"Yes," whispered the captain in reply, "I
know. I've seen the choir in Saint Peter's at Rome."
Only once did he appear greatly astonished. That was when the offering
was taken and a certain dignified magnate, whose fame as a king of
finance is world-wide, officiated as one of the collectors.
"Heavens and earth!" murmured Captain Elisha, staring wide-eyed at
the unmistakable features so often pictured and cartooned in the daily
papers; "Caroline--Caroline, am I seein' things or is that--is that--"
"That is Mr. ----," whispered his niece. "He is one of the vestrymen
here."
"My soul!" still gazing after the Emperor of Wall Street; "HIM passin'
the plate! Well," with a grim smile, "whoever picked him out for the job
has got judgment. If HE can't make a body shell out, nobody can."
He listened to the sermon, the text of which was from the Beatitudes,
with outward solemnity, but with a twinkle in his eye. After the
benediction, when Caroline asked how he enjoyed it, the cause of the
twinkle became apparent.
"Fine!" he declared, with enthusiasm. "He's a smart preacher, ain't he!
And he knew his congregation. You might not guess they was meek perhaps,
but they certainly did look as if they'd inherited the earth."
He drew a breath of relief as the trio emerged into the open air.
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