Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/274

270 another dish, and it was a dish of. nuts. (Song vi. 11.) Then said some at the table, Nuts spoil, tender teeth, especially the teeth of children: which when Gaius heard, he said:—

Then were they very merry, and sat at the table a long time, talking of many things. Then said the old gentleman, My good landlord, while we are cracking your nuts, if you please, do you open this riddle:—

Then they all gave good heed, wondering What good Gaius would say; so he sat still a while, and then thus replied:—

Then said Joseph, I dare say, sir, I did not think you could have found it out.

Oh 1 said Grains, I have been trained up in this way a great while; nothing teaches like experience. I have learned of my Lord to be kind, and I have found by experience that I have gained thereby. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maheth himself poor, yet hath great riches." (Prov. xi, 534; xiii. 7.)

Then Samuel whispered? to Christiana, his mother, and said, Mother, this is a very good man's house; let us stay here a good while, and, let my brother Matthew he married here to Mercy, before we go any further. The which Gaius, the host said, overhearing, said, with a very good will, my child.

So they stayed here more, than a month, and Mercy was given to Matthew to wife. While they stayed here, Mercy,