'Well,' said Hiram, 'I always thought it was a part of a minister's duty
to look after the spiritual welfare of every one of his church, and to
visit the families, and converse with all the members.'

'You forget you're not in the country, where everything is got up on an
entirely different basis,' replied Mr. Bennett. 'You won't find much
'pastoral' work here, even among the blue lights. They confine
themselves to preaching brimstone sermons from the pulpit and at evening
lectures, and giving orders about the management of your family and
mine, taking care that nobody shall enjoy anything if they can help it.
If you go to see a play, it is a plunge into Tophet; if you permit your
child to tread a quickstep to a lively tune, both you and your child are
fit subjects for the wrath to come.'

'I rather think you are mistaken when you say the Episcopalians approve
of the theatre and late parties, and so forth,' retorted Hiram. 'I have
been told by two or three of that persuasion, that the clergy object
decidedly to all these things.'

'Gammon, Hiram--gammon for the country market. I tell you, I know that
we can do just what we please in the way of 'rational amusement,' as our
clergyman calls it, and your people can't, and I advise you to come over
to the liberal side.'

Hiram shook his head.

'Well, if you won't, I recommend Dr. Pratt. He, I understand, permits a
little fun occasionally; then he makes use of our prayers, commits them
to memory, you know; and latterly has put on a gown, and has a little
boy to open the door of his pulpit. I advise you to go there.'

'Thank you,' said Hiram; 'but I don't think I should relish that kind of
a man. I prefer something decided one way or the other.'

'Then take Dr. Chellis, he's your chap. Boanerges! a regular son of
thunder. Egad, I believe he _does_ visit every soul of his flock--keeps
them straight. The other evening he was invited to a little gathering at
the house of a new comer in his congregation--he always accepts
invitations, and they say he is very fond of oysters and chicken salad,
though he drinks nothing but cold water;--well, it happened the young
folks wanted to get up a quadrille, began to arrange it innocently
enough before his face and eyes. Thereupon he jumped up in a huff, and
flung himself out of the house, and the next Sunday delivered an extra
blast on the 'immoral tendencies of the dance.'

'That's the man for me,' said Hiram, firmly.

Mr. Bennett