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the Golden Calf； and so on。 As the reader is aware； Frankie had never been to a Sunday School of any kind before； and he stood for a moment looking in at the door and half afraid to enter。 The lessons had already commenced； but the scholars had not yet settled down to work。
The scene was one of some disorder： some of the children talking； laughing or playing； and the teachers alternately threatening and coaxing them。 The girls' and the very young children's classes were presided over by ladies： the boys' teachers were men。
The reader already has some slight knowledge of a few of these people。 There was Mr Didlum； Mr Sweater； Mr Rushton and Mr Hunter and Mrs Starvem （Ruth Easton's former mistress）。 On this occasion； in addition to the teachers and other officials of the Sunday School； there were also present a considerable number of prettily dressed ladies and a few gentlemen； who had come in the hope of meeting the Rev。 John Starr； the young clergyman who was going to be their minister for the next few weeks during the absence of their regular shepherd； Mr Belcher； who was going away for a holiday for the benefit of his health。 Mr Belcher was not suffering from any particular malady； but was merely ‘run down'； and rumour had it that this condition had been brought about by the rigorous asceticism of his life and his intense devotion to the arduous labours of his holy calling。
Mr Starr had conducted the service in the Shining Light Chapel that morning； and a great sensation had been produced by the young minister's earnest and eloquent address； which was of a very different style from that of their regular minister。 Although perhaps they had not quite grasped the real significance of all that he had said； most of them had been favourably impressed by the young clergyman's appearance and manner in the morning： but that might have arisen from prepossession and force of habit； for they were accustomed； as a matter of course； to think well of any minister。 There were； however； one or two members of the congregation who were not without some misgivings and doubts as to the soundness of his doctrines。 Mr Starr had promised that he would look in some time during the afternoon to say a few words to the Sunday School children； and consequently on this particular afternoon all the grown…ups were looking forward so eagerly to hearing him again that not much was done in the way of lessons。 Every time a late arrival entered all eyes were directed towards the door in the hope and expectation that it was he。
When Frankie； standing at the door； saw all the people looking at him he drew back timidly。
‘Come on； man；' said Charley。 ‘You needn't be afraid； it's not like a weekday school； they can't do nothing to us； not even if we don't behave ourselves。 There's our class over in that corner and that's our teacher； Mr Hunter。 You can sit next to me。 Come on！'
Thus encouraged； Frankie followed Charley over to the class； and both sat down。 The teacher was so kind and spoke so gently to the children that in a few minutes Frankie felt quite at home。
When Hunter noticed how well cared for and well dressed he was he thought the child must belong to well…to…do； respectable parents。 Frankie did not pay much attention to the lesson； for he was too much interested in the pictures on the walls and in looking at the other children。 He also noticed a very fat man who was not teaching at all； but drifted aimlessly about he room from one class to another。 After a time he came and stood by the class where Frankie was； and； after nodding to Hunter； remained near； listening and smiling patronizingly at the children。 He was arrayed in a long garment of costly black cloth； a sort of frock coat； and by the rotundity of his figure he seemed to be one of those accustomed to sit in the chief places at feasts。 This was the Rev。 Mr Belcher； minister of the Shining Light Chapel。 His short； thick neck was surrounded by a studless collar； and apparently buttonless； being fastened n some mysterious way known only to himself； and he showed no shirt front。
The long garment beforementioned was unbuttoned and through the opening there protruded a vast expanse of waistcoat and trousers； distended almost to bursting by the huge globe of flesh they contained。 A gold watch…chain with a locket extended partly across the visible portion of the envelope of the globe。 He had very large feet which were carefully encased in soft calfskin boots。 If he had removed the long garment； this individual would have resembled a balloon： the feet representing the car and the small head that surmounted the globe； the safety valve； as it was it did actually serve the purpose of a safety valve； the owner being； in consequence of gross overfeeding and lack of natural exercise； afflicted with chronic flatulence； which manifested itself in frequent belchings forth through the mouth of the foul gases generated in the stomach by the decomposition of the foods with which it was generally loaded。 But as the Rev。 Mr Belcher had never been seen with his coat off； no one ever noticed the resemblance。 It was not necessary for him to take his coat off： his part in life was not to help to produce； but to help to devour the produce of the labour of others。
After exchanging a few words and grins with Hunter； he moved on to another class； and presently Frankie with a feeling of awe noticed that the confused murmuring sound that had hitherto pervaded the place was hushed。 The time allotted for lessons had expired； and the teachers were quietly distributing hymn…books to the children。 Meanwhile the balloon had drifted up to the end of the hall and had ascended the platform； where it remained stationary by the side of the table； occasionally emitting puffs of gas through the safety valve。 On the table were several books； and also a pile of folded cards。 These latter were about six inches by three inches； there was some printing on the outside： one of them was lying open on the table； showing the inside； which was ruled and had money columns。
Presently Mr Belcher reached out a flabby white hand and； taking up one of the folded cards； he looked around upon the under…fed； ill…clad children with a large； sweet； benevolent； fatherly smile； and then in a drawling voice occasionally broken by explosions of flatulence； he said：
‘My dear children。 This afternoon as I was standing near Brother Hunter's class I heard him telling them of the wanderings of the Children of Israel in the wilderness； and of all the wonderful things that were done for them； and I thought how sad it was that they were so ungrateful。
‘Now those ungrateful Israelites had received many things； but we have even more cause to be grateful than they had； for we have received even more abundantly than they did。' （Here the good man's voice was stilled by a succession of explosions。） ‘And I am sure；' he resumed； ‘that none of you would like to be even as those Israelites； ungrateful for all the good things you have received。 Oh； how thankful you should be for having been made happy English children。 Now； I am sure that you are grateful and that you will all be very glad of an opportunity of showing your grati