ez means. A funeral, seems to me, ought to be a quiet, soothin'
sort of a thing, and there ain't nothin' soothin' 'bout Come-Outer'
preachin'. He'll beller and rave 'round, I'm 'fraid, and stir up poor
Elsie so she won't never git over it."

"I know it," agreed Captain Eri. "That's what I've been afraid of. And
yit," he added, "I should feel we was doin' somethin' jest opposite from
what John would like, if we had anybody else."

"Couldn't you see Mr. Perley beforehand," suggested Mrs. Snow, "and tell
him jest the kind of sermon he must preach. Tell him it must be quiet
and comfortin' and--"

"And short." Captain Eri finished the sentence for her. "I guess that's
the way we'll have to settle it. I'll make him understand one thing,
though--he mustn't drag in rum sellin' and all the rest of it by the
heels. If he does I'll--I don't know what I'll do to him."

The interview with the Reverend Perley that followed this conversation
must have been effective, for the sermon was surprisingly brief and as
surprisingly calm. In fact, so rational was it that a few of the more
extreme among the preacher's following were a bit disappointed and
inquired anxiously as to their leader's health, after the ceremony was
over.

The procession of carryalls and buggies followed the hearse to the
cemetery among the pines, and, as the mourners stood about the grave,
the winter wind sang through the evergreen branches a song so like the
roar of the surf that it seemed like a dirge of the sea for the mariner
who would sail no more. As they were clearing away the supper dishes
that night Captain Eri said to Mrs. Snow, "Well, John's gone. I wonder
if he's happier now than he has been for the last ten years or so."

"I think he is," was the answer.

"Well, so do I, but if he hadn't been a 'Come Outer' I don't s'pose
Brother Perley and his crowd would have figgered that he had much show.
Seems sometimes as if folks like that--reel good-hearted folks, too,
that wouldn't hurt a fly--git solid comfort out of the feelin' that
everybody that don't agree with 'em is bound to everlastin' torment. I
don't know but it's wicked to say it, but honest, it seems as if them
kind would 'bout as soon give up the hopes of Heaven for themselves as
they would the satisfaction of knowin' 'twas t'other place for the other
feller."

To which remark the somewhat shocked housekeeper made no reply.

The following day Elsie went back to her school. Captain Eri walke