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he said, "I know ye're in there. We've got a beautiful lesson to-day." We crouched in a corner, still silent. "Come, boys," he urged, "don't keep me waiting. The lesson is about the Prodigal Son." "Say somethin', Arthur," I urged. He did. "T' hell wi' the Prodigal Son!" he said, whereupon the little man jumped the low wall into the outer yard and drove the big, grunting, wallowing sow in on top of us! Our yells could be heard a mile away. We came out and were collared and taken off to Sunday School. When I returned, the cups were all tossed and the visitors had gone, but Willie Withero had dropped in and was invited to "stap" for tea. He was our most welcome visitor and there was but one house where he felt at home. "Tay" that evening consisted of "stir-about," Sonny Johnson's unearned bap and buttermilk. Willie made more noise "suppin'" his stir-about than Jamie did, and I said: "Did ye iver hear ov th' cow that got her foot stuck in a bog, Willie?" "No, boy, what did she do?" "She got it out!" A stern look from Jamie prevented the application. "Tell me, Willie," Anna said, "is it thrue that ye can blink a cow so that she can give no milk at all?" "It's jist a hoax, Anna, some oul bitch said it an' th' others cackle it from doore to doore. I've naither wife nor wain, chick nor chile, I ate th' bread ov loneliness an' keep m' own company an' jist bekase I don't blether wi' th' gossoons th' think I'm uncanny. Isn't that it, Jamie, eh!" "Aye, ye're right, Willie, it's quare what bletherin' fools there are in this town!" Willie held his full spoon in front of his mouth while he replied: "It's you that's the dacent maan, Jamie, 'deed it is." "The crocks are empty, dear," Anna said to me. After "tay," to the town well I went for the night's supply of water. When I returned the dishes were washed and on the dresser. The floor was swept and the family were swappin' stories with Withero. Sunday was ever the day of Broth and Romance. Anna made the best broth and told the best stories. No Sunday was complete without a good story. On the doorstep that night she told one of her best. As she finished the church bell tolled the curfew. Then the days of the month were tolled off. "Sammy's arm is gey shtrong th' night," Willie said. "Aye," Jamie said, "an' th' oul bell's got a fine ring." CHAPTER V HIS ARM IS NOT SHORTENED When Anna had to choose between love and religion--the religion
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