This parson was
walking alone a lane at night, near midnight,
after he had been sitting with a dying person. He
saw a man standing near a branch in the lane and
he called out "Good night." He
deliberated which route to take back to the
rectory: one was shorter but it was stony and
very wet, so he chose the longer way and turned
for home that way. Thirty years later he was
speaking to a parishoner who was ill when the man
asked him suddenly, "Do you remember a night
about thirty years ago when you came to the 'Y'
after visiting with Nankervill, who was
dying?"
"Yes, I do
recall something of it."
"Do you
remember that you said 'Good night' to me?"
"I
remember someone being there; I did not know it
was you."
"And you
turned right instead of left?"
"I dare
say."
"If you
had taken the left hand road would never have
seen next morning."
"Why
so?"
"There was
a large cargo of 'run' goods being transported
that night, and you would have met it."
""What
of that?"
"What of
that? You would have been chucked over the
cliffs."
"But how
could they suppose I would preach?"
"Sir!
They'd ha' took good care you shouldn't a' had
the chance!"
