BYURSULA

Penn’dtheRomanychikelakidye"Mirydeariedyemishomcambri！"

"Andcoinkerdotutecambri，Mirydeariechi，miryRomanychi？"

"Omirydyeabororye，Abovalorye，agorgikorye，Soskisturpreapellengogrye，’Twasyovsoskerdomancambri。"

"Tutawnievassavielubbeny，Tuchalfrommirytanabri；

HadaRomanycwalkair’dtutecambri，ThenIhadpenn’dketutechie，ButtushanavassavielubbenyWithgorgikierattobecambri。"

"There’ssomekernelinthosesongs，brother，"saidMr。

Petulengro，whenthesongsandmusicwereover。

"Yes，"saidI；"theyarecertainlyveryremarkablesongs。I

say，Jasper，Ihopeyouhavenotbeendrabbingbaulorlately。"

"Andsupposewehave，brother，whatthen？"

"Why，itisaverydangerouspractice，tosaynothingofthewickednessofit。"

"Necessityhasnolaw，brother。"

"Thatistrue，"saidI；"Ihavealwayssaidso，butyouarenotnecessitous，andshouldnotdrabbaulor。"

"Andwhotoldyouwehadbeendrabbingbaulor？"

"Why，youhavehadabanquetofpork，andafterthebanquet，Mrs。Chiknosangasongaboutdrabbingbaulor，soInaturallythoughtyoumighthavelatelybeenengagedinsuchathing。"

"Brother，youoccasionallyutterawordortwoofcommonsense。Itwasnaturalforyoutosuppose，afterseeingthatdinnerofpork，andhearingthatsong，thatwehadbeendrabbingbaulor；Iwillnowtellyouthatwehavenotbeendoingso。Whathaveyoutosaytothat？"

"ThatIamverygladofit。"

"Hadyoutastedthatpork，brother，youwouldhavefoundthatitwassweetandtasty，whichballuvathatisdrabbedcanhardlybeexpectedtobe。Wehavenoreasontodrabbauloratpresent，wehavemoneyandcredit；butnecessityhasnolaw。Ourforefathersoccasionallydrabbedbaulor；someofourpeoplemaystilldosuchathing，butonlyfromcompulsion。"

"Isee，"saidI；"andatyourmerrymeetingsyousingsongsuponthecompulsatorydeedsofyourpeople，alias，theirvillainousactions；and，afterall，whatwouldthestirringpoetryofanynationbe，butforitscompulsatorydeeds？

LookatthepoetryofScotland，theheroicpart，foundedalmostentirelyonthevillainousdeedsoftheScotchnation；

cow—stealing，forexample，whichisverylittlebetterthandrabbingbaulor；whilstthesofterpartismostlyabouttheslipsofitsfemalesamongthebroom，sothatnoupholderofScotchpoetrycouldcensureUrsula’ssongasindelicate，evenifheunderstoodit。Whatdoyouthink，Jasper？"

"Ithink，brother，asIbeforesaid，thatoccasionallyyouutterawordofcommonsense；youweretalkingoftheScotch，brother；whatdoyouthinkofaScotchmanfindingfaultwithRomany！"

"AScotchmanfindingfaultwithRomany，Jasper！Ohdear，butyoujoke，thethingcouldneverbe。"

"Yes，andatPiramus’sfiddle；whatdoyouthinkofaScotchmanturninguphisnoseatPiramus’sfiddle？"

"AScotchmanturninguphisnoseatPiramus’sfiddle！

nonsense，Jasper。"

"DoyouknowwhatImostdislike，brother？"

"Idonot，unlessitbetheconstable，Jasper。"

"Itisnottheconstable；it’sabeggaronhorseback，brother。"

"Whatdoyoumeanbyabeggaronhorseback？"

