I used to think, when you first come into these
parts, as you were no better nor you should be; you were younger a
deal than what you are now; but you were allays a staring, white-faced
creatur, partly like a bald-faced calf, as I may say. But there's no
knowing: it isn't every queer-looksed thing as Old Harry's had the
making of- I mean, speaking o' toads and such; for they're often
harmless, like, and useful against varmin. And it's pretty much the
same wi' you, as fur as I can see. Though as to the yarbs and stuff to
cure the breathing, if you brought that sort o' knowledge from distant
parts, you might ha' been a bit freer of it. And if the knowledge
wasn't well come by, why, you might ha' made up for it by coming to
church reg'lar; for, as for the children as the Wise Woman charmed,
I've been at the christening of 'em again and again, and they took the
water just as well. And that's reasonable; for if Old Harry's a mind
to do a bit o' kindness for a holiday, like, who's got anything
against it? That's my thinking; and I've been clerk of this parish
forty year, and I know, when the parson and me does the cussing of a
Ash-Wednesday, there's no cussing o' folks as have a mind to be
cured without a doctor, let Kimble say what he will. And so, Master
Marner, as I was saying- for there's windings i' things as they may
carry you to the fur end o' the prayer-book afore you get back to 'em-
my advice is, as you keep up your sperrits; for as for thinking you're
a deep 'un, and ha' got more inside you nor 'ull bear daylight, I'm
not o' that opinion at all, and so I tell the neighbours.
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