3i2 BROADLAND SPORT 



small harmonium which at times wandered a trifle by reason 

 of weak notes and want of air ; whilst the two children of our 

 host composed the choir. 



The service progressed in the usual manner until a hymn 

 was announced, when an incident occurred. The rector had 

 taken a severe chill in driving over the marsh dam the 

 night previously, and one side of his face was now puffed out 

 to an alarming size. It impeded his speech considerably, but 

 that seemed a matter of small import, for he rattled off the 

 service, and all would have gone well had he not attempted 

 to sing. But when the harmonium had played several bars 

 of music without any response from the congregation, 

 although the opening lines had been passed, he essayed to 

 lead his flock in the way they should go by singing him- 

 self, 



" Hark ! a thrilling voice is sounding." 



The result was ludicrous. Without wishing to appear 

 irreverent one cannot but admit that it was impossible 

 to maintain a serious face. The gardener dug his companion 

 in the ribs with his elbow, whilst she stuffed her pocket-hand- 

 kerchief into her mouth, and soon afterwards they hurriedly 

 left the church. 



All unheedingly our good-natured rector sang on, alone 

 and out of tune, with an absolute indifference to the large 

 diminution of his audience. Then he mounted the pulpit to 

 deliver his sermon. It was short and sweet, lasting but ten 

 minutes. It was directed at the children who sat in a row in 

 a pew exactly beneath the pulpit, and when the benediction 

 had been pronounced he solemnly walked to the vestry and 

 the congregation filed out. 



This gave us an opportunity of examining the interior of 

 the church, which was interesting indeed. The pews seemed 

 to be hundreds of years old. They were built from solid oak, 

 inches thick, which appeared to have been collected from 

 wreckage from the beach. There were several monuments, 

 and a rood-screen adorned with rough carving, a closer in- 