"Why，ascamp，brother，raisedabovehisproperplace，whotakeseveryopportunityofgivinghimselffineairs。Aboutaweekago，mypeopleandmyselfcampedonagreenbyaplantationintheneighbourhoodofagreathouse。Intheeveningweweremakingmerry，thegirlsweredancing，whilePiramuswasplayingonthefiddleatuneofhisowncomposing，towhichhehasgivenhisownname，PiramusofRome，andwhichismuchcelebratedamongstourpeople，andfromwhichIhavebeentoldthatoneofthegrandgorgiocomposers，whoonceheardit，hastakenseveralhints。So，asweweremakingmerry，agreatmanygrandpeople，lordsandladies，Ibelieve，camefromthegreathouse，andlookedon，asthegirlsdancedtothetuneofPiramusofRome，andseemedmuchpleased；andwhenthegirlshadleftoffdancing，andPiramusplaying，theladieswantedtohavetheirfortunestold；soIbadeMikailiaChikno，whocantellafortunewhenshepleasesbetterthananyoneelse，tellthemafortune，andshe，beinginagoodmind，toldthemafortunewhichpleasedthemverymuch。So，aftertheyhadheardtheirfortunes，oneofthemaskedifanyofourwomencouldsing；

andItoldthemseveralcould，moreparticularlyLeviathan—

youknowLeviathan，sheisnotherenow，butsomemilesdistant，sheisourbestsinger，Ursulacomingnext。SotheladysaidsheshouldliketohearLeviathansing，whereuponLeviathansangtheGudlopesham，andPiramusplayedthetuneofthesamename，whichasyouknow，meansthehoneycomb，thesongandthetunebeingwellentitledtothename，beingwonderfullysweet。Well，everybodypresentseemedmightywellpleasedwiththesongandmusic，withtheexceptionofoneperson，acarroty—hairedScotchbody；howhecamethereI

don’tknow，buttherehewas；and，comingforward，hebeganinScotchasbroadasabarn—doortofindfaultwiththemusicandthesong，saying，thathehadneverheardvilerstuffthaneither。Well，brother，outofconsiderationforthecivilgentrywithwhomthefellowhadcome，Iheldmypeaceforalongtime，andinordertogetthesubjectchanged，IsaidtoMikailiainRomany，Youhavetoldtheladiestheirfortunes，nowtellthegentlementheirs，quick，quick，—penlendedukkerin。Well，brother，theScotchman，I

suppose，thinkingIwasspeakingillofhim，fellintoagreaterpassionthanbefore，andcatchingholdoftheworddukkerin—’Dukkerin，’saidhe，’what’sdukkerin？’

’Dukkerin，’saidI，’isfortune，amanorwoman’sdestiny；

don’tyouliketheword？’’Word！d’yeca’thataword？abonnieword，’saidhe。’Perhaps，you’lltelluswhatitisinScotch，’saidI，’inorderthatwemayimproveourlanguagebyaScotchword；apalofminehastoldmethatwehavetakenagreatmanywordsfromforeignlingos。’’Why，then，ifthatbethecase，fellow，Iwilltellyou；itise’en"spaeing，"’saidhe，veryseriously。’Well，then，’saidI，’I’llkeepmyownword，whichismuchtheprettiest—

spaeing！spaeing！why，Ishouldbeashamedtomakeuseoftheword，itsoundssomuchlikeacertainotherword；’andthenImadeafaceasifIwereunwell。’Perhapsit’sScotchalsoforthat？’’Whatdoyemeanbyspeakinginthatguisetoagentleman？’saidhe；’youinsolentvagabond，withoutanameoracountry。’’Thereyouaremistaken，’saidI；’mycountryisEgypt，butwe’Gyptians，likeyouScotch，areratherfondoftravelling；andasforname—mynameisJasperPetulengro，perhapsyouhaveabetter；whatisit？’’SandyMacraw。’Atthat，brother，thegentlemenburstintoaroaroflaughter，andalltheladiestittered。"

