“‘Maybe we didn’t know it enough,’ said the cobbler. ‘I’m afraid I don’t now.’
“And as her back was turned, he hastily brought his hand to his eyes.
“‘But father, can one help feeling a little bad when—when things are so now?’
“‘‘A little bad’—perhaps one might feel ‘a little bad,’’ said the cobbler; ‘but if I believed all that I know, I don’t see how I could feel very bad. I don’t see how I could; and I oughtn’t to.’
“His little daughter had been raking the fire together, and setting on the coals a little iron skillet of water. She turned and looked at him when he said this, as if she had not known before that he did feel ‘very bad.’ He did not see the look, which was a startled and sorrowful one; he was bending over his shoe-leather. She left the room then and went after the meal, which she brought in a yellow earthen dish, and began silently to mix for the porridge.
“‘The Bible says, father——’ she began, stirring away.
“‘Yes, dear,—what does it say?’ said Mr. Peg.
“‘It says, ‘Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily——’’
“Susan’s voice broke. She stirred her porridge vehemently, and turned her back to her father.
“‘‘Verily thou shalt be fed,’’ said the cobbler. ‘Yes—I know it. The thing is, to believe it.’