"Ah, Reub, Ben, and Will," she said, "when will you be such good boys as
Patsy and Geny? You can't say the Lord's Prayer yet."

"I can tell," said Reub, blushing, "more than Pat can. I know how old
Mathusalem was, who was the wife of Abraham, and who was the mother of
Solomon, and the wife of Putiphar."

"I don't know how to say so many prayers," said Ben, contemptuously;
"but I can tell how many cents in ten dollars, how many states in the
Union, and how large England is."

"I can sing a hymn," said Will, "which I heard in the choir in the
Methodist meeting house when I went there with cousin."

"Let us hear you, Will," said his mother.

"Mother, I have only a little of it," said Will.

"Say all you remember," said she, "and sing it."

"The ladies first said, ma," said he, commencing,--

'O for a man--O for a man--O for a mansion in the skies.'

"The men answered,--

'Send down sal--send down sal--
Send down salvation to our souls.'"

At this specimen of ludicrous poetical composition the mother burst out