I have no use for Robert Baxter . He turned Methodist just because the Presbyterian choir happened to be singing ` Behold the bridegroom cometh ' for a collection piece when him and Margaret walked up the aisle the Sunday after they were married . Served him right for being late ! He always insisted the choir did it on purpose to insult him , as if he was of that much importance . But that family always thought they were much bigger potatoes than they really were . His brother Eliphalet imagined the devil was always at his elbow -- but I never believed the devil wasted that much time on him . '' `` I -- do n't -- know , '' said Captain Jim thoughtfully . `` Eliphalet Baxter lived too much alone -- had n't even a cat or dog to keep him human . When a man is alone he 's mighty apt to be with the devil -- if he ai n't with God . He has to choose which company he 'll keep , I reckon . If the devil always was at Life Baxter 's elbow it must have been because Life liked to have him there . '' `` Man-like , '' said Miss Cornelia , and subsided into silence over a complicated arrangement of tucks until Captain Jim deliberately stirred her up again by remarking in a casual way : `` I was up to the Methodist church last Sunday morning . '' `` You 'd better have been home reading your Bible , '' was Miss Cornelia 's retort . `` Come , now , Cornelia , I ca n't see any harm in going to the Methodist church when there 's no preaching in your own . I 've been a Presbyterian for seventy-six years , and it is n't likely my theology will hoist anchor at this late day . '' `` It 's setting a bad example , '' said Miss Cornelia grimly . `` Besides , '' continued wicked Captain Jim , `` I wanted to hear some good singing . The Methodists have a good choir ; and you ca n't deny , Cornelia , that the singing in our church is awful since the split in the choir . '' `` What if the singing is n't good ? They 're doing their best , and God sees no difference between the voice of a crow and the voice of a nightingale . ''
`` Come , come , XXXXX , '' said Captain Jim mildly , `` I 've a better opinion of the Almighty 's ear for music than THAT . ''
Baxter Cornelia Jim Margaret Methodist Methodists Presbyterian morning right years