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 see 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, 
Fes 
