“By no means,” I replied; “I shall be truly glad to oblige you and any of your family in this matter, provided it be quite agreeable to the minister of your parish.”
“Sir, he told me yesterday that he should be very glad if I could procure some gentleman to come and bury my poor child for him, as he lives five miles off, and has particular business on that day. So, when I told my daughter, she asked me to come to you, sir, and bring that letter, which would explain the matter.”
I desired him to come into the house, and then said:
“Sir, I have lived most of my days in a little cottage at ---, six miles from here. I have rented a few acres of ground, and kept some cows, which, in addition to my day-labour, has been the means of supporting and bringing up my family.”
“What family have you?”
“A wife, now getting very aged and helpless, two sons and one daughter; for my other poor dear child is just departed out of this wicked world.”
“I hope for a better.”
“I hope so, too, poor thing. She did not use to take to such good ways as her sister; but I do believe that her sister’s manner of talking with her before she died, was the means of saving her soul. What a mercy it is to have such a child as mine is! I never thought about my own soul seriously till she, poor girl, begged and prayed me to flee from the wrath to come.”
“How old are you?”