pick me up to take along with his own kids. I didn’t mind going. If we pleaded and didn’t wrestle around in the back seat, in good weather Mr. Major would come home the long way and drive through one of the fords in the upper reach of Rock Creek Park. For some reason it excited us to be in a car proceeding slowly through water almost up to the running board. We also liked the jerking when Mr. Major tapped his brakes afterward to be sure they hadn’t gotten wet.

I learned “Jesus Loves Me This I Know” at Foundry, but I think even before we were old enough to be put in the children’s choir. Once we were in the choir, we didn’t perform in the main church except on the big holidays. For Easter we trooped in in the procession and sang the Hallelujah Chorus from “The Messiah” with the adult choir and the organ. They warned us not to be surprised if the congregation got to its feet when we started singing. That was the tradition, they said, people stood in honor of it being such a great piece of music.

One Sunday in the fall, warm, strong dusty light, yellow and rust-colored leaves thick on the ground, for some reason I was collected after Sunday school by my aunt Louisa, herself all dressed up in her Sunday best, hat with a little wisp of veil and all. The grownups’ service was just over and people were pouring out of the church and filling the street. At the curb waiting for the stoplight, again the pause and again the stranger peering down curiously at me, and the entourage, the observers. The lady I was introduced to was wearing brilliant red high collared silk and had shiny black hair. She seemed pleasant enough and said I looked like a nice boy. Though I don’t think there were any photographs taken, I had a strong feeling that the moment was staged, and for some purpose I did not understand.

After we parted company, Aunt Louisa told me the woman I had met was the wife of the President of China, but that didn’t mean very much to me. But when Louisa told me Madame Chiang slept in silk sheets which were changed every day, I was more impressed.