Once every Sunday he went to one of these churches; and there was a fine flutter throughout the building whenever he and his family appeared.

He felt that the building had received a special honor from his visit; but if he was not guided by his preferences, he certainly was by his animosities.

If for three or four Sabbaths in succession he honored a single church by his presence, it was usually to pay off a grudge against some minister or member of another flock.

He delighted to excite the suspicion that he had at last become attached to one clergyman, and that the other churches were in danger of being forsaken by him.

It would be painful to paint the popular weakness and the ministerial jealousy--painful to describe the lack of Christian dignity--with which these demonstrations of worldly caprice and arrogance, were watched by pastor and flock.
After the town meeting and the demonstration of the Rev.Solomon Snow, it was not expected that Mr.Belcher would visit the church of the latter for some months.