Silent Tom

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ...manner; "how Miss Rooth can hou'd convarse wi' such, passes my comprehension. She's a weak-looking pairson, joost the one to be toppled over by such a godless set, poor fule! Heck! they'll a' bleeze togither, if they don't look how they're goin'. It's the broad way to deestruction, nae broader to be constroocted than ane built on the deveenity o' Christ. Poor fules! can't they see there's no ither way under heaven by which a man can be saved? If I was the Loord, I'd joost rain a little brimstone down on that dreadfu' hall, an' let them git a bit taste o' it aforehand!" Poor Gracie, all undreaming of this anathema, went softly up into Ruth's room. Ruth sat with a book in her hand; Santy, on a low seat at her knee, looking up in her face in a sort of worshipful trance. "My dear friend!" cried Ruth, as at her.' Come in!' Gracie entered and sank into the nearest chair, "you are ill." Gracie shook her head. "Only a little out of breath," she said, smiling at Ruth's look of sympathy. "Since my sickness I have never been very strong. Do I interrupt you? I was so lonesome, so--I didn't want to say wretched,--because--what will you think of me?--that I felt as if I must call and see you."--" You don't interrupt me at all, dear. Throw your things off and stay awhile, or go with us by-and-bye over to the vestry. Do you know we are going to get up a plan to 'coorcumvent the ha' folks,' as Aunt Polly says,"--and she laid the matter as she had proposed it to her father, before her. Gracie's pale face grew alight. "I wish I could help you," she said anxiously, "for indeed this dreadful business is growing serious. They have got a new saloon, and my husband has put money in. He says he shall realise...