828 TENANTS OF AN OLD BARM 



stove, who.se loug pipe penetrates the ceiluig. The 

 walls are unadorned, and the whole interior is plain 

 enough to suit the severest taste. 



It was well ornamented, however, on that day, lor as 

 we entered, bright faces were turned toward us from 

 every seat and aisle ; even the door spaces were 

 crowded, and anxious eyes peered in from groups that 

 stood in the churchyard outside. In the " gallery," at 

 one side, stood a tall easel, on which was placed a pack- 

 age of large white card-boards. 



This addition to the usual furniture of the place had 

 excited much curiosity among tht audience — young and 

 old. Indeed, the curiosity had begun earlier in the 

 day, among the family at the Old Farm ; for, as Hugh 

 lifted the mysterious parcels into the farm-wagon, 

 among the chairs on which his family were seated, there 

 were many wondcrings over them. 



' Wat on yarth is de Doctor gwain to do wid dem 

 <ings ?" asked Dan, who was perched on the driver's 

 seat, and faced quite about to watch Hugh's proceed- 

 ings. "Whew! dat now%" as the heavy packet of 

 card-board was lifted in, " 'pears 's dough it mought l)e 

 Moses' Table ob de Law. But as fer dat," looking at 

 the easel, " I can't make nuffin out on 't. Dat 's w'at 

 (le iVIisstis had her pieter ob de Wirgin Mary and di' 

 bal)y Jesus on — her 'Donna, she calls hit. But ^Slassa 

 sakes ! de ole Doctor 's down on 'Donnas an images an 

 all seeh wanities in de house ob de Lord ! lie haint 

 gwain to fall down befo' no sech golden calf, is he r"' 



Aljl)y, too, was on the qui vive ; but if the Mistress 



