"Nor am I a tattler," replied the husband. "And for this reason let
us each think of our own fault, and if Mark is disposed to reform, do
not let us prevent him; for, my poor wife, _our_ example is not
a very good one for him."

Josephine, who was working at her needle, in the adjoining room,
could not help overhearing this confession of her father, and she
felt the more encouraged to uphold Mark in his good intention.

She therefore went again to meet him, and repeated to him all she
had heard. "I think," added she, "you will do well to relate what has
happened to our father and mother, and read them the little tract."

"Not yet," said Mark, "for my principles are not sufficiently
strong. It is but an hour since the ale-house keeper's son laughed at
me, because I told him I would not play at nine-pins with him, during
working hours. He asked me if I was becoming a Methodist, and I did
not know what answer to make. However, I trust I am already
improving, and I have read the little tract again for the third time."

"Oh!" said Josephine, "we ought to read the Bible, and we do not
possess one."

"True," said Mark, somewhat surprised. "I never thought of
_that_. We have really no Bible in the house! Indeed, this must
not be," he added, looking on the ground, and striking it with his
spade.

"What shall we do, then?" said Josephine, "for it would be very nice