a mistake an' pass by my house."

"But I should think you would be sure about it. You're so sure about
your own affairs, you know,--what are called your spiritual affairs."

"I don't know, though," said Sam, simply.

"Have all the children got good shoes and stockings and warm clothes?
Winter is almost here, you know."

"No, sir, they haven't," Sam sharply replied.

The lawyer quickly caught the change of tone, and made haste to
explain:

"I didn't mean to disturb your peace of mind, Sam; I asked only in
order to learn how much foundation there was to your faith. They
haven't them, you say. How will they get them?"

"I'll earn 'em," said the cobbler, with a savage dash of his awl which
one of his fingers barely escaped.

"But suppose you can't; suppose trade slackens, or Larry takes a notion
to a new helper."

"Then I'll beg, rather than have 'em suffer."

"And if folks won't give?"

"Then my folks'll have to go without."