"And what do they gain in this world?--irritation, ill-health, and
misery. It is a fact that no man ever reached a great old age who hated
his neighbor; still less a _good_ old age; for, if men would look
honestly into their own hearts, they would own that to hate is to be
miserable.
"I believe no men commit a sin for many years without some special
warnings; and to neglect these, is one sin more added to their account.
Such a warning, or rather, I should say, such a pleading of Divine
love, those two gentlemen have had. Do you remember, about eight years
ago, two children were lost on one day, out of different houses in this
village?" (A murmur from the crowd.)
"Perhaps some of you here present were instrumental, under God, in
finding that pretty pair." (A louder murmur.)
"Oh, don't be afraid to answer me. Preaching is only a way of speaking;
and I'm only a woman that is speaking to you for your good. Tell me--we
are not in church, tied up by stait-laced rules to keep men and women
from getting within arm's-length of one another's souls--tell me, who
saw those two lost children?"
"I, I, I, I, I," roared several voices in reply.
"Is it true, as a good woman tells me, that the innocent darlings had
each an arm round the other's neck?"
"Ay.
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