Even at the time,
however, his attack helped rather than hurt me.
At the regular meeting the following Thursday
night no personal criticisms were included in the
prayers, and eventually we had peace. But many
battles were lost and won before that happy day
arrived.
Captain Sears's vacant place among us was
promptly taken by another captain in East Dennis,
whose name was also Sears. A few days after my
encounter with the first captain I met the second on
the street. He had never come to church, and I
stopped and invited him to do so. He replied with
simple candor.
``I ain't comin','' he told me. ``There ain't no
gal that can teach me nothin'.''
``Perhaps you are wrong, Captain Sears,'' I re-
plied. ``I might teach you something.''
``What?'' demanded the captain, with chilling
distrust.
``Oh,'' I said, cheerfully, ``let us say tolerance, for
one thing.''
``Humph!'' muttered the old man. ``The Lord
don't want none of your tolerance, and neither
do I.''
I laughed. ``He doesn't object to tolerance,'' I
said. ``Come to church. You can talk, too; and
the Lord will listen to us both.''
To my surprise, the captain came the following
Sunday, and during the seven years I remained in
the church he was one of my strongest supporters
and friends. I needed friends, for my second battle
was not slow in following my first. There was, in-
deed, barely time between in which to care for the
wounded.
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