"YouwererathersevereontheScotchman，Jasper。"

"Notatall，brother，andsupposeIwere，hebeganfirst；I

amthecivilestmanintheworld，andneverinterferewithanybody，wholetsmeandminealone。HefindsfaultwithRomany，forsooth！why，L—dA’mighty，what’sScotch？Hedoesn’tlikeoursongs；whatarehisown？Iunderstandthemaslittleashemine；Ihaveheardoneortwoofthem，andprettyrubbishtheyseemed。Butthebestofthejokeis，thefellow’sfindingfaultwithPiramus’sfiddle—achapfromthelandofbagpipesfindingfaultwithPiramus’sfiddle！

Why，I’llbackthatfiddleagainstallthebagpipesinScotland，andPiramusagainstallthebagpipers；forthoughPiramusweighsbuttenstone，heshallflogaScotchmanoftwenty。"

"Scotchmenareneversofatasthat，"saidI，"unlessindeed，theyhavebeenalongtimepensionersofEngland。Isay，Jasper，whatremarkablenamesyourpeoplehave！"

"Andwhatprettynames，brother；there’smyown，forexample，Jasper；thenthere’sAmbroseandSylvester；thenthere’sCulvato，whichsignifiesClaude；thenthere’sPiramus—

that’sanicename，brother。"

"Thenthere’syourwife’sname，Pakomovna；thenthere’sUrsulaandMorella。"

"Then，brother，there’sErcilla。"

"Ercilla！thenameofthegreatpoetofSpain，howwonderful；

thenLeviathan。"

"Thenameofaship，brother；Leviathanwasnamedafteraship，sodon’tmakeawonderoutofher。Butthere’sSanprielandSynfye。"

"Ay，andClementinaandLavinia，CamilliaandLydia，CurlandaandOrlanda；whereverdidtheygetthosenames？"

"Wheredidmywifegethernecklace，brother？"

"Sheknowsbest，Jasper。Ihope—"

"Come，nohoping！Shegotitfromhergrandmother，whodiedattheageofahundredandthree，andsleepsinCoggeshallchurchyard。Shegotitfromhermother，whoalsodiedveryold，andwhocouldgivenootheraccountofitthanthatithadbeeninthefamilytimeoutofmind。"

"Whencecouldtheyhavegotit？"

"Why，perhapswheretheygottheirnames，brother。A

gentleman，whohadtravelledmuch，oncetoldmethathehadseenthesisterofitabouttheneckofanIndianqueen。"

"Someofyournames，Jasper，appeartobechurchnames；yourown，forexample，andAmbrose，andSylvester；perhapsyougotthemfromthePapists，inthetimesofPopery；butwheredidyougetsuchanameasPiramus，anameofGrecianromance？

ThensomeofthemappeartobeSlavonian；forexample，MikailiaandPakomovna。Idon’tknowmuchofSlavonian；but—"

"WhatisSlavonian，brother？"

"Thefamilynameofcertainnations，theprincipalofwhichistheRussian，andfromwhichthewordslaveisoriginallyderived。YouhaveheardoftheRussians，Jasper？"

"Yes，brother；andseensome。Isawtheircrallisatthetimeofthepeace；hewasnotabad—lookingmanforaRussian。"

"Bythebye，Jasper，I’mhalfinclinedtothinkthatcrallisisaSlavishword。Isawsomethinglikeitinalilcalled’Voltaire’sLifeofCharles。’Howyoushouldhavecomebysuchnamesandwordsistomeincomprehensible。"

"Youseemposed，brother。"

"Ireallyknowverylittleaboutyou，Jasper。"

"Verylittleindeed，brother。Weknowverylittleaboutourselves；andyouknownothing，savewhatwehavetoldyou；

andwehavenowandthentoldyouthingsaboutuswhicharenotexactlytrue，simplytomakeafoolofyou，brother。Youwillsaythatwaswrong；perhapsitwas。Well，Sundaywillbehereinadayortwo，whenwewillgotochurch，wherepossiblyweshallhearasermononthedisastrousconsequencesoflying。"

