Quinn—(Slowly.) Do ye say pray over it?
Martin—(Diffidently.) If we could all get together on it. I know it's hard to talk religion to the boys, they all think different about it. It takes some courage for a man to come out and say he's a Christian, but I'm willing to do it. Think—if all the men and women and children would pray for a settlement, it would have some weight with the Lord.
Mrs. Martin—(Eagerly.) He'd give an answer, I know. I heard a minister say once, if we'd ask for anything with all our hearts and souls the Lord wouldn't deny us.
Mrs. Quinn—What a mix-up we'd have then!
Quinn—Well, I've not much use for prayers when there's a fight on—but if ye—
Mrs. Quinn—Ye know, I had a mad sort of a dream tother night.
Quinn—(Impatiently.) Whist woman, with yer dreams!
Mrs. Quinn—(Undeterred.) I dreamed I was after havin' a nice easy talk with Gawd, and he sez to me, "Mary Ann Quinn, I want ye to sit up here with me in Heaven on me right hand side. For sure," sez he, pleasant like, "you've never pestered me with requests since ye've been a woman grown." "Well Gawd," sez I, "I've been that mortal busy tendin' to the bodily comforts of me man John, and me daughter Molly, that I've had me mind fair occupied, and I apologize for not comin' to ye oftener." "Oh, Mary Ann," sez he, "can't ye see I like it? I'm fair sick of havin' to stand sponsor for all the mistakes of me numberless Christian children. They go along in their headstrong ways doin' the things they want to do, right or wrong, and when they run amuck, they up and come to me with prayers and supplications, cryin' and pleadin' for help, when a slight use of their own wits and decency and common sense would have kept them from difficulties in the first place."
"Oh, Gawd," begins I, but he smiles at me and sez he, "get up wid ye on me right hand side, and keep that grin on yer face Mary Ann Quinn, while I tend to me regular customers."
Quinn—(Shocked.) I can't help ye bein' heathenish in yer views, but I'll not have ye outspoken voicin' them.