His fine voice and his dramatic instinct combined to make this an impressive and beautiful portion of the service.

But to-day much of the beauty and impressiveness of the reading was lost by the frequent interruptions caused by the entrance of late comers, of whom, owing to the bad roads, there were a larger number than usual.

The minister was evidently annoyed, not so much by the opening and shutting of the door as by the inattention of his hearers, who kept turning round their heads to see who the new arrivals were.

At length the minister could bear it no longer.
"My dear people," he said, pausing in the reading, "never mind those coming in.

Give you heed to the reading of God's Word, and if you must know who are entering, I will tell you.