"Well, that's jes' the same as us," Polly told him with an air of
condescension; "only circuses draws more people 'an churches."
"YOURS does seem to be a more popular form of entertainment,"
Douglas answered drily. He was beginning to feel that there were
many tricks in the entertainment trade which he had not mastered.
And, after all, what was his preaching but an effort at
entertainment? If he failed to hold his congregation by what he
was saying, his listeners grew drowsy, and his sermon fell short
of its desired effect. It was true that his position and hers
had points of similarity. She was apparently successful; as for
himself, he could not be sure. He knew he tried very hard and
that sometimes a tired mother or a sad- faced child looked up at
him with a smile that made the service seem worth while.
Polly mistook the pastor's revery for envy, and her tender heart
was quick to find consolation for him.
"You ain't got all the worst of it," she said. "If we tried to
play a dump like this for six months, we'd starve to death. You
certainly must give 'em a great show," she added, surveying him
with growing interest.
"It doesn't make much difference about the show--" Douglas began,
but he was quickly interrupted.
"That's right, it's jes' the same with a circus.
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