“Again, this law that ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ that stands out so plain in the Holy Book, that divorce is only permitted for this one cause, I find this great government, which by its laws breaks even the holy marriage bonds by the committing of this sin—I find that this government makes this sin easy and convenient to commit. It grants licenses to make it lawful and right.
“When I get here and study I see such strange things. Forevermore I wonder, and forevermore I say—Why are not missionaries sent to this people, who do such things?
“And I, even I, so weak as I am and so ignorant, but fired as I am by the love of Christ Jesus—I say to myself, ‘I will tell this people of their sins. I will try to bring them to a knowledge of the pure and holy religion of Christ.’”
“You come as a missionary, then?” sez I, a-bustin’ out onbeknown to me. “Often and often I have wanted a heathen to come over and try to convert Uncle Sam—poor old creeter, a-wadin’ in sin up to his old knee jints and over ’em,” sez I.
“Uncle Sam a-wadin’ in sin up to his old knee jints.”
“Uncle Sam?” sez he; “I know him not. I meant your great people; I do not speak of one alone.”
“I know,” sez I; “that is what we call our Goverment when we are on intimate terms with it.”
“And,” sez I, “you little know what that old man has been through. He wants to do right—he honestly duz; but you know jest how it is—how mistaken counsellors darken wisdom and confound jedgment.”
But the sweet, melodious voice went on—