"Would it? God's command is, 'Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.' And Paul says to the Thessalonians, 'Even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.'"
Elsie turned to the suppliant. "Zeke, you hear what the Bible says, and you know we must all obey its teachings."
"Yes, Miss Elsie, dat's true nuff."
"Then will you promise papa that if he feeds you now you will go to work industriously to-morrow, if God spares your life?"
"Sho'n I will, Miss Elsie, 'cept I gets de misery in de back, or de head, or somewheres else."
"He can always find a hole to creep out at, Elsie," Mr. Dinsmore said, with a slight laugh; "those miseries never elude a determined search."
"But, Zeke," said Elsie, "you mustn't give up for a little misery; you mustn't try to feel one."
"Sho' not; but dey jes' comes dere-selves, little missy."
"And some people give them every encouragement, while others work on in spite of them," remarked his master, with some sternness of tone. "I assure you, Zeke, that I have myself done many an hour's work while enduring a racking headache."