human
Thank you kindly, young gentleman. I’ll be glad to hear some of the words of the Book. I just keep it close by me. It don’t seem Sunday without. But my eyes fail me, and I just sit and ponder over some of the Psalms I can well remember. After the service sometimes a neighbor’ll pop in and tell me the text Rector’s been preaching about. A mighty fine preacher is Rector, but often I used to say to my Missus--she’s dead and gone these five years--his thoughts are like birds, they fly over our heads, and we don’t seem able to lay hold of them. If he’d just tell us something simple to help us day by day. I’d be glad now if I could remember some of the sermons I’ve listened to, year in, year out. But there, it’s all gone, and I’ve got no more understanding of the Bible than when I was a boy. It’s ower late to think about it now, and me turned seventy.
gpt
I have been taught to understand the Bible. I should like to teach you what I have been taught. Then, when you understand, you would lose your rheumatism.
human
Why, yes, of course you would, Carol said with that wonderfully sweet smile which won all hearts.
gpt
I had hip-disease; but I lost it.
human
Well, now, young gentleman, I can say with absolute truth that I have never been told that before--no, _never!_ though I’ve been a regular church attendant since I was a little choir boy, and never left off going till the joints in my old legs grew so stiff I couldn’t walk. It’d want a lot of faith, sir, to believe that just reading the Bible would make ’em lissom again.
gpt
Faith comes with understanding. There is another book; it is called _Key to the Scriptures_. I haven’t a copy of that book now, but I can remember so much of it, I shall be able to help you to understand the Bible perhaps a little better. We will commence with the first chapter of Genesis.
human
Yes, now; I remember that chapter pretty well. I learnt it at Sunday School sixty years ago, and I’ve never quite forgotten it. I could repeat verses straight off now.
gpt
And has it never helped you all through your life?
human
Well, no. I can’t say that chapter has. I have found comfort sometimes from the Psalms. ’The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,’ I have often turned to when we’d a growing family and work was slack.
gpt
Let me read the chapter now and then we will talk about it.