human
From what land do you come?
gpt
From England.
human
Ah! that also is an island, is it not?
gpt
SHE LIFTED HER EYES FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT.
human
Yes, it is an island--also. The sea dashes wrecks on all four sides of it, but there is no village on its shores so heathenish that if a man is cast upon the beach the inhabitants do not rejoice because he has escaped death.
gpt
Is there, then, no religion in England?
human
Religion? England is the most religious country on the face of the earth. There are more cathedrals, more churches, more places of worship in England than in any other State that I know of. We send missionaries to all heathenish lands. The Government, itself, supports the Church.
gpt
I fear, then, I mistook your meaning. I thought from what you said that the people of England feared death, and did not welcome it or rejoice when one of their number died.
human
They do fear death, and they do not rejoice when it comes. Far from it. From the peer to the beggar, everyone fights death as long as he can; the oldest cling to life as eagerly as the youngest. Not a man but will spend his last gold piece to ward off the inevitable even for an hour.
gpt
Gold piece--what is that?
human
Ah! he said,
gpt
Isn't it pretty?
human
That is the general opinion. To accumulate coins like that, men will lie, and cheat, and steal--yes, and work. Although they will give their last sovereign to prolong their lives, yet will they risk life itself to accumulate gold. Every business in England is formed merely for the gathering together of bits of metal like that in your hand; huge companies of men are formed so that it may be piled up in greater quantities. The man who has most gold has most power, and is generally the most respected; the company which makes most money is the one people are most anxious to belong to.
gpt
No wonder such a people fears death.
human
Do you not fear death?
gpt
How can we, when we believe in heaven?
human
But would you not be sorry if someone died whom you loved?
gpt
How could we be so selfish? Would you be sorry if your brother, or someone you loved, became possessed of whatever you value in England--a large quantity of this gold, for instance?
human
Certainly not. But then you see--well, it isn't exactly the same thing. If one you care for dies you are separated from him, and----
gpt
But only for a short time, and that gives but another reason for welcoming death. It seems impossible that Christian people should fear to enter Heaven. Now I begin to understand why our forefathers left England, and why our teachers will never tell us anything about the people there. I wonder why missionaries are not sent to England to teach them the truth, and try to civilise the people?
human
That would, indeed, be coals to Newcastle. But here comes one of the workers.
gpt
It is my father, cried the girl, rising.
human
I fear I have been loitering. I never did such a thing before.
gpt
Ruth, he said,
human
I have been receiving, said the young man, colouring slightly,
gpt
It is more fitting, said the man, coldly,
human
RUTH AT THE WELL.
gpt
Sir, he said,