when Mary reached the gallery, Miss Glidden leaned
over, smiled, and said very benevolently:

"You will not be needed to-day, Mary Ogden. The choir is filled."

The organ began to play at that moment, somewhat as if it had lost its
temper. Mr. Simmons, the choir-leader (whenever he could get there),
flushed and seemed about to say something. He was the one who had sent
for Mary, and it was said that he had been heard to say that it would
be good to have "some music, outside of the organ." Before he could
speak, however, Mary was downstairs again. Seats were offered her in
several of the back pews, and she took one under the gallery. She
might as well have had a sounding-board behind her, arranged so as to
send her voice right at the pulpit. Perhaps her temper was a little
aroused, and she did not know how very full her voice was when she
began the first hymn. All were singing, and they could hear the organ
and the choir, but through, over, and above them all sounded the clear,
ringing notes of Mary Ogden's soprano. Elder Holloway, sitting in the
pulpit, put up a hand to one ear, as half-deaf men do, and sat up
straight, looking as if he was hearing some good news. He said
afterward that it helped him preach; but then Mary did not know it.
When all the services were over, she slipped out into the vestibule to
wait for the rest. She stood there when Miss Glidden came downstairs.
The portly lady was trying her best to smile and look sweet.

"Splendid sermon, Mary Ogden," said she. "I hope you'll profit by it.
I sha'n't ask you to take my class this afternoon. Elder Holloway's
going to inspect the