for that cantin' cheatin', old Elder. So
when I turns to go, sais I, 'Elder,' sais I, and I jist repeated his own
words--'I guess it's your turn to laugh now, for you have got the best
of the bargain, and no mistake. Goodish and the old mare are jist alike,
all tongue, ain't they? But these French is a simple people, so they
be; they don't know nothin', that's a fact. Their priests keep 'em in
ignorance a puppus.

"The next time you tell your experience to the great Christian meetin'
to Goose Creek, jist up and tell 'em, from beginnin' to eend, the story
of the--'_Elder and the Grave-digger_.'"

CHAPTER XIII. LOOKING BACK.

In the course of the evening, Mr. Hopewell adverted to his return as
a matter of professional duty, and spoke of it in such a feeling and
earnest manner, as to leave no doubt upon my mind, that we should not be
able to detain him long in this country, unless his attention should be
kept fully occupied by a constant change of scene.

Mr. Slick expressed to me the same fear, and, knowing that I had been
talking of going to Scotland, entreated me not to be long absent, for he
felt convinced that as soon as he should be left alone, his thoughts and
wishes would at once revert to America.

"I will try to keep him up," said he, "as well as I can, but I can't do
it alone. If you do go, don't leave us long. Whenever I find him dull,
and can't cheer him up no how I can fix it, by talk, or fun, or sight
seein' or nothin', I make him vexed, and that excites him, stirs him up
with a pot stick, and is of great sarvice to him. I don't mean actilly
makin' him wrathy in airnest, but jist rilin of him for his own good, by
pokin' a mistake at him. I'll shew you, presently, how I do it."

As soon as Mr. Hopewell rejoined us, he began to inquire into the
probable duration of our visit to this country, and expressed a wish to
return, as soon as possible, to Slickville.

"Come, Minister," said Mr. Slick, tapping him on the shoulder, "as
father used to say, we must 'right about face' now. When we are at home
let us think of home, when we are here, let us think of this place. Let
us look a-head, don't let's look back, for we can't see nothin' there."

"Indeed, Sam," said he, with a sad and melancholy air, "it would be
better for us all if we looked back oftener than we do. From the errors
of the past, we might rectify our course for the future. Prospective sin
is often clothed in very alluring garments; past s