It is best to draw a veil over what followed . Suffice it to say that the recollection gave point to Cecily 's question . `` No , it is n't that sort of game at all , '' said the Story Girl . `` It is this ; each of you boys must preach a sermon , as Uncle Edward used to do . One of you next Sunday , and another the next , and so on . And whoever preaches the best sermon is to get a prize . '' Dan promptly declared he would n't try to preach a sermon ; but Peter , Felix and I thought the suggestion a very good one . Secretly , I believed I could cut quite a fine figure preaching a sermon . `` Who 'll give the prize ? '' asked Felix . `` I will , '' said the Story Girl . `` I 'll give that picture father sent me last week . '' As the said picture was an excellent copy of one of Landseer 's stags , Felix and I were well pleased ; but Peter averred that he would rather have the Madonna that looked like his Aunt Jane , and the Story Girl agreed that if his sermon was the best she would give him that . `` But who 's to be the judge ? '' I said , `` and what kind of a sermon would you call the best ? '' `` The one that makes the most impression , '' answered the Story Girl promptly . `` And we girls must be the judges , because there 's nobody else . Now , who is to preach next Sunday ? '' It was decided that I should lead off , and I lay awake for an extra hour that night thinking what text I should take for the following Sunday . The next day I bought two sheets of foolscap from the schoolmaster , and after tea I betook myself to the granary , barred the door , and fell to writing my sermon .
I did not find it as easy a task as I had anticipated ; but I pegged grimly away at it , and by dint of severe labour for two evenings I eventually got my four pages of XXXXX filled , although I had to pad the subject-matter not a little with verses of quotable hymns .
Dan Edward Felix Jane Landseer Madonna Peter foolscap hour night