“And are you sure,” said Connor, “that you keep the commandments, and never break one of them?”
“It’s myself that thinks so,” said Lacy, “and I defy you, or any one else, to say to the contrary.”
“I will show you presently,” said Connor, taking down a neat Bible.
“No thank you,” said Lacy, “I could have enough of that if I liked it; but I am not fond of preaching: it’s poor feeding for those who want bread.”
“Isn’t the Bible said to be the bread of life?” cried Mary.
“It may be so,” said he, “but I can’t live on a book.”
“Ah, neighbour, if you would but learn to look up to God!” said Mary.
“Pho!” replied Lacy, rising, and throwing his spade over his shoulder, “Connor, with all your talk, you are worse off than me—how will you feed those four hungry little ones to-morrow?”
“We don’t fret ourselves much about that,” said Mary, for “He that feedeth the young ravens, has promised that he will not suffer the children of his servants to cry for food in vain.”
“And if they do,” added Connor, “we can fast: the Son of God knew hunger and thirst for many days, and shall we grumble if he lets us feel them for one?”