54 



FIELD AND HEDGEROW. 



stray boys who steal out and round the walls to throw 

 stones at the sparrows in the roads ; they need a little 

 relaxation ; nature gets even into Bethel. By-and-by 

 out come some bigger lads and tie two long hop-poles 

 together with which to poke down the swallows' nests 

 under the chapel eaves. The Book inside, of which 

 they almost make an idol, seemed to think the life of a 

 sparrow and possibly of a swallow was of value ; 

 still it is good fun to sec the callow young come down 

 flop on the hard ground. 



When the church doors are thrown open by the 

 noiseless vergers, and patchouli and macassar, and the 

 overpowering, rich smell of silks and satins rushes out in 

 a volume of heated air, in a few minutes the whole place 

 is vacant. Bethel is not deserted in this manner. All 

 those who have come from a distance have brought with 

 them their dinner in a black bag or basket, and quietly 

 settle themselves down to take their dinner in the chapel. 

 This practice is not confined to the pilgrims who have 

 walked a long way ; very many of those who live the 

 other side of the village shut up their cottages, bring 

 their provisions, and spend the whole day at their devo- 

 tions. Now the old woman spends her Sunday penny. 

 At the back of the chapel there is a large room where a 

 person is employed to boil the kettle and supply cups of 

 tea at a halfpenny each. Here the old lady makes her- 

 self very comfortable, and waits till service begins again. 

 Halfpenny a cup would not, of course, pay the cost of the 

 materials, but these are found by some earnest member 

 of the body, some farmer or tradesman's wife, who feels 

 it a good deed to solace the weary worshippers. There 

 is something in this primitive hospitality, in this eating 

 their dinners in the temple, and general communion of 

 humanity, which to a philosopher seems very admirable. 



