And it's the right thing for me to do, I
know that. That's what bothers me; the trouble's with ME. I don't
want to do the right thing." He broke off, seemed to reflect and
then asked suddenly:
"Ma'am, do you want to go to heaven when you die?"
The lady was naturally somewhat surprised at the question. "Why,
yes," she replied, "I-- Why, of course I do."
"There, that's it! Any decent, sensible person would. But I don't."
Barbara, startled into forgetting that children should be seen and
not heard, uttered a shocked "Oh!"
Jed waved his hand. "You see," he said, "even that child's morals
are upset by me. I know I ought to want to go to heaven. But when
I see the crowd that KNOW they're goin' there, are sartin of it,
the ones from this town, a good many of 'em anyhow; when I hear how
they talk in prayer-meetin' and then see how they act outside of
it, I-- Well," with a deep sigh, "I want to go where they ain't,
that's all." He paused, and then drawled solemnly, but with a
suspicion of the twinkle in his eye: "The general opinion seems to
be that that's where I'll go, so's I don't know's I need to worry."
Mrs. Armstrong made no comment on this confession. He did not seem
to expect any.
"Ma'am," he continued, "you see what I mean. The trouble's with
me, I ain't made right. I ought to let that house; Sam Hunniwell
told me so this mornin'.
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