I was just a-thinkinâ whether I hadnât better begin tooâ ââspecially as there was a wery nice lady a-sittinâ next meâ âven in comes the tea, and your mother-in-law, as had been makinâ the kettle bile downstairs. At it they went, tooth and nail. Such a precious loud hymn, Sammy, while the tea was a brewing; such a grace, such eatinâ and drinkinâ! I wish you could haâ seen the shepherd walkinâ into the ham and muffins. I never see such a chap to eat and drinkâ ânever. The red-nosed man warnât by no means the sort of person youâd like to grub by contract, but he was nothinâ to the shepherd. Well; arter the tea was over, they sang another hymn, and then the shepherd began to preach: and wery well he did it, considerinâ how heavy them muffins must have lied on his chest. Presently he pulls up, all of a sudden, and hollers out, âWhere is the sinner; where is the misârable sinner?â Upon which, all the women looked at me, and began to groan as if they was a-dying. I thought it was rather singâler, but howsoever, I says nothing. Presently he pulls up again, and lookinâ wery hard at me, says, âWhere is the sinner; where is the misârable sinner?â and all the women groans again, ten times louder than afore.
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