Charity never faileth; but prophecies--they shall fail;
tongues--they shall cease; knowledge--it shall vanish away. And now
abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three; but the greatest of these is
charity.'"
The fair orator delivered these words with such fire, such feeling,
such trumpet tones and heartfelt eloquence, that for the first time
those immortal words sounded in these village ears true oracles of God.
Then, without pause, she went on. "So let us lift our hearts in earnest
prayer to God that, in this world of thorns, and tempers, and trials,
and troubles, and cares, He will give us the best cure for all--the
great sweetener of this mortal life--the sure forerunner of Heaven--His
most excellent gift of charity." Then, in one generous burst, she
prayed for love divine, and there was many a sigh and many a tear, and
at the close an "Amen!" such as, alas! we shall never, I fear, hear
burst from a hundred bosoms where men repeat beautiful but stale words
and call it prayer.
The preacher retired, but the people still lingered spell-bound, and
then arose that buzz which shows that the words have gone home.
As for Richard Bassett, he had turned on his heel, indignant, as soon
as the preacher's admonitions came his way.
Sir Charles Bassett stood his ground rather longer, being steeled by
the conviction that the quarrel was none of his seeking.
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