Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/296

270 the city and the Sea Beggars had much to thank God for, and proposed that they all  proceed to the great cathedral of St. Peter,  to render their praise to the God of Battles at  once. Then many remembered what in the excitement of the moment they had quite forgotten—that the day was Sunday! With the Admiral at their head, they marched in  solid ranks down the Breede Straat, and entered the cathedral reverently.

“Shall we go?” questioned Gysbert of his sister. “Or dost thou think we had best go straight home first?”

“No,” answered Jacqueline, “I think God’s worship claims us before all else!”  and they entered the church with the rest. Only a suffering, plague- stricken, lately besieged and recently delivered people could have rendered such thanks as rose up to  God’s throne from St. Peter’s that day. There were sounds of suppressed sobbing all through the congregation, and strong men’s  eyes grew moist when the clergyman read: