This was
a source of much pleasure to us; we both loved a garden, and we
were not only contented but cheerful. Our employer had been absent
some weeks on his annual journey. He came home on a Saturday night,
and the next morning sent for Mr. Simpson to come and settle his
accounts, which were got behind-hand by his long absence. We were
just going to church, and Mr. Simpson sent back word that he would
call and speak to him on his way home. A second message followed,
ordering him to come to the farmer's directly; he agreed that he
would walk round that way, and that my husband should call and
excuse his attendance.

"The farmer, more ignorant and worse educated than his plowman, with
all that pride and haughtiness which the possession of wealth,
without knowledge or religion is apt to give, rudely asked my
husband what he meant by sending him word that he would not come to
him till the next day; and insisted that he should stay and settle
the accounts then. 'Sir,' said my husband, in a very respectful
manner, 'I am on my road to church, and I am afraid shall be too
late.' 'Are you so?' said the farmer. 'Do you know who sent for you?
You may, however, go to church, if you will, so you make haste back;
and, d'ye hear, you may leave your accounts with me, as I conclude
you have brought them with you; I will look them over by the time
you return, and then you and I can do all I want to have done to-day
in about a couple of hours, and I will give you home some letters to
copy for me in the evening.' 'Sir,' answered my husband, 'I dare not
obey you; it is Sunday.' 'And so you refuse to settle my accounts
only because it is Sunday.' 'Sir,' replied Mr. Simpson, 'if you
would give me a handful of silver and gold I dare not break the
commandment of my God.' 'Well,' said the farmer, 'but this is not
breaking the commandment; I don't order you to drive my cattle, or
to work in my garden, or to do any thing which you might fancy
would be a bad example.' 'Sir,' replied my husband, 'the example
indeed goes a great way, but it is not the first object. The deed is
wrong in itself.' 'Well, but I shall not keep you from church; and
when you have been there, there is no harm in doing a little
business, or taking a little pleasure the rest of the day.' 'Sir,'
answered my husband, 'the commandment does not say, thou shalt keep
holy the Sabbath _morning_, but the Sabbath _day_.' 'Get out of my
house, you puritanical rascal, and out of my co