90 ADVENT UEES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



this had the true sermon ring. No, I had not lost 

 my power. My birthright had not been filched 

 from me. I began to feel the oratorical impulse 

 once more. I drew myself up, closed the thumb 

 and two middle fingers of my left hand, and point- 

 ing the other two directly at the audience, as I had 

 seen some of our celebrated orators, clenched the 

 right fist, and shook it at an invisible foe over 

 my head, — a gesture borrowed from some of our 

 Congressmen, — and shouted : "Dancing will be a 

 perilous amusement to you to-night; because — 

 because — " I lost the connection here, but re- 

 membering what a slight matter such a lapse is 

 in a sermon, before most congregations, and feel- 

 ing that it would not do to stop just there, con- 

 tinued, — " because it leads to a promiscuous min- 

 gling of the two sexes. On this ground I am 

 to-night, and ever shall be, opposed to it. I warn 

 you against Mr. Southwick's suggestion." 



At this point I was interrupted by the most 

 uproarious tumult. Intense and indecorous mer- 

 riment seized the entire group. Hubbard was 

 pressing his hands against his sides in the 

 most suggestive manner. Everitt was hammer- 

 ing Southwick with both fists upon his back, in 

 the hope of saving him from death by stran- 

 gulation. It was impossible to proceed. I was 

 conscious that I ought to go on. I had several 

 splendid sentences all ready for utterance. I felt 



