小说园

第6部分（第2页）

“They　go　to　hell；”　was　my　ready　and　orthodox　answer。

“And　what　is　hell？　Can　you　tell　me　that？”

“A　pit　full　of　fire。”

“And　should　you　like　to　fall　into　that　pit；　and　to　be　burning　there　for　ever？”

“No；　sir。”

“What　must　you　do　to　avoid　it？”

I　deliberated　a　moment；　my　answer；　when　it　did　e；　was　objectionable：　“I　must　keep　in　good　health；　and　not　die。”

“How　can　you　keep　in　good　health？　Children　younger　than　you　die　daily。　I　buried　a　little　child　of　five　years　old　only　a　day　or　two　since；—a　good　little　child；　whose　soul　is　now　in　heaven。　It　is　to　be　feared　the　same　could　not　be　said　of　you　were　you　to　be　called　hence。”

Not　being　in　a　condition　to　remove　his　doubt；　I　only　cast　my　eyes　down　on　the　two　large　feet　planted　on　the　rug；　and　sighed；　wishing　myself　far　enough　away。

“I　hope　that　sigh　is　from　the　heart；　and　that　you　repent　of　ever　having　been　the　occasion　of　disfort　to　your　excellent　benefactress。”

“Benefactress！　benefactress！”　said　I　inwardly：　“they　all　call　Mrs。　Reed　my　benefactress；　if　so；　a　benefactress　is　a　disagreeable　thing。”

“Do　you　say　your　prayers　night　and　morning？”　continued　my　interrogator。

“Yes；　sir。”

“Do　you　read　your　Bible？”

“Sometimes。”

“With　pleasure？　Are　you　fond　of　it？”

“I　like　Revelations；　and　the　book　of　Daniel；　and　Genesis　and　Samuel；　and　a　little　bit　of　Exodus；　and　some　parts　of　Kings　and　Chronicles；　and　Job　and　Jonah。”

“And　the　Psalms？　I　hope　you　like　them？”

“No；　sir。”

“No？　oh；　shocking！　I　have　a　little　boy；　younger　than　you；　who　knows　six　Psalms　by　heart：　and　when　you　ask　him　which　he　would　rather　have；　a　gingerbread…nut　to　eat　or　a　verse　of　a　Psalm　to　learn；　he　says：　‘Oh！　the　verse　of　a　Psalm！　angels　sing　Psalms；’　says　he；　‘I　wish　to　be　a　little　angel　here　below；’　he　then　gets　two　nuts　in　repense　for　his　infant　piety。”

“Psalms　are　not　interesting；”　I　remarked。

“That　proves　you　have　a　wicked　heart；　and　you　must　pray　to　God　to　change　it：　to　give　you　a　new　and　clean　one：　to　take　away　your　heart　of　stone　and　give　you　a　heart　of　flesh。”

I　was　abou