Then he lifted his head, and nodded it in assent.

"Yes," he said; "we will do nothing by which our 'brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.'" Brother Pierce's parchment face showed no sign of surprise or pleasure at this easy submission.

"Another thing: We don't want no book-learnin' or dictionary words in our pulpit," he went on coldly.

"Some folks may stomach 'em; we won't.

Them two sermons o' yours, p'r'aps they'd do down in some city place; but they're like your wife's bunnit here, they're too flowery to suit us.