I 'm glad I 'm a man . Look at Abel Blair , what splendid times he has on Sundays . He never goes to church , but he goes fishing , and has cock-fights , and gets drunk . When I grow up , I 'm going to do that on Sundays too , since I wo n't be going to church . I do n't want to go to church , but I 'd like to go to Sunday school