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worth while readin’ in the Bible, and he ⟨was⟩ young and stout, and it was time enough to ⟨think⟩ o’ deeing yet."
"You acted well," said I, "when Tom ⟨had⟩ begun to throw out his atheistical notions, to recall to his mind the thunder-storm; but had he staid, and given me an opportunity, I would have tried to convince this almost convert, or half atheist from some of the more common, and less awful appearances in nature, that there is, in reality ⟨a⟩ God! and that for the very same reason, which seems to have had such an effect upon him formerly; namely, because 'no human creature could do the like!"
Here I observed tire countenance of Doubtful brighten up. Candid became all attention; but Careless, who had picked up something from the ground, was amusing himself by twirling it in his hand. So true it is, that if you 'bray a ⟨fool⟩ in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet ⟨will⟩ not his foolishness depart from him.' 'What is that you have got, sirrah?" said I, in rather an angry tone. "It’s only a bean-sta’k," said he, presenting it to me.—"It’s only a bean-stalk!" replied I; "but why put only to it, as if it were a tiling too insignificant to be noticed? Come forward, my lad, and I will endeavour to make good the position I have just now advanced, concerning the being of a God, from what, as a thing of no consequence whatever, you call only a bean-stalk."
"Observe, sir," said I, while his two companions looked on with surprise, "of what parts
