“But, Mother, thee know’st we canna love just where other folks ’ud have us.  There’s nobody but God can control the heart of man.  I could ha’ wished myself as Adam could ha’ made another choice, but I wouldn’t reproach him for what he can’t help.  And I’m not sure but what he tries to o’ercome it.  But it’s a matter as he doesn’t like to be spoke to about, and I can only pray to the Lord to bless and direct him.”

“Aye, thee’t allays ready enough at prayin’, but I donna see as thee gets much wi’ thy prayin’.  Thee wotna get double earnin’s o’ this side Yule.  Th’ Methodies ’ll niver make thee half the man thy brother is, for all they’re a-makin’ a preacher on thee.”

“It’s partly truth thee speak’st there, Mother,” said Seth, mildly; “Adam’s far before me, an’s done more for me than I can ever do for him.  God distributes talents to every man according as He sees good.  But thee mustna undervally prayer.  Prayer mayna bring money, but it brings us what no money can buy—­a power to keep from sin and be content with God’s will, whatever He may please to send.  If thee wouldst pray to God to help thee, and trust in His goodness, thee wouldstna be so uneasy about things.”

“Unaisy?  I’m i’ th’ right on’t to be unaisy.  It’s well seen on thee what it is niver to be unaisy.  Thee’t gi’ away all thy earnin’s, an’ niver be unaisy as thee’st nothin’ laid up again’ a rainy day.  If Adam had been as aisy as thee, he’d niver ha’ had no money to pay for thee.  Take no thought for the morrow—­take no thought—­that’s what thee’t allays sayin’; an’ what comes on’t?  Why, as Adam has to take thought for thee.”

“Those are the words o’ the Bible, Mother,” said Seth.  “They don’t mean as we should be idle.  They mean we shouldn’t be overanxious and worreting ourselves about what’ll happen to-morrow, but do our duty and leave the rest to God’s will.”

“Aye, aye, that’s the way wi’ thee:  thee allays makes a peck o’ thy own words out o’ a pint o’ the Bible’s.  I donna see how thee’t to know as ‘take no thought for the morrow’ means all that.  An’ when the Bible’s such a big book, an’ thee canst read all thro’t, an’ ha’ the pick o’ the texes, I canna think why thee dostna pick better words as donna mean so much more nor they say.  Adam doesna pick a that’n; I can understan’ the tex as he’s allays a-sayin’, ‘God helps them as helps theirsens.’”

“Nay, Mother,” said Seth, “that’s no text o’ the Bible.  It comes out of a book as Adam picked up at the stall at Treddles’on.  It was wrote by a knowing man, but overworldly, I doubt.  However, that saying’s partly true; for the Bible tells us we must be workers together with God.”

“Well, how’m I to know?  It sounds like a tex.  But what’s th’ matter wi’ th’ lad?  Thee’t hardly atin’ a bit o’ supper.  Dostna mean to ha’ no more nor that bit o’ oat-cake?  An’ thee lookst as white as a flick o’ new bacon.  What’s th’ matter wi’ thee?”