"Did ye pray this mornin' that ye might find her, parson?"
"No, I can't say that I did," was the somewhat reluctant reply, for
Parson Dan was well accustomed to Captain Josh's thrusts.
"Ah, that's too bad. The missionary said night before last that we must pray if we expect to receive, didn't he?"
"Yes, captain, he did."
"And he told us more'n that, parson. He said that we couldn't expect to receive unless we gave."
"Yes, he said that also."
"And by jingo, he was right, too," and the captain brought his stick down upon the road with a bang. "I've tried it, and it has turned out just as the missionary said it would."
"You have!" and the clergyman looked his astonishment. "I am so glad, captain, to know that you have come to view things in a different light. I was pleased to see you at the missionary meeting, and I am so thankful that you were benefited by what you heard. Won't you tell me how you proved Mr. Dicer's words to be true?"
"Would ye like to know, parson?" and a sly twinkle shone in the captain's eyes as he asked the question.
"Certainly. Go ahead."