noon
The word of God , among these simple folks , was quite too important to make them scruple at receiving it from the lips of either Geneva , Rome , or Canterbury . The church stood out among the hills at a little distance from , but in sight of the village ; a small , neat Grecian-like temple , glimmering white and saintlike through solemn visaged groves , and gaudy green foliage . The old trees about it were all kept neatly trimmed , the brush pruned away and cleared up , and a smooth sweet sward , lawn-like , surrounded it , such as children love to skip and scramble over , and older children rest at length upon , in pairs , talking over their sweet silly affections . Surrounded by an admiring crowd , each of whom had his respectful salutation , we see our friend John Cross toward noon approaching the sacred dwelling . Truly he was the most simple , fraternal of all God 's creatures . He had a good word for this , an affectionate inquiry for that , a benevolent smile , and a kind pressure of the hand for all . He was a man to do good , for everybody saw that he thought for others before himself , and sincerity and earnestness constitute , with the necessary degree of talent , the grand secrets for making successful teachers in every department .