But don't you go there again. And
if you have any printing that must be done at Udell's, send it by
Frank, or someone. You understand, I forbid you to have any conversation
whatever with that man. I'll see if such fellows are going to work
themselves into my family."
Amy's face grew crimson again. "You must learn," went on the angry
parent, "that the church is a place for you to listen to a sermon, and
that it's the preacher's business to look after all these other details;
that's what we hire him for. Let him get people from the lower classes
to do his dirty work; he shan't have my daughter. Christianity is all
right, and I trust I'm as good a Christian as anyone; but a man need
not make a fool of himself to get to Heaven, and I'm only looking out
for my own family's interest. If you wish to please me you will drop
this Young People's foolishness altogether, and go more into society.
I wish you would follow Frank's example. He is a good church member
but he don't let it interfere with his best interests. He has plenty
of friends and chooses his associates among the first families in the
city. _He_ don't think it necessary to take up with every vagabond
Cameron chooses to drag into the church. Remember, it must stop." And
the careful father took his hat and left for the place on Broadway,
where on the shelves and behind the counters of his hardware store he
kept the God he really worshipped.
CHAPTER XVI
The year following Dick's stand for Christianity, an open air theater
was established in the park on West Fourth Street, near the outskirts
of the city, which was advertised by its enterprising manager as a
very respectable place, well looked after by the police.
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