They didn't
always chord, but there, they chorded some!--we're most there
now, Abby, don't fret! Cephas won't ring the last bell till he
knows his own folks is crossin' the Common!"
Those were days of conscientious church-going and every pew in
the house was crowded. The pulpit was built on pillars that
raised it six feet higher than the floor; the top was cushioned
and covered with red velvet surmounted by a huge gilt-edged
Bible. There was a window in the tower through which Cephas Cole
could look into the church, and while tolling the bell could keep
watch for the minister. Always exactly on time, he would come in,
walk slowly up the right-hand aisle, mount the pulpit stairs,
enter and close the door after him. Then Cephas would give one
tremendous pull to warn loiterers on the steps; a pull that
meant, "Parson's in the pulpit!" and was acted upon accordingly.
Opening the big Bible, the minister raised his right hand
impressively, and saying, "Let us pray," the whole congregation
rose in their pews with a great rustling and bowed their heads
devoutly for the invocation.
Next came the hymn, generally at that day one of Isaac Watts's.
The singers, fifteen or twenty in number, sat in a raised gallery
opposite the pulpit, and there was a rod in front hung with red
curtains to hide them when sitting down.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118