WAS HE SUCCESSFUL?

     ’Do but grasp into the thick of human life!  Every one lives
     it—­to not many is it known; and seize it where you will, it be
     interesting.’—­GOETHE.

     ’SUCCESSFUL.—­Terminating in accomplishing what is wished or
     intended.’—­WEBSTER’S Dictionary.

CHAPTER IX.

Hiram was never in serious difficulty before.

When he came carefully to survey the situation, he felt greatly embarrassed, and in real distress.  To understand this, you have only to recollect what value he placed on church membership.  In this he was perfectly sincere.  He felt, too, as he afterward expressed it to Mr. Bennett, that he had not ‘acted just right toward Emma Tenant,’ but he had not the least idea the matter could possibly become a subject of church discipline.  The day for such extraordinary supervision over one’s private affairs had gone by, it is true, but Dr. Chellis, roused and indignant, would no doubt revive it on this occasion.

Hiram had absented himself the first Sunday after his interview with his clergyman, but on the following he ventured to take his accustomed seat.  The distant looks and cold return to his greeting which he received from the principal members of the congregation, were unmistakable.  Even the female portion, with whom he was such a favorite, had evidently declared against him.

He had gone too far.

However, he went into Sunday school, and took his accustomed seat with the class under his instruction.  It was the first time he had been with it since he left town to attend on his mother.  The young gentleman who had assumed a temporary charge of this class, which was one of the finest in the school, shook hands with cool politeness with Hiram, but did not offer to yield the seat.  The latter, already nervous and ill at ease by reason of his reception among his acquaintances, did not dare assume his old place, lest he should be told he had been superseded.  He contented himself with greeting his pupils, who appeared glad to see him, and sitting quietly by while they recited their lesson.  Then, taking advantage of the few moments remaining, he gave them a pathetic account of the loss of his mother, and exhorted them all to honor and obey their parents.  In the afternoon he did not go back to church, but went to hear Dr. Pratt, the clergyman who, the reader may recollect, had been recommended by Mr. Bennett on Hiram’s first coming to new York.  Our hero was not at all pleased with this latter gentleman.  The fact is, to a person of Hiram’s subtle intellect, a man like Dr. Chellis was a thousand times more acceptable than a milk-and-water divine.