You old Reg'lar p-p-pepper shaker, you!" By this time tee-hees from the children and chuckles from some of the older members interfered with Mr.Badger's fervent but jerky discourse.
Captain Eben struck the table smartly.
"Silence!" he thundered.

"Silence! Brother Badger, I beg your pardon for 'em.

Go on!" But Josiah's train of thought had evidently been derailed by the interruption.
"I--I--I cal'late that's about all," he stammered and sat down.
The captain looked over the meeting.
"I'm ashamed," he said, "ashamed of the behavior of some of us in the Lord's house.

This has been a failure, this service of ours.

We have kept still when we should have justified our faith, and allowed the presence of a stranger to interfere with our duty to the Almighty.