"'Well, lad!' he said, 'I've flung my life away, And now must give the reckoning in, they say.' I said, 'I hope, Sir, that you stand prepared To meet the Judge, and 'bide by His award!' 'Prepared!' he said, 'Roger, my open eyes Now look upon the past without disguise; And I remember all the years gone by, And all I've done, as 'twere but yesterday. It is no use to urge me to repent; I've lost my chance, and now must be content To fare as others do,--so let that be: But 'tis a dreadful word--Eternity!' 'Dear Sir,' I said, 'it is a dreadful word: Lift up your heart and call upon the Lord. Perhaps'--He started up impatiently,-- 'I cannot call: so let that matter be! I have no hope that I shall be forgiven; I know a drunkard cannot go to heaven; And as I stand upon destruction's brink, I see I've sacrificed my soul for 'drink.' Oh, what a fool I've been! but say no more; My crazy bark will soon push off the shore.'" _Mrs. Sewell._ CHAPTER V. ROLEY-POLEY'S OPINIONS--THE BUS-WASHER--COMMUNISM--AN INFIDEL CLUB ROOM--PHILOSOPHERS--CONFLICT WITH INFIDELITY--THE 'STROLOGY WOMAN--BIBLE ANSWERS--IMP WOMAN--THE CONVERTED INFIDEL. THE BOOK IN THE COURT: ITS TRUTH. "Thy word is true from the beginning." PS. cxix. 160. All who knew "Roley-poley," as the children delighted to call him, were convinced that something was wrong with him or his affairs. He was regarded as one of the respectables of the Court; and as he left home, with his huge narrow-edged basket, covered with a white cloth, upon which were displayed slices of rolled currant-pudding and plum-cake, he looked the pink of cleanliness. His rosy, contented face, white calico cook's cap, of which he was very proud, and his clean apron, were as charms to his supporters,--the roughs and gutter children. The partner of his life was also a partner in the provision business, as she sold sheep's-trotters outside the doors of the public-houses. Though both were turned sixty they were healthy, and their room had an appearance of comfort. It was plain that they prospered, as in the afternoon they left with well-filled baskets, and at night returned with them empty. Business difficulties were not therefore the cause, and yet the good-natured little man became ill-tempered, sharp with his customers, and "cranky" with every one; and then his meek little wife began to look wretched and speak of her "troubles." Liquor was not the cause, as "Roley-poley" was a sober man: so the conclusion arrived at was, that his "opinions," which of late had become very peculiar, were at the root of the evil. This was confirmed by his venturing an attack upon the Missionary, with whom he had been generally on good terms: and this is how the event occurred. The reader of the good Book was standing in a door-way with a group of boys, whose tossing for pence he had stopped by