140 THE CRATER; Betts. I hear you got in another hundred-barrel gentleman last week !" "Times is altered with me, governor; and times is altered with you, too, sir, since you and I rafted loam and sea-weed, to raise a few cucumbers, and squashes, and melons. Then, we should have been as happy as princes to have had a good roof over our heads." " I trust we are both thankful, where thanks are due, for all this, Betts?" " Why, yes, sir, I endivour so to be; though men is des perate apt to believe they desarve all they get but the ill luck. I and Marthy try to think of what is all in all to us, and I believe Marthy does make out pretty well, in that partic lar, accordin to Friends ways; though I am often jammed in religion, and all for want of taking to it early, as I sometimes think, sir." " There is no doubt, Betts, that men grow in Christian character, as well as in evil ; and the most natural growth, in all things, is that of the young. A great deal is to be undone and unlearned, if we put off the important hour to a late period in life." " Well, as to unrarnin , I suppose a fellow that had as little edication as myself will have an easy time of it," an swered Betts, with perfect simplicity and good faith; " for most of my schoolin was drowned in salt water by the time I was twelve." " I am glad of one thing," put in the governor, half in a congratulating way, and half inquiringly; "and that is, that the Rev. Mr. Hornblower takes so well with the peo ple. Everybody appears to be satisfied with his ministra tions; and I do not see that any one is the worse for them, although he is an Episcopalian." Betts twisted about on his chair, and seemed at first un willing to answer; but his natural frankness, and his long habits of intimacy and confidence with Mark Woolston, bull as man and boy, forbade his attempting anything seriously in the way of concealment. " Well, governor, they do say that many men, many minds/" he replied, after a brief pause; "and I suppose it s as true about religion, as in a judgment of ships, or in a cb ice of a wife. If all men took to the same woman, or