CHAPTERVIII

TheChurch—TheAristocraticalPew—DaysofYore—TheClergyman—"InWhatWouldaManbeProfited？"

WHENtwodayshadpassed，Sundaycame；Ibreakfastedbymyselfinthesolitarydingle；andthen，havingsetthingsalittletorights，IascendedtoMr。Petulengro’sencampment。

Icouldhearchurch—bellsringingaroundinthedistance，appearingtosay，"Cometochurch，cometochurch，"asclearlyasitwaspossibleforchurch—bellstosay。IfoundMr。Petulengroseatedbythedoorofhistent，smokinghispipe，inratheranungenteelundress。"Well，Jasper，"saidI，"areyoureadytogotochurch？forifyouare，Iamreadytoaccompanyyou。""Iamnotready，brother，"saidMr。

Petulengro，"norismywife；thechurch，too，towhichweshallgoisthreemilesoff；soitisofnousetothinkofgoingtherethismorning，astheservicewouldbethree—

quartersoverbeforewegotthere；if，however，youaredisposedtogointheafternoon，weareyourpeople。"

ThereuponIreturnedtomydingle，whereIpassedseveralhoursinconningtheWelshBible，whichthepreacher，PeterWilliams，hadgivenme。

AtlastIgaveoverreading，tookaslightrefreshment，andwasabouttoemergefromthedingle，whenIheardthevoiceofMr。Petulengrocallingme。Iwentupagaintotheencampment，whereIfoundMr。Petulengro，hiswife，andTawnoChikno，readytoproceedtochurch。Mr。andMrs。PetulengroweredressedinRomanfashion，thoughnotinthefull—blownmannerinwhichtheyhadpaidtheirvisittoIsopelandmyself。Tawnohadonacleanwhiteslop，withanearlynewblackbeaver，withverybroadrims，andthenapexceedinglylong。Asformyself，IwasdressedinmuchthesamemannerasthatinwhichIdepartedfromLondon，havingon，inhonouroftheday，ashirtperfectlyclean，havingwashedoneonpurposefortheoccasion，withmyownhands，thedaybefore，inthepondoftepidwaterinwhichthenewtsanddeftswereinthehabitoftakingtheirpleasure。Weproceededforupwardsofamile，byfootpathsthroughmeadowsandcorn—

fields；wecrossedvariousstiles；atlast，passingoverone，wefoundourselvesinaroad，wendingalongwhichforaconsiderabledistance，weatlastcameinsightofachurch，thebellsofwhichhadbeentollingdistinctlyinourearsforsometime；before，however，wereachedthechurch—yard，thebellshadceasedtheirmelody。Itwassurroundedbyloftybeech—treesofbrilliantgreenfoliage。Weenteredthegate，Mrs。Petulengroleadingtheway，andproceededtoasmalldoorneartheeastendofthechurch。Asweadvanced，thesoundofsingingwithinthechurchroseuponourears。

Arrivedatthesmalldoor，Mrs。Petulengroopeneditandentered，followedbyTawnoChikno。Imyselfwentlastofall，followingMr。Petulengro，who，beforeIentered，turnedround，and，withasignificantnod，advisedmetotakecarehowIbehaved。Thepartofthechurchwhichwehadenteredwasthechancel；ononesidestoodanumberofvenerableoldmen—probablytheneighbouringpoor—andontheotheranumberofpoorgirlsbelongingtothevillageschool，dressedinwhitegownsandstrawbonnets，whomtwoelegantbutsimplydressedyoungwomenweresuperintending。Everyvoiceseemedtobeunitedinsingingacertainanthem，which，notwithstandingitwaswrittenneitherbyTatenorBrady，containssomeofthesublimestwordswhichwereeverputtogether，nottheworstofwhicharethosewhichburstonourearsasweentered：

