What harm was that ? I tell you we never thought about it 's being Methodist prayer meeting night . They used to have their meeting Tuesday nights and since they 've changed to Thursdays it 's hard to remember . '' `` Did you sing nothing but hymns ? '' `` Why , '' said Jerry , turning red , `` we DID sing Polly Wolly Doodle at the last . Faith said , ` Let 's have something cheerful to wind up with . ' But we did n't mean any harm , Father -- truly we did n't . '' `` The concert was my idea , Father , '' said Faith , afraid that Mr. Meredith might blame Jerry too much . `` You know the Methodists themselves had a sacred concert in their church three Sunday nights ago . I thought it would be good fun to get one up in imitation of it . Only they had prayers at theirs , and we left that part out , because we heard that people thought it awful for us to pray in a graveyard . YOU were sitting in here all the time , '' she added , `` and never said a word to us . '' `` I did not notice what you were doing . That is no excuse for me , of course . I am more to blame than you -- I realize that . But why did you sing that foolish song at the end ? '' `` We did n't think , '' muttered Jerry , feeling that it was a very lame excuse , seeing that he had lectured Faith so strongly in the Good-Conduct Club sessions for her lack of thought . `` We 're sorry , Father -- truly , we are . Pitch into us hard -- we deserve a regular combing down . '' But Mr. Meredith did no combing down or pitching into .
He sat down and gathered his small culprits close XXXXX him and talked a little to them , tenderly and wisely .
about at because for into of since that to with