`` Now I shall preach you a short sermon , and my text is , ` Little children , love one another . ' I asked mamma to give me one , and she thought that would be good ; so you all sit still and I 'll preach it . You must n't whisper , Marion , but hear me . It means that we should be good to each other , and play fair , and not quarrel as we did this very day about the wagon . Jack ca n't always drive , and need n't be mad because I like to go with Frank . Annette ought to be horse sometimes and not always driver ; and Willie may as well make up his mind to let Marion build her house by his , for she will do it , and he need n't fuss about it . Jamie seems to be a good boy , but I shall preach to him if he is n't . No , Pokey , people do n't kiss in church or put their hats on . Now you must all remember what I tell you , because I am the captain , and you should mind me . '' Here Lieutenant Jack spoke right out in meeting with the rebellious remark , `` Do n't care if you are ; you 'd better mind yourself , and tell how you took away my strap , and kept the biggest doughnut , and did n't draw fair when we had the truck . '' `` Yes , and you slapped Frank ; I saw you ! '' bawled Willie Snow , bobbing up in his pew . `` And you took my book away and hid it 'cause I would n't go and swing when you wanted me to , '' added Annette , the oldest of the Snow trio . `` I sha n't build my house by Willie 's if he do n't want me to , so now ! '' put in little Marion , joining the mutiny . `` I will tiss Dimmy ! and I tored up my hat ` tause a pin picked me , '' shouted Pokey , regardless of Jamie 's efforts to restrain her . Captain Dove looked rather taken aback at this outbreak in the ranks ; but , being a dignified and calm personage , he quelled the rising rebellion with great tact and skill , by saying , briefly , `` We 'll sing the last hymn ; ` Sweet , sweet good-by ' you all know that , so do it nicely , and then we will go and have luncheon . '' Peace was instantly restored , and a burst of melody drowned the suppressed giggles of Rose and Mac , who found it impossible to keep sober during the latter part of this somewhat remarkable service . Fifteen minutes of repose rendered it a physical impossibility for the company to march out as quietly as they had marched in .
I grieve to state that the entire troop raced home as hard as they could pelt , and were soon skirmishing briskly over their lunch , utterly oblivious of what XXXXX -LRB- who had been much impressed by the sermon -RRB- called `` the captain 's beautiful teck . ''
Annette Frank Jack Jamie Marion Rose Willie drowned minutes pew