conjecture was busy to find out what he could be aiming at. I was chewing my huge quid with uncommon rapidity, and spitting, and looking up at the preacher, to catch every word and every gesture; and when, at last, he pounced on the 'tobacco,' behold, there I had a great puddle of tobacco-spit! I quietly slipped the quid out of my mouth, and dashed it as far as I could under the seats, resolving never again to be found chewing tobacco in a Methodist church.

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
PROPHETS.

SCENE I. A half-built Tomb in Judea, in the time of the public ministrations of Jesus Christ. Around the tomb, ANNAS, and CAIaphas, and John, and Alexander, and others of the kindred of the high priest, with Stone-masons and Attendants. (Acts iv. 6.)

1

Annas. This is truly a pious business! Yes, this is what I call religion. We are all here, with one heart, to build the sepulchre of the prophet Elisha. Ah, he was a treasure to Israel in his day! What miracles he performed on Naaman the Syrian, and others! What a life of exemplary piety he led ! And after he was dead, there was virtue in his bones. Yes, the sacred record declares, that, while certain men were burying the body of a man who had died, they spied a company of hostile Moabites, who had invaded the land; and they "cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha. And when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet." (2 Kings xiii. 21.) Ah, he was a prophet, whose like we shall not see again! But there is piety in building his sepulchre. Let us put our own hands to this admirable religious enterprise. Caiaphas, take hold! John, Alexander, all of you who are of the kindred of the high priest, take hold! Help me to set this great block of marble in the right position for hewing.

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I delight in such work as this. I absolutely believe that I could hew this marble almost as well as a professed mason. (He takes a stone-hammer, and begins to hew.) Ah, this is what I call religion!

Caiaphas. How much it is to be regretted that we have no such prophets as Elisha in the church at this day! Mortar! bring mortar! (Aloud.) Have it well tempered and prepared. My heart experiences the excitement of the noble enterprise. Ah, there is sublimity in the thought of building the sepulchre of a dead prophet! —especially one who has been so long dead. Yes, I feel the inspiration of the occasion. I am quickened, yea, revived, yea, ennobled, by the animating character of this exalted undertaking. None of that odious modern fanaticism can mingle in such an elevated and dignified design as this. Honor to the

memory of the prophet Elisha!

Annas. I hear that there are some very disorderly proceedings over in Galilee.

Caiaphas. Ah! say you so?

In what respect? Annas. One Jesus, a professed prophet, has arisen, and is making quite a number of disciples.

Caiaphas. Disciples! How absurd for such a mere pretender to call men to be his disciples! We are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses; but, as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. That is a most beautiful block of white marble. How it will garnish the sepulchre of the dead prophet! The truth is, no embellishment or decoration should be spared in a pious purpose like this. Drive on the work, masons! Prepare the stone for the good prophet's tomb as fast as you can! Mortar!

Attendants, keep these masons well supplied

with mortar! A pious work, truly! A pious work, truly! I should take pride in carrying the hod myself, in order to forward such an important religious enterprise.

First Mason. I have heard that the prophet in Galilee does many wonderful works; that the common people hear him gladly; and that many have believed in him, as the promised Messiah.

Caiaphas. Peace, man! hold your peace! Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed on him?

Second Mason. I saw some officers, that the chief priests had sent to take him. They said that they had listened to one of his sermons, and that they were constrained to declare, "Never man spake like this man."

Caiaphas. I command you, laymen, to hold your peace! Beware how you interfere with the rights of those who have the oversight of the people! If you must speak of the transactions over in Galilee, speak of the disorders, the extravagances, &c.

Annas. I learn that there are great excesses and irregularities among the followers of this "prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Some four or five thousand men, besides women and children, it is said, continued with him "three days, when they had nothing to eat." This was shocking extravagance. It was a great shame to expose those little children to such suffering.

First Mason. I was told that the prophet fed those four or five thousand men, and all the women and children, with a few loaves and fishes; and that they did all eat, and were filled; and that twelve baskets-full of fragments, or broken meat, were taken up after they had all eaten.

Caiaphas. Mortar! Bring on a good supply of

mortar, for the tomb of the prophet! Roll up those large blocks of marble, that the workmen may hew and prepare them! Here, fellow! (To the mason, in a lower tone.) If you speak in commendation of that prophet of Galilee, you shall be dismissed from our employment, and put out of the synagogue. Ah, those poor women and children! From my inmost heart, I pity them. Three days, and nothing to eat! There were no such disorderly doings in the days of the good old prophet Elisha.

Annas. I was credibly informed that the roof of a poor man's house was very much injured, but a short time since. They had brought one sick of the palsy ; and an immense rabble being collected about the door, they who had charge of the sick man could not enter that way. Being very reckless persons, and having little regard to the rights of others, they ascended to the roof of the house, and broke it up, and let down the sick of the palsy through the great opening which they had made in the roof. I saw a very respectable man, who was at the house on the afternoon of the same day; and he reports that the injury done to the roof was very great. The owner of the house is a poor man, who can ill afford to meet the expense of repairing particularly at this time, when lumber and shingles are uncommonly high. So, now, the family are there, all exposed to the first squall of bad weather that may chance to blow up.

Second Mason. I understand, however, that the sick of the palsy was perfectly healed; that he took up his bed, and walked through the astonished multitude, calling on all to witness what great things the Lord had done for him; and that all the people glori