Our opening exercises consisted solely of singing and reading . We had agreed to omit prayer . Neither Felix , Peter nor I felt equal to praying in public . But we took up a collection . The proceeds were to go to missions . Dan passed the plate -- Felicity 's rosebud plate -- looking as preternaturally solemn as Elder Frewen himself . Every one put a cent on it . Well , I preached my sermon . And it fell horribly flat . I realized that , before I was half way through it . I think I preached it very well ; and never a thump did I forget or misplace . But my audience was plainly bored . When I stepped down from the pulpit , after demanding passionately if we whose souls were lighted and so forth , I felt with secret humiliation that my sermon was a failure . It had made no impression at all . Felix would be sure to get the prize . `` That was a very good sermon for a first attempt , '' said the Story Girl graciously . `` It sounded just like real sermons I have heard . '' For a moment the charm of her voice made me feel that I had not done so badly after all ; but the other girls , thinking it their duty to pay me some sort of a compliment also , quickly dispelled that pleasing delusion . `` Every word of it was true , '' said Cecily , her tone unconsciously implying that this was its sole merit . `` I often feel , '' said Felicity primly , `` that we do n't think enough about the heathens .
We ought XXXXX think a great deal more . ''
about as at before from if like of to with