“There has Mr. Gray been twice at my house, while I have been away in the
mornings, talking to Sally about the state of her soul and that sort of
thing. But when I found the meat all roasted to a cinder, I said, ‘Come,
Sally, let’s have no more praying when beef is down at the fire. Pray at
six o’clock in the morning and nine at night, and I won’t hinder you.’
So she sauced me, and said something about Martha and Mary, implying
that, because she had let the beef get so overdone that I declare I could
hardly find a bit for Nancy Pole’s sick grandchild, she had chosen the
better part. I was very much put about, I own, and perhaps, you’ll be
shocked at what I said—indeed, I don’t know if it was right myself—but I
told her I had a soul as well as she, and, if it was to be saved by my
sitting still and thinking about salvation and never doing my duty, I
thought I had as good a right as she had to be Mary, and save my soul.
So, that afternoon, I sat quite still, and it was really a comfort, for
I am often too busy, I know, to pray as I ought. There is first one
person wanting me, and then another, and the house and the food and the
neighbours to see after. So, when tea-time comes, there enters my maid
with her hump on her back, and her soul to be saved. ‘Please, ma’am, did
you order the pound of butter?’ ‘No, Sally,’ I said, shaking my head,
‘this morning I did not go round by Hale’s farm, and this afternoon I
have been employed in spiritual things.’
“Now, our Sally likes tea and bread-and-butter above everything, and dry
bread was not to her taste.
“‘I’m thankful,’ said the impudent hussy, ‘that you have taken a turn
towards godliness. It will be my prayers, I trust, that’s given it you.’
“I was determined not to give her an opening towards the carnal subject
of butter; so she lingered still, longing to ask leave to run for it.
But I gave her none, and munched my dry bread myself, thinking what a
famous cake I could make for little Ben Pole with a bit of butter we
were saving; and, when Sally had had her butterless tea, and was in none
of the best of tempers because Martha had not bethought herself of the
butter, I just quietly said:
“‘Now, Sally, to-morrow we’ll try to hash that beef well, and to remember
the butter, and to work out our salvation all at the same time, for I
don’t see why it can’t all be done, as God has set us to do it all.’ But
I heard her at it again about Mary and Martha, and I have no doubt that
Mr. Gray will teach her to consider me as a lost sheep.”