`` I 'll take care that he does n't disturb you , '' answered Miss Celia , pushing a stool under the short legs , and drawing a palm-leaf fan within reach . Ben gave an inward sigh at the prospect before him ; for an hour 's captivity to an active lad is hard to bear , and he really did want to behave well . So he folded his arms and sat like a statue , with nothing moving but his eyes . They rolled to and fro , up and down , from the high red pulpit to the worn hymnbooks in the rack , recognizing two little faces under blue-ribboned hats in a distant pew , and finding it impossible to restrain a momentary twinkle in return for the solemn wink Billy Barton bestowed upon him across the aisle . Ten minutes of this decorous demeanor made it absolutely necessary for him to stir ; so he unfolded his arms and crossed his legs as cautiously as a mouse moves in the presence of a cat ; for Mrs. Allen 's eye was on him , and he knew by experience that it was a very sharp one . The music which presently began was a great relief to him , for under cover of it he could wag his foot and no one heard the creak thereof ; and when they stood up to sing , he was so sure that all the boys were looking at him , he was glad to sit down again . The good old minister read the sixteenth chapter of Samuel , and then proceeded to preach a long and somewhat dull sermon . Ben listened with all his ears , for he was interested in the young shepherd , `` ruddy and of a beautiful countenance , '' who was chosen to be Saul 's armor-bearer . He wanted to hear more about him , and how he got on , and whether the evil spirits troubled Saul again after David had harped them out . But nothing more came ; and the old gentleman droned on about other things till poor Ben felt that he must either go to sleep like the Squire , or tip the stool over by accident , since `` nestling '' was forbidden , and relief of some sort he must have . Mrs. Allen gave him a peppermint , and he dutifully ate it , though it was so hot it made his eyes water . Then she fanned him , to his great annoyance , for it blew his hair about ; and the pride of his life was to have his head as smooth and shiny as black satin . An irrepressible sigh of weariness attracted Miss Celia 's attention at last ; for , though she seemed to be listening devoutly , her thoughts had flown over the sea , with tender prayers for one whom she loved even more than David did his Jonathan . She guessed the trouble in a minute , and had provided for it , knowing by experience that few small boys can keep quiet through sermon-time . Finding a certain place in the little book she had brought , she put it into his hands , with the whisper , `` Read if you are tired . '' Ben clutched the book and gladly obeyed , though the title , `` Scripture Narratives , '' did not look very inviting . Then his eye fell on the picture of a slender youth cutting a large man 's head off , while many people stood looking on . `` Jack , the giant-killer , '' thought Ben , and turned the page to see the words `` David and Goliath '' , which was enough to set him to reading the story with great interest ; for here was the shepherd boy turned into a hero . No more fidgets now ; the sermon was no longer heard , the fan flapped unfelt , and Billy Barton 's spirited sketches in the hymnbook were vainly held up for admiration . Ben was quite absorbed in the stirring history of King David , told in a way that fitted it for children 's reading , and illustrated with fine pictures which charmed the boy 's eye .
Sermon and story ended at the same time ; and , while he listened to the prayer , Ben felt as if he understood now what Miss XXXXX meant by saying that words helped when they were well chosen and sincere .
Celia David Jack Jonathan Saul accident armor-bearer hour hymnbook hymnbooks