Lavengro by George Borrow

I slept soundly during that night, partly owing to the influence of the opiate. Early in the morning I was awakened by the voices of Peter and his wife, who were singing a morning hymn in their own language. Both subsequently prayed long and fervently. I lay still till their devotions were completed, and then left my tent. "Good morning," said Peter, "how dost thou feel? " "Much better," said I, "than I could have expected. " "I am glad of it," said Peter. "Art thou hungry? yonder comes our breakfast," pointing to the same young woman I had seen the preceding night, who was again descending the hill, bearing the tray upon her head.

"What dost thou intend to do, young man, this day? " said Peter, when we had about half finished breakfast. "Do," said I, "as I do other days, what I can. " "And dost thou pass this day as thou dost other days? " said Peter. "Why not? " said I; "what is there in this day different from the rest? it seems to be of the same colour as yesterday. " "Art thou aware," said the wife interposing, "what day it is? that it is Sabbath? that it is Sunday? " "No," said I, "I did not know that it was Sunday. " "And how did that happen? " said Winifred with a sigh. "To tell you the truth," said I, "I live very much alone, and pay very little heed to the passing of time. " "And yet of what infinite importance is time," said Winifred. "Art thou not aware that every year brings thee nearer to thy end? " "I do not think," said I, "that I am so near my end as I was yesterday. " "Yes thou art," said the woman; "thou wast not doomed to die yesterday; an invisible hand was watching over thee yesterday; but thy day will come, therefore improve the time; be grateful that thou wast saved yesterday; and, oh! reflect on one thing; if thou hadst died yesterday, where wouldst thou have been now? " "Cast into the earth, perhaps," said I. "I have heard Mr. Petulengro say that to be cast into the earth is the natural end of man. " "Who is Mr. Petulengro? " said Peter, interrupting his wife, as she was about to speak. "Master of the horseshoe," said I, "and, according to his own account, king of Egypt. " "I understand," said Peter, "head of some family of wandering Egyptians -- they are a race utterly godless. Art thou of them? -- but no, thou art not, thou hast not their yellow blood. I suppose thou belongest to the family of wandering artisans called -- -- . I do not like you the worse for belonging to them. A mighty speaker of old sprang up from amidst that family. " "Who was he? " said I. "John Bunyan," replied Peter, reverently, "and the mention of his name reminds me that I have to preach this day; wilt thou go and hear? the distance is not great, only half a mile. " "No," said I, "I will not go and hear. " "Wherefore? " said Peter. "I belong to the church," said I, "and not to the congregations. " "Oh! the pride of that church," said Peter, addressing his wife in their own tongue, "exemplified even in the lowest and most ignorant of its members. " "Then thou, doubtless, meanest to go to church," said Peter, again addressing me; "there is a church on the other side of that wooded hill. " "No," said I, "I do not mean to go to church. " "May I ask thee wherefore? " said Peter. "Because," said I, "I prefer remaining beneath the shade of these trees, listening to the sound of the leaves, and the tinkling of the waters."