sed of the spirit of a devil, instead of a
Chartist, he is jist the boy to drive it out of him. Let him be awhile,
and he'll tame old uncle there, like a cossit sheep; jist see if he
don't, that's all."
We then walked up and down the shady lane, smoking our cigars, and Mr.
Slick observed, "Well, there is a nation sight of difference, too, ain't
there, atween this country church, and a country meetin' house our side
of the water; I won't say in your country or my country; but I say _our_
side of the water--and then it won't rile nobody; for your folks will
say I mean the States, and our citizens will say I mean the colonies;
but you and I know who the cap fits, one or t'other, or both, don't we?
"Now here, this old-fashioned church, ain't quite up to the notch, and
is a leetle behind the enlightment of the age like, with its queer old
fixin's and what not; but still it looks solemcoly' don't it, and the
dim light seems as if we warn't expected to be a lookin' about, and as
if outer world was shot out, from sight and thort, and it warn't _man's_
house nother.
"I don't know whether it was that dear old man's preachin', and he is
a brick ain't he? or, whether it's the place, or the place and him
together; but somehow, or somehow else, I feel more serious to-day
than common, that's a fact. The people too are all so plain dressed, so
decent, so devout and no show, it looks like airnest.
"The only fashionable people here was the Squire's sarvants; and they
_did_ look genteel, and no mistake. Elegant men, and most splendid
lookin' women they was too. I thought it was some noble, or aid's,
or big bug's family; but Mrs. Hodgins says they are the people of
the Squire's about here, the butlers and ladies' maids; and superfine
uppercrust lookin' folks they be too.
"Then every body walks here, even Squire Merton and his splendiriferous
galls walked like the poorest of the poor, there was no carriage to the
door, nor no hosses hitched to the gate, or tied to the back of waggons,
or people gossipin' outside; but all come in and minded their business,
as if it was worth attendin' to; and then arter church was finished off,
I liked the way the big folks talked to the little folks, and enquired
arter their families. It may he actin', but if it is, it's plaguy good
actin', I _tell_ you.
"I'm a thinkin' it tante a rael gentleman that's proud, but only a hop.
You've seen a hop grow, hante you? It shoots up in a night, the matter
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