,andprinciplesenoughtobuildachurchwithnorwasanacquaintancewithliteraturewanting.Theyallreadthedailypapers,andMr.andMrs.Jackson,inaddition,readtheChurchTimes.MaryevenknewbyheartwholechunksofSirLewisMorris,andMr.DrylandrecitedTennysonatpennyreadings.Butwheninspirationiswanting,arhymingdictionary,forwhichthecuratesenttoLondon,willnothelptoanygreatextentandfinallytheunanimousdecisionwasreachedtogivesomewell-knownpoemappositetothecircumstance.Itshowsinwhatcharmingunityofspiritthesesimple,God-fearingpeoplelived,andhowfinewastheirsenseofliteraryexcellence,thatwithouthesitationtheyvotedinchorusfor"Casabianca."
Theheadboysteppedforward—hehadbeencarefullytrainedbyMr.Dryland—andwithappropriategesturesrecitedtheimmortalversesofFeliciaHemans:
"Theboystoodontheburningdeck,
Whenceallbut'e'adfled
Theflamethatlitthebattle'swreck,
Shoneround'imo'erthedead."
Whenhefinished,amidthediscreetapplauseofthelittlepartybeneaththearchway,Mr.Drylandagainadvanced.
"PollyGame,thetopgirloftheParishSchool,willnowpresentMissClibbornwithabouquet.Stepforward,PollyGame."
Thiswasasurprisearrangedbythecurate,andhewatchedwithpleasureMary'slookofdelightedastonishment.
PollyGamesteppedforward,andmadealittlespeechintheingenuouswordswhichMr.Drylandhadthoughtnaturaltohercharacterandstation.
"Please,MissClibborn,we,thegirlsofLittlePrimpton,wishtopresentyouwiththisbouquetasaslighttokenofouresteem.Wewishyoualonglifeanda'appymarriagewiththechoiceofyour'eart."
Shethenhandedaverystiffbunchofflowers,surroundedwithfrilledpaperliketheknuckleofalegofmutton.
"Wewillnowsinghymnnumberonehundredandthirty-seven,"saidMr.Dryland.
Theversesweregivenvigorously,whileMrs.Clibborn,withatendersmile,murmuredtoMrs.Parsonsthatitwasbeautifultoseesuchanicespi