266 RELIGION IN THE BACK SETTLEMENTS. 



" Why, Yecup, my friend/' said the pastor, " you appear dis- 

 pirited : something wrong I fear." 



" Ya Myhnheer," replied Yecup, " look at de crops, and even last 

 year they were not what they ought to be." The Pastor shook his 

 head ; but did not reply, " We lost a cow too der divel mine 

 broder takes on about it uncommonly." 



" Ah ! that is very unfortunate/' observed the teacher ; " but why 

 Yecup, why don't you come amongst us at the chapel yonder ?" 



" Why, Myhnheer, I don't know what we should gain by that," 

 said Yecup, surlily. 



" My good friend, you would hear of things that would tend to 

 your eternal gain." 



'< Ah !" said Yecup, opening his eyes wider than he was wont ; 

 " c ould you tell us any thing about der crops ?" 



" I could tell you of things you never heard of before." 



" Donder!" ejaculated Yecup, " I will go to de chapel, and mine 

 broder too, if you tink der crops" 



<c Friend Yecup, you are in a lamentable state of ignorance, touch- 

 ing things that materially concern you," said the preacher. 



" Der divel ! if I didn't say so," said Yecup, smacking his thigh 

 with his open palm ; " when Yohn steeped the seed corn in brine ; 

 but if you can tell us what we don't know about der crops, you 

 see, I'll come and mine broder too." 



" And the sooner you come the better." 



" So I tink," echoed Yecup, looking ruefully at his corn, " and 

 mayhap you may tell us what's good for the blight." 



" Poor benighted creature !" sighed the teacher ; " yes, yes, Yecup, 

 you will learn much ; and harkye my friend, come next Sunday 

 evening, and in the mean time take this bible and study it atten- 

 lively." 



" Piple !" said Yecup, taking the book with a sort of doubtful 

 surprize ; " you see, Myhnheer, a book farmer never does much 

 good ; but as you seem so sure about der crops, I'll just look at it, 

 and mayhap I may pick up a hint." 



" My friend, this book will teach you a Christian's duty," said the 

 teacher, solemnly; "and from this good seed I hope to gather a 

 harvest of repentance." This was a flight totally beyond poor Ye- 

 cup's reach, and he stared in mute wonder. ; 



" Well but Myhnheer, shall I get nothing in it about der crops/ 

 because if I thought there was nothing about der crops, you see, 

 why " 



" Oh ! Yecup, Yecup, I fear you are worse than I could have 

 supposed." 



" Dat is very true ;" groaned Yecup, " mine broder will tell you, 

 we shan't save two bushels an acre; we can't be worse Myhnheer, 

 so we'll come to chapel, and mine broder too." 



" And is it possible," exclaimed the minister, raising both hands 

 and eyes ; " that men can be so utterly lost in a Christian land ! Have 

 you any idea at all of religion, friend Yecup ?" 



" Why, ya, ya, Myhnneer ; only it is so long ago you see, that 

 you had better begin with me from the beginning ; but I'll tell mine 