"EveryeyeshallnowbeholdHim，Robedindreadfulmajesty；

ThosewhosetatnoughtandsoldHim，PiercedandnailedHimtothetree，Deeplywailing，ShallthetrueMessiahsee。"

StillfollowingMrs。Petulengro，weproceededdownthechancelandalongtheaisle；notwithstandingthesinging，I

coulddistinctlyhearaswepassedmanyavoicewhispering，"Herecomethegypsies！herecomethegypsies！"Ifeltratherembarrassed，withasomewhatawkwarddoubtastowhereweweretosit；noneoftheoccupiersofthepews，whoappearedtoconsistalmostentirelyoffarmers，withtheirwives，sons，anddaughters，openedadoortoadmitus。Mrs。

Petulengro，however，appearedtofeelnottheleastembarrassment，buttrippedalongtheaislewiththegreatestnonchalance。Wepassedunderthepulpit，inwhichstoodtheclergymaninhiswhitesurplice，andreachedthemiddleofthechurch，wherewewereconfrontedbythesextondressedinlongbluecoat，andholdinginhishandawand。Thisfunctionarymotionedtowardsthelowerendofthechurch，wherewerecertainbenches，partlyoccupiedbypoorpeopleandboys。Mrs。Petulengro，however，withatossofherhead，directedhercoursetoamagnificentpew，whichwasunoccupied，whichsheopenedandentered，followedcloselybyTawnoChikno，Mr。Petulengro，andmyself。Thesextondidnotappearbyanymeanstoapproveofthearrangement，andasI

stoodnextthedoor，laidhisfingeronmyarm，asiftointimatethatmyselfandcompanionsmustquitouraristocraticallocation。Isaidnothing，butdirectedmyeyestotheclergyman，whoutteredashortandexpressivecough；thesextonlookedathimforamoment，andthen，bowinghishead，closedthedoor—inamomentmorethemusicceased。Itookupaprayer—book，onwhichwasengravedanearl’scoronet。Theclergymanuttered，"Iwillarise，andgotomyfather。"England’ssublimeliturgyhadcommenced。

Oh，whatfeelingscameovermeonfindingmyselfagaininanedificedevotedtothereligionofmycountry！IhadnotbeeninsuchaplaceIcannottellforhowlong—certainlynotforyears；andnowIhadfoundmywaythereagain，itappearedasifIhadfallenasleepinthepewoftheoldchurchofprettyD—。Ihadoccasionallydonesowhenachild，andhadsuddenlywokeup。Yes，surelyIhadbeenasleepandhadwokeup；butno！alas，no！Ihadnotbeenasleep—atleastnotintheoldchurch—ifIhadbeenasleepIhadbeenwalkinginmysleep，struggling，striving，learning，andunlearninginmysleep。YearshadrolledawaywhilstIhadbeenasleep—ripefruithadfallen，greenfruithadcomeonwhilstIhadbeenasleep—howcircumstanceshadaltered，andaboveallmyself，whilstIhadbeenasleep。No，Ihadnotbeenasleepintheoldchurch！Iwasinapew，itistrue，butnotthepewofblackleather，inwhichI

sometimesfellasleepindaysofyore，butinastrangepew；

andthenmycompanions，theywerenolongerthoseofdaysofyore。Iwasnolongerwithmyrespectablefatherandmother，andmydearbrother，butwiththegypsycralandhiswife，andthegiganticTawno，theAntinousoftheduskypeople。

AndwhatwasImyself？Nolongeraninnocentchild，butamoodyman，bearinginmyface，asIknewwell，themarksofmystrivingsandstrugglings，ofwhatIhadlearntandunlearnt；nevertheless，thegeneralaspectofthingsbroughttomymindwhatIhadfeltandseenofyore。Therewasdifferenceenough，itistrue，butstilltherewasasimilarity—atleastIthoughtso—thechurch，theclergyman，andtheclerk，differinginmanyrespectsfromthoseofprettyD—，putmestrangelyinmindofthem；andthenthewords！—bythebye，wasitnotthemagicofthewordswhichbroughtthedearenchantingpastsopowerfullybeforethemindofLavengro？forthewordswerethesamesonorouswordsofhighimportwhichhadfirstmadeanimpressiononhischildishearintheoldchurchofprettyD—。

Theliturgywasnowover，duringthereadingofwhichmycompanionsbehavedinamostunexceptionablemanner，sittingdownandrisingupwhenotherpeoplesatdownandrose，andholdingintheirhandsprayer—bookswhichtheyfoundinthepew，intowhichtheystaredintently，thoughIobservedthat，withtheexceptionofMrs。Petulengro，whoknewhowtoreadalittle，theyheldthebooksbythetop，andnotthebottom，asistheusualway。Theclergymannowascendedthepulpit，arrayedinhisblackgown。Thecongregationcomposedthemselvestoattention，asdidalsomycompanions，whofixedtheireyesupontheclergymanwithacertainstrangeimmovablestare，whichIbelievetobepeculiartotheirrace。Theclergymangaveouthistext，andbegantopreach。

Hewasatall，gentlemanlyman，seeminglybetweenfiftyandsixty，withgreyishhair；hisfeatureswereveryhandsome，butwithasomewhatmelancholycast：thetonesofhisvoicewererichandnoble，butalsowithsomewhatofmelancholyinthem。Thetextwhichhegaveoutwasthefollowingone，"Inwhatwouldamanbeprofited，providedhegainedthewholeworld，andlosthisownsoul？"

Andonthistexttheclergymanpreachedlongandwell：hedidnotreadhissermon，butspokeitextempore；hisdoingsorathersurprisedandoffendedmeatfirst；Iwasnotusedtosuchastyleofpreachinginachurchdevotedtothereligionofmycountry。Icompareditwithinmymindwiththestyleofpreachingusedbythehigh—churchrectorintheoldchurchofprettyD—，andIthoughttomyselfitwasverydifferent，andbeingverydifferentIdidnotlikeit，andIthoughttomyselfhowscandalizedthepeopleofD—wouldhavebeenhadtheyheardit，andIfiguredtomyselfhowindignantthehigh—churchclerkwouldhavebeenhadanyclergymangotupinthechurchofD—andpreachedinsuchamanner。Diditnotsavourstronglyofdissent，methodism，andsimilarlowstuff？

Surelyitdid；why，theMethodistIhadheardpreachontheheathabovetheoldcity，preachedinthesamemanner—atleasthepreachedextempore；ay，andsomethinglikethepresentclergyman；fortheMethodistspokeveryzealouslyandwithgreatfeeling，andsodidthepresentclergyman；soI，ofcourse，feltratheroffendedwiththeclergymanforspeakingwithzealandfeeling。However，longbeforethesermonwasoverIforgottheoffencewhichIhadtaken，andlistenedtothesermonwithmuchadmiration，fortheeloquenceandpowerfulreasoningwithwhichitabounded。

Oh，howeloquenthewas，whenhetalkedoftheinestimablevalueofaman’ssoul，whichhesaidenduredforever，whilsthisbody，aseveryoneknew，lastedatmostforaverycontemptibleperiodoftime；andhowforciblyhereasonedonthefollyofaman，who，forthesakeofgainingthewholeworld—athing，hesaid，whichprovidedhegainedhecouldonlypossessforapartofthetime，duringwhichhisperishablebodyexisted—shouldlosehissoul，thatis，causethatpreciousdeathlessportionofhimtosufferindescribablemiserytimewithoutend。

Therewasonepartofhissermonwhichstruckmeinaveryparticularmanner：hesaid，"Thatthereweresomepeoplewhogainedsomethinginreturnfortheirsouls；iftheydidnotgetthewholeworld，theygotapartofit—lands，wealth，honour，orrenown；meretrifles，heallowed，incomparisonwiththevalueofaman’ssoul，whichisdestinedeithertoenjoydelight，orsuffertribulationtimewithoutend；butwhich，intheeyesoftheworldly，hadacertainvalue，andwhichaffordedacertainpleasureandsatisfaction。Buttherewerealsootherswholosttheirsouls，andgotnothingforthem—neitherlands，wealth，renown，norconsideration，whowerepooroutcasts，anddespisedbyeverybody。Myfriends，"headded，"ifthemanisafoolwhobartershissoulforthewholeworld，whatafoolhemustbewhobartershissoulfornothing。"

Theeyesoftheclergyman，asheutteredthesewords，wanderedaroundthewholecongregation；andwhenhehadconcludedthem，theeyesofthewholecongregationwereturneduponmycompanionsandmyself。

CHAPTERIX

ReturnfromChurch—TheCuckooandGypsy—SpiritualDiscourse。

THEserviceover，mycompanionsandmyselfreturnedtowardstheencampment，bythewaywecame。Someofthehumblepartofthecongregationlaughedandjokedatusaswepassed。

Mr。Petulengroandhiswife，however，returnedtheirlaughsandjokeswithinterest。AsforTawnoandmyself，wesaidnothing：Tawno，likemosthandsomefellows，havingverylittletosayforhimselfatanytime；andmyself，thoughnothandsome，notbeingparticularlyskilfulatrepartee。Someboysfollowedusforaconsiderabletime，makingallkindsofobservationsaboutgypsies；butaswewalkedatagreatpace，wegraduallyleftthembehind，andatlastlostsightofthem。Mrs。PetulengroandTawnoChiknowalkedtogether，evenastheyhadcome；whilstMr。Petulengroandmyselffollowedatalittledistance。

"Thatwasaveryfinepreacherweheard，"saidItoMr。

Petulengro，afterwehadcrossedthestileintothefields。

"Veryfineindeed，brother，"saidMr。Petulengro；"heistalkedof，farandwide，forhissermons；folkssaythatthereisscarcelyanotherlikehiminthewholeofEngland。"

"Helooksrathermelancholy，Jasper。"

"Helosthiswifeseveralyearsago，who，theysay，wasoneofthemostbeautifulwomeneverseen。Theysaythatitwasgriefforherlossthatmadehimcomeoutmightystrongasapreacher；for，thoughhewasaclergyman，hewasneverheardofinthepulpitbeforehelosthiswife；sincethen，thewholecountryhasrungwiththepreachingoftheclergymanofM—astheycallhim。Thosetwoniceyounggentlewomen，whomyousawwiththefemalechilder，arehisdaughters。"

"Youseemtoknowallabouthim，Jasper。Didyoueverhearhimpreachbefore？"

"Never，brother；buthehasfrequentlybeentoourtent，andhisdaughterstoo，andgivenustracts；forheisoneofthepeopletheycallEvangelicals，whogivefolkstractswhichtheycannotread。"

"Youshouldlearntoread，Jasper。"

"Wehavenotime，brother。"

"Areyounotfrequentlyidle？"

"Never，brother；whenwearenotengagedinourtraffic，weareengagedintakingourrelaxation：sowehavenotimetolearn。"

"Youreallyshouldmakeaneffort。Ifyouweredisposedtolearntoread，Iwouldendeavourtoassistyou。Youwouldbeallthebetterforknowinghowtoread。"

"Inwhatway，brother？"

"Why，youcouldreadtheScriptures，and，bysodoing，learnyourdutytowardsyourfellow—creatures。"

"Weknowthatalready，brother；theconstablesandjusticeshavecontrivedtoknockthattolerablyintoourheads。"

"Yetyoufrequentlybreakthelaws。"