Australian Tales - Setis

so I did, an that's what brought me to this counthry. You can't say I'll go
to Heaven afther that, I'm thinkin.”
“Well, Micky, that is a very grievous sin; but had you killed all the
congregation belonging to the church, too — nay, had you committed ten
thousand other crimes equally bad, if you truly repented of your sins,
resolved to forsake them entirely, and humbly asked God for the sake of
His Son Jesus Christ, to pardon you, God would surely forgive you
freely, restore you to his favour, and receive your soul to Heaven at last.
Here is God's own word pledged to do it.”
Mr. Hopewell then opened his pocket Bible, and read a few
encouraging passages therefrom, and afterwards briefly explained the
simple plan of salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ while
Micky sat by and listened, with overflowing eyes and a throbbing heart.
Chapter IV.
“YER'LL be afther thinkin I'm as soft as a great big batter puddin, I'm
afear'd, sir,” said Micky, when he had succeeded in restraining his sobs
and tears. “I haven't had such a bout ov cryin for many long years before;
though, dear knows, I've had throble enough to break me heart if it wasn't
too hard to break. I've bin close up cut to pieces on the triangles; but
sorra a tear did I drop at all. I howled an roared purty swately, to be
shure, but that's nothin; a man can't help doin that, when his flesh is
minced in that cannibal style, but they might hav cut me heart out ov me,
before I would uv cried a single squeak, or shed a tear as big as a
mosketer's eye; that's a fact, sir. An yit, whin yez begin to talk to me, as
gently as a woman, it makes me cry like a babby in long clothes. It's
mighty queer, so it is, but be dash'd if I could help it — if ye clipped me
ears off for it. I axe yer pardon, sir, for — — ”
“Don't mention it, my good friend,” said Mr. Hopewell smiling. “I am
delighted to see it; and there are other eyes too, that we cannot see, which
are rejoicing over your tears. Look up Micky, and ask God to give you
pardon, and peace, and He will surely answer you; for He has said in this
Holy Book — which I have just read to you, ‘Ask and ye shall receive.’
Ask then, just as you used to ask your kind old mother to give you bread,
when you were a hungry boy. You always believed that she would give it
to you, did you not?”
“Troth I did, sir,” said Micky, with earnestness. “She niver said nay to
anythin I axed her for, poor soul; barrin it wor something that she know'd
wouldn't do me no good.”
“Just so,” said Mr. Hopewell, “and your Father who is in Heaven will
not refuse you anything that you ask Him for, if He sees that it is needful,
or that it will not be hurtful to you; for He has promised to ‘withhold no
good thing from them that walk uprightly.’ Ask God to forgive you all