The prayer-book which my landlord lent me was quite a family piece,
for all his children's births and names, and also his own wedding-
day, were very carefully set down on it. Even on this account alone
the book would not have been uninteresting to me.
At half-past nine the service began. Directly opposite to our
house, the boys of the village were all drawn up, as if they had
been recruits to be drilled; all well-looking, healthy lads, neat
and decently dressed, and with their hair cut short and combed on
the forehead, according to the English fashion; their bosoms were
open, and the white frills of their shirts turned back on each side.
They seemed to be drawn up here at the entrance of the village
merely to wait the arrival of the clergyman.
I walked a little way out of the village, where, at some distance, I
saw several people coming from another village, to attend divine
service here at Nettlebed.
At length came the parson on horseback. The boys pulled off their
hats, and all made him very low bows. He appeared to be rather an
elderly man, and wore his own hair round and decently dressed, or
rather curled naturally.
The bell now rung in, and so I too, with a sort of secret proud
sensation, as if I also had been an Englishman, went with my prayer-
book under my arm to church, along with the rest of the
congregation; and when I got into the church, the clerk very civilly
seated me close to the pulpit.
Nothing can possibly be more simple, apt, and becoming than the few
decorations of this church.
Directly over the altar, on two tables in large letters, the ten
commandments were written. There surely is much wisdom and
propriety in thus placing, full in the view of the people, the sum
and substance of all morality.
Under the pulpit near the steps that led up to it, was a desk, from
which the clergyman read the liturgy, the responses were all
regularly made by the clerk; the whole congregation joining
occasionally, though but in a low voice; as for instance, the
minister said, "Lord, have mercy upon us!" the clerk and the
congregation immediately subjoin, "and forgive us all our sins." In
general, when the clergyman offers up a prayer, the clerk and the
whole congregation answer only, Amen!
The English service must needs be exceedingly fatiguing to the
officiating minister, inasmuch as besides a sermon, the greatest
part of the liturgy falls to his share to read, besides the psalms
and two lessons.
The joining of the whole congregation in prayer has something
exceedingly solemn and affecting in it.
