"
The service had not yet been concluded--the last parting offices of
prayer and benediction had yet to be performed--when a boy, about
fourteen years of age, rushed precipitately into the assembly. His
clothes were torn and bloody, and he was smeared with dirt from head to
foot. He spoke, but his words were half intelligible only, and
comprehended by but one or two of the persons around him. Munro
immediately rose and carried him out. He was followed by Rivers, who had
been sitting beside him.
The interruption silenced everything like prayer; there was no further
attention for the preacher; and accordingly a most admired disorder
overspread the audience. One after another rose and left the area, and
those not the first to withdraw followed in rapid succession; until,
under the influence of that wild stimulant, curiosity, the preacher soon
found himself utterly unattended, except by the female portion of his
auditory. These, too, or rather the main body of them at least, were now
only present in a purely physical sense; for, with the true
characteristic of the sex, their minds were busily employed in the
wilderness of reflection which this movement among the men had
necessarily inspired.
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