* Smith’ 
in the farmer’s character; for it was evidently 
designed to please him, and I think he really 
liked it. He was twice the curate’s age, and in 
experience beyond measure ahead of the other; 
but on the other hand, his sincere veneration for 
the Church made him almost meek and mild to 
the churchman. The result was funny. The 
two talked almost on an equality, each trying to 
come the man of the world. ‘The local question 
for or against an isolation hospital for the parish 
lasted them some time and gave them good 
opportunities to be knowing; but, for the rest, 
the curate’s conversation was innocent and im- 
proving. Mr. Smith named a book he had been 
reading: The Prince of the House of David. “ Ah, 
a nice book,” the curate admitted, ‘“‘ but I don’t 
know that you can improve on the Bible. I 
always notice about those sacred writers that they 
are so sincere, and so honest. ‘They don’t try to 
hide any faults. There’s David, for instance— 
the best man that ever lived: a musician, a poet, 
a good ruler; and yet—his sins are all recorded. 
Why, if anyone were to write in that way now of 
a monarch I’m sure I don’t know what would 
happen! But there is so much human nature in 
the Bible. We always used to laugh at General 
Smith, when he read one of the lessons. He'd 
been in the Indian Mutiny and was a rigid 
disciplinarian, and did so enjoy some of the 
45 
