you were in prison?"

"Of course I do, sir; I can't do anything else."

"You believe it all?"

"Indeed I do, sir."

"And are you trying to live according to it?"

"That I am, sir."

"Then, my son," said the priest, rising, "God bless you and keep you in
your way! Far be it from me to try to unsettle your mind or lead you
any further until you feel that you need leading. If ever you want to
come to me, you are welcome at any time of the day or night, and what
you cannot understand of what I tell you I won't expect you to believe.
Remember, my son, the Father of us all knows us just as we are, and
asks no more of any of us than we can do and be. Good day, my son, and
again--God bless you!"

When the priest went out, Sam rested again for a moment, and then
murmured to himself,--

"Two ministers an' one doctor, all good people, tryin' to show me the
way I should go, an' to tell me what I should do, an' me a-makin' only
about a dollar a day! I s'pose it's all right, or they wouldn't do it."