Hunting in the Golden Days, 39 



longer and more uninteresting than it need be. It is 

 wonderful how they manage to wake up at the right 

 time. Perhaps the parson gives the sleepers notice by 

 raising his voice towards the termination of his sermon. 

 But one who does not sleep, and cannot hear, is a 

 certain old chap who works on the roads, and growing 

 old, likewise is becoming deaf, although he will never 

 admit his infirmity to anyone. Asked one day by 

 the vicar if he could hear his sermons, he replied, 

 '' Well, not so well as I used to, parson, for you see 

 there are a sight more in your congregation than there 

 used to be." 



" But what difference does that make ? " said the 

 clergyman. 



" Why, all the difference in the world/' replied the 

 old road man. "You see, I sits at the back of the 

 church, and under you sits old Giles, with his mouth 

 wide open a swallerin' it, and three pews behind him is 

 Walker, with his hand up to his ear, a listenin' and 

 takin' in as much as he can get, and just before me is 

 old Brown, with his big ears wide open, soakin' in all 

 he can ; so you see, parson, that by the time it reaches 

 me, it is pretty poor stuff, I can tell yer ! " 



The musical part of the service is conducted by 

 amateurs, somewhat under difficulties, it must be con- 

 fessed, as there is no organ in the church. Still, it is 

 surprising how well the musicians keep in time and tune, 

 especially considering that they are self-taught. No 

 doubt, having so long played together — some of them 

 have played every Sunday for over thirty years — they 

 place great confidence in one another. The orchestra, 

 which is at the end of the church in a gallery, con- 

 sists of a flute, clarionet, two violins, a cello, and a 

 bass, and very sweet music they discourse. Would that 



