‘Oh, yes, grandfather, if you would let me!’ cried Gertie, eagerly.
‘Missus, ’said Josh, ‘give the gal her mother’s Bible. I ha’ kept it all these years, but I never know as I should want it. I kept it for my gal’s sake. It’s over yonder in the dror there.’ Bess followed the old man’s finger.
She opened the drawer and drew out an old-fashioned cheap Bible, faded and worn with age.
‘Give it to me.’
Josh took the book and looked at it reverently.
‘That’s it,’ he said; ‘she was always a-worriting of me to hear summat out of it, was my gal. “Father,” she used to say, “I wish you’d let me read yer a bit out of the Bible,” but I never would. It warn’t in my line then.’
‘Shall I read it to you now, grandfather?’ said Gertie, softly laying her hand upon the book.
‘Yes, gal, do. I seem to hear your mother’s voice a-sayin’ “Read the Bible! Read the Bible!”’
‘What shall I read you, grandfather?’
‘Arn’t there summat in it about storin’ away proputty and about thieves? Once I heard a chap at a street-corner a-lecturin’ on that. I fancy something about that’ud be best for me to hear, eh?’