Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/88

104 himself all at once compelled to say, “Think if the Lord Jesus were to come in just now!”

That thought and that moment became decisive to Ansermey. He hung upon a hook the violin on which he used to play for the dancing, and never touched it again for such a purpose. He was not averse, however, to innocent pleasures—which I now took upon me to defend—but thought that young people, after all, could employ their precious time in something better.

In the evening Père Ansermey performed family worship in our little circle. So doing, he read a chapter in the Scriptures and prayed, after which, he led, accompanied by his daughter, in the singing of such a hymn or hymns, as any of those present might desire. They were sung in quartette by the little assembly, and, frequently, extremely well. The music and words of one hymn, especially pleased me, which also A. Vinet is said to have loved before any other; it beg an

One day when I expressed my admiration of Père Ansermey's voice, which is of unusual strength and purity, he joyfully exclaimed,

“Yes, that is true; I have a beautiful voice!”

In the evening when he has closed his reading, he will repeat one or two verses of what he has read, adding; “These are lovely (or important) words; may God give us grace rightly to comprehend them!” Sometimes he will remain for a little while perfectly silent after the reading, as if in quiet devotion.