RELIGION IN THE BACK SETTLEMENTS. 267 



broder what you say about der crops, and will come to chapel, and 

 mine broder too." 



tf And now then, Yecup, to begin, tell me/' said the Pastor, " do 

 you know how many Gods there are ?" 



" How many !" repeated Yecup, " ya, ya, Myhnneer; I know 

 dat well enough, only it is so long ago you see, dat " 



" Well, well, tell me" 



" Why, it's a long time ago; but I should tink, yes, about 



TWENTY !" 



11 TWENTY ! " re-echoed the Pastor, in a voice of inexpressible 

 horror. 



" Mind I only meant about twenty, I did'nt say exactly ; I told 

 you it was so long ago i could'nt say exactly," argued Yecup ener- 

 getically, for he saw he was out, though he did'nt know on which 

 side. 



" Well, Yecup, read the Bible well, and come to me on the 

 sabbath evening, and all may yet be well." 



" I tank ye, Myhnneer, I tank ye :" said the boor, " and I hope it 

 will be well ; and I'll speak to mine broder touching der crops, and 

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



" Farewell then, Yecup, for the present ;" said the preacher, " re- 

 member, above all things, read the Bible." 



Away trudged the Dutchman to his " broder," whom he found 

 sitting under the porch smoking his pipe. 



" Well, broder Yecup," said Yohn," what have you got dere ?'' 



" Oh ! dat is der Piple, broder Yohn," said Yecup ; " der 

 crops have been very bad lately." 



" Ya ! " said Yohn, " can't be worse." 



" Well, broder Yohn, I have been talking to der Minister of 

 der chapel yonder, and he says that if we go to der chapel he will 

 tell us of someting good for der crops." 



" Donder ! broder Yecup, dat's good ; and der Piple " 



" Oh, dat's for der crops too." 



" Blitzen ! broder, dat's good ; will it stop der blight ?" 



" We shall know more dan we ever know." 



" Tousand divels ! I will get trunk to night." 



" But, broder Yohn, we must go to der chapel." 



" Ya, ya ! broder Yecup, we can go to der chapel and get trunk 

 too." 



"But, broder Yohn, do you know about religion?" 



" Ya ! broder Yecup, to be sure I do." 



" Because he asked me how many Gods der was. How many 

 Gods are der, broder Yohn ? " 



" How many, broder Yecup, why, ONE !" 



" ONE ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ho ! ho ! ho ! " roared Yecup, holding his 

 fat sides and continuing a peal of laughter that threatened serious 

 consequences ; ' * you won't do, broder Yohn, to go to der chapel, 

 crops or no crops; for I told him der was TWENTY, and he was'nt 

 half satisfied ! " ,* ^j 



< :vfin *'* 



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