The Ordway new era., 1916-12-01
CHAPTER XXI.

And so Bibbs sat IN the porch of the
temple with the money changers. But
no One came to scourge him forth, for
this was the temple Of Bigness, and
the changing OF money was holy wor-
ship and true religion. The priests
wore that selfish look Bibbs' mother
had seen beginning to develop about
his mouth and eyes-a wary look
which she could not define. but II
comes with service at the temple: and
1t was the more marked upon Bibbs
for his sharp awakening to the neces-
stiles OF that service.
he did as little useless" thinking as
possible. giving himself no time for It.
He worked continuously, keeping his
thoughts still on his work when he
came home at night, and he talked Of
nothing whatever except his work.
But he did not sing at It He was
often in the streets. and people were
not allowed to sing in the streets.
They might make any manner Of hide
GUS uproar-they could shake build
ings: they could outthunder the thun
der. dea fen the deaf, and kill the sick
with noise: or they could walk the
streets or drive through them bawling,
squawking or screeching, as they chose.
IL the noise was traceably connected
with business: though street musicians
were not tolerated. being considered
nuisance and an interference. A man
or woman who went singing for pleas
ure through the streetS-like crazy
Neapolitan-would have been stopped.
and belize locked up: for freedom does
not mean that n citizen is allowed to
do every outrageous thing that comes
into his head. The streets were dan
gerous enough, in all conscience, with
out any singing! and the Motor fedora
ton issued public warnings declaring
that the pedestrians life was in his
own hands. and giving directions how
to proceed with the least peril. How
ever, Bibbs Sheridan had no desire
to sing in the streets. or anywhere. II
had gone to his work with an energy
that, for the start, at least, was bitter.
and there was no song left In him.
He began to know his active fellow
citizens. Here and there among them
he found a leisurely, kind soul. relic
of the old period Of neighborliness.
pioneer stock" usually: and there
were men-pardcularly among the
merchants and manufacturers-"so
honest they leaned Backward" repu-
tations sometimes attested by stories
of heroic sacrifices to honor; nor were
there lacking some instances Of gen.
erosity even nobler. Here and there.
too. were bookmen, in their little lei
sure; and, among the Germans, music
men. And these. with the others. wor-
shipped Bigness and the growth. each
man serving for his own sake and for
what he could get out OF It, but all
united In their faith in the benefcence
and glory Of their god.
To almost all alike that service stood
az the most important thing in life. ex.
cept on occasion Of some such vital.
brief interregnum a. the dangerous ILL.,
ness of wife or child. In the way Of
RELAXATION" some Of the servers took
golf: some took nshing: some took
"shows--a mixture Of infantile and
nsgroi1 humor. stockings. and in mo-
sic: some took ~ oecasionai debauch: !:
SONS took trips: soms toek cards; and
Do0e took noth1ng. Ibe high pflssGs
wsfs visilast y WatgA Mt - ~sslaxa-
[t1s1r a1oaD1 ae6et - ssfviee. Whea
d nes ef1enoeG - Asssn1ag s111sls