"How long ago has that been?"
"About fourteen years now."
Surprised by this sharp variation from the ordinary standards of trade, I began thinking of possible conditions which had produced it, when one evening I happened in on the local barber. He was a lean, inquisitive individual with a shock of sandy hair and a conspicuous desire to appear a well-rounded social factor.
"What sort of person is this Burridge over here? He keeps such a peculiar store."
"Elihu is a bit peculiar," he replied, his smile betraying a desire to appear conservative. "The fault with Elihu, if he has one, is that he's terribly strong on religion. Can't seem to agree with anybody around here."
"What's the trouble?" I asked.
"It's more'n I could ever make out, what is the matter with him. They're all a little bit cracked on the subject around here. Nothing but revivals and meetin's, year in and year out. They're stronger on it winters than they are in summer."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, they'll be more against yachtin' and Sunday pleasures when they can't go than when they can."
"What about Elihu?" I asked.