rey wished to help
fulfil that neglected obligation, and would go at his own expense. It
would not cost the church a shilling. His vision was certainly a
revelation of the will of the Lord, and _he_ dared not stand in the
way.

A vote was taken, and the majority were found to be in favor of
ordination. The chairman pronounced himself pleased, and Mr. Grey was
recalled and informed of the result.

"I thank you," he said simply, with a glad and grateful smile.

"Now, brethren," said the worthy chairman with much unction, "the
hour of dinner is nigh at hand, and the good people of this place have
prepared entertainment for us; so we will e'en put off the ceremony of
ordination till the afternoon. Let us look to the Lord for his
blessing, and be dismissed."

And so with a murmur of talk and comment the council broke up, its
members going to the places where they were to be entertained. Happy
was the man who returned to his home accompanied by a minister, while
those not so fortunate were fain to be content with a lay delegate.
Indeed, the hospitality of the settlement was so bounteous that the
supply exceeded the demand. There were not enough visitors to go
around; and more than one good housewife who had baked, boiled, and
roasted all the day before was moved to righteous indignation at the
sight of the good man of the house returning guestless from the
meeting.

Early in the afternoon entertainers and entertained gathered again at
the meeting-house. Almost the entire country side was there,--old and
young alike. The house was packed, for never before had that part of
New England seen a man ordained to carry the gospel to the Indians. It
occurred, too, in that dreary interval between the persecution of the
Quakers and the persecution of the witches, and was therefore doubly
welcome.

When Cecil arrived, the throng made way reverently for him. Was he not
going, perchance like the martyrs of old, to the fagot and the stake?
To those who had long known him he seemed hardly like the same man. He
was lifted to a higher plane, surrounded by an atmosphere of sanctity
and heroism, and made sacred by the high mission given him of God, to
which was now to be added the sanction of holy men.

So they made way for him, as the Florentines had made way for "il
Frate" and as the people of God had made way for Francis Xavier when
he left them to stir the heart of the East with his eloquence, and,
alas! to die on the bleak sea-coa