ide-table, and running over
the leaves; An' please your Honour, said Trim, I can see no such
thing;--however, continued the Corporal, drolling a little in his turn,
I'll make sure work of it, an' please your Honour;--so taking hold of
the two covers of the book, one in each hand, and letting the leaves
fall down as he bent the covers back, he gave the book a good sound
shake.

There is something falling out, however, said Trim, an' please your
Honour;--but it is not a chariot, or any thing like one:--Prithee,
Corporal, said my father, smiling, what is it then?--I think, answered
Trim, stooping to take it up,--'tis more like a sermon,--for it begins
with a text of scripture, and the chapter and verse;--and then goes on,
not as a chariot, but like a sermon directly.

The company smiled.

I cannot conceive how it is possible, quoth my uncle Toby, for such a
thing as a sermon to have got into my Stevinus.

I think 'tis a sermon, replied Trim:--but if it please your Honours,
as it is a fair hand, I will read you a page;--for Trim, you must know,
loved to hear himself read almost as well as talk.

I have ever a strong propensity, said my father, to look into things
which cross my way, by such strange fatalities as these;--and as we
have nothing better to do, at least till Obadiah gets back, I shall be
obliged to you, brother, if Dr. Slop has no objection to it, to order
the Corporal to give us a page or two of it,--if he is as able to do it,
as he seems willing. An' please your honour, quoth Trim, I officiated
two whole campaigns, in Flanders, as clerk to the chaplain of the
regiment.--He can read it, quoth my uncle Toby, as well as I can.--Trim,
I assure you, was the best scholar in my company, and should have had
the next halberd, but for the poor fellow's misfortune. Corporal Trim
laid his hand upon his heart, and made an humble bow to his master; then
laying down his hat upon the floor, and taking up the sermon in his
left hand, in order to have his right at liberty,--he advanced, nothing
doubting, into the middle of the room, where he could best see, and be
best seen by his audience.

Chapter 1.XLI.

--If you have any objection,--said my father, addressing himself to Dr.
Slop. Not in the least, replied Dr. Slop;--for it does not appear on
which side of the question it is wrote,--it may be a composition of
a divine of our church, as well as yours,--so that we run equal
risques.--'Tis wrote upon neither side,