While
she was telling all this in the most matter-of-fact way, I had been
noticing the approach of a tall man, with a high white hat and
darkish clothes. He came up the hill at a rapid pace, and joined our
little group with a sort of half-salutation. Turning at once to the
woman, he asked her in a business-like way whether she had anything
to do, whether she were a Catholic or a Protestant, whether she could
read, and so forth; and then, after a few kind words and some
sweeties to the child, he despatched the mother with some tracts
about Biddy and the Priest, and the Orangeman's Bible. I was a
little amused at his abrupt manner, for he was still a young man, and
had somewhat the air of a navy officer; but he tackled me with great
solemnity. I could make fun of what he said, for I do not think it
was very wise; but the subject does not appear to me just now in a
jesting light, so I shall only say that he related to me his own
conversion, which had been effected (as is very often the case)
through the agency of a gig accident, and that, after having examined
me and diagnosed my case, he selected some suitable tracts from his
repertory, gave them to me, and, bidding me God-speed, went on his
way.
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