sked my clergyman if we should
discover to him that we had seen him under the bush or not; and it was
his opinion we should not, but that we should talk to him first, and hear
what he would say to us; so we called him in alone, nobody being in the
place but ourselves, and I began by asking him some particulars about his
parentage and education. He told me frankly enough that his father was a
clergyman who would have taught him well, but that he, Will Atkins,
despised all instruction and correction; and by his brutish conduct cut
the thread of all his father's comforts and shortened his days, for that
he broke his heart by the most ungrateful, unnatural return for the most
affectionate treatment a father ever gave.

In what he said there seemed so much sincerity of repentance, that it
painfully affected me. I could not but reflect that I, too, had
shortened the life of a good, tender father by my bad conduct and
obstinate self-will. I was, indeed, so surprised with what he had told
me, that I thought, instead of my going about to teach and instruct him,
the man was made a teacher and instructor to me in a most unexpected
manner.

I laid all this before the young clergyman, who was greatly affected with
it, and said to me, "Did I not say, sir, that when this man was converted
he would preach to us all? I tell you, sir, if this one man be made a
true penitent, there will be no need of me; he will make Christians of
all in the island."--But having a little composed myself, I renewed my
discourse with Will Atkins. "But, Will," said I, "how comes the sense of
this matter to touch you just now?"

_W.A._--Sir, you have set me about a work that has struck a dart though
my very soul; I have been talking about God and religion to my wife, in
order, as you directed me, to make a Christian of her, and she has
preached such a sermon to me as I shall never forget while I live.

_R.C._--No, no, it is not your wife has preached to you; but when you
were moving religious arguments to her, conscience has flung them back
upon you.

_W.A._--Ay, sir, with such force as is not to be resisted.

_R.C._--Pray, Will, let us know what passed between you and your wife;
for I know something of it already.

_W.A._--Sir, it is impossible to give you a full account of it; I am too
full to hold it, and yet have no tongue to express it; but let her have
said what she will, though I cannot give you an account of it, this I can
tell you, that