When I gave him the toast, continued the corporal, I thought it was
proper to tell him I was captain _Shandy_’s servant, and that your
honour (though a stranger) was extremely concerned for his father;—and
that if there was any thing in your house or cellar——(And thou might’st
have added my purse too, said my uncle _Toby_),——he was heartily
welcome to it:——He made a very low bow (which was meant to your
honour), but no answer—for his heart was full—so he went up stairs with
the toast;—I warrant you, my dear, said I, as I opened the
kitchen-door, your father will be well again.——Mr. _Yorick_’s curate
was smoking a pipe by the kitchen fire,—but said not a word good or bad
to comfort the youth.——I thought it wrong; added the corporal——I think
so too, said my uncle _Toby._
When the lieutenant had taken his glass of sack and toast, he felt
himself a little revived, and sent down into the kitchen, to let me
know, that in about ten minutes he should be glad if I would step up
stairs.——I believe, said the landlord, he is going to say his
prayers,——for there was a book laid upon the chair by his bed-side, and
as I shut the door, I saw his son take up a cushion.——
I thought, said the curate, that you gentlemen of the army, Mr. _Trim_,
never said your prayers at all.——I heard the poor gentleman say his
prayers last night, said the landlady, very devoutly, and with my own
ears, or I could not have believed it.——Are you sure of it? replied the
curate.——A soldier, an’ please your reverence, said I, prays as often
(of his own accord) as a parson;——and when he is fighting for his king,
and for his own life, and for his honour too, he has the most reason to
pray to God of any one in the whole world——’Twas well said of thee,
_Trim_, said my uncle _Toby._——But when a soldier, said I, an’ please
your reverence, has been standing for twelve hours together in the
trenches, up to his knees in cold water,—or engaged, said I, for months
together in long and dangerous marches;—harassed, perhaps, in his rear
to-day;—harassing others to-morrow;—detached here;—countermanded
there;—resting this night out upon his arms;—beat up in his shirt the
next;—benumbed in his joints;—perhaps without straw in his tent to
kneel on;—must say his prayers _how_ and _when_ he can.—I believe, said
I,—for I was piqued, quoth the corporal, for the reputation of the
army,—I believe, an’ please your reverence, said I, that when a soldier
gets time to pray,—he prays as heartily as a parson,—though not with
all his fuss and hypocrisy.——Thou shouldst not have said that, _Trim_,
said my uncle _Toby_,—for God only knows who is a hypocrite, and who is
not:——At the great and general review of us all, corporal, at the day
of judgment (and not till then)—it will be seen who has done their
duties in this world,—and who has not; and we shall be advanced,
_Trim_, accordingly.——I hope we shall, said _Trim._——It is in the
Scripture, said my uncle _Toby;_ and I will shew it thee to-morrow:—In
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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