"It was a wonderful book, written long ago," he told them; "before the
Bishop of Altinum fled with his people to Torcello and built the old
Duomo; before Venice began to be."
Many of them did not know there was _anything_ so old as that! They
looked at each other and began to think.
"And it was written for the comfort of every one who loveth God, our
Father, whatever his troubles may be. See what is written here for any
who fear that the consolations of our holy religion shall be taken away.
For that is what you fear?"
They looked at each other, hesitating. "Si, si--yes--" timidly. "No,
no," more bravely.
Fra Paolo smiled.
"No!" they said, distinctly.
"If any of you are afraid," Fra Paolo said, looking full into their
faces as they pressed nearer, "because the fathers of this church have
gone away and left you, there are words in this old book--written long
ago, before there was any Venice--to condemn those who would close the
churches. 'Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of
my pasture,' saith the Lord.
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