‘He lost his wife several years ago, who, they say, was one of the most beautiful women ever seen. They say that it was grief for her loss that made him come out mighty strong as a preacher; for, though he was a clergyman, he was never heard of in the pulpit before he lost his wife; since then the whole country has rung with the preaching of the clergyman of M---, [57] as they call him. Those two nice young gentlewomen whom you saw with the female childer are his daughters.’
‘You seem to know all about him, Jasper. Did you ever hear him preach before?’
‘Never, brother; but he has frequently been to our tent, and his daughters, too, and given us tracts; for he
is one of the people they call Evangelicals, who give folks tracts which they cannot read.’
‘You should learn to read, Jasper.’
‘We have no time, brother.’
‘Are you not frequently idle?’
‘Never, brother; when we are not engaged in our traffic we are engaged in taking our relaxation, so we have no time to learn.’
‘You really should make an effort. If you were disposed to learn to read, I would endeavour to assist you. You would be all the better for knowing how to read.’
‘In what way, brother?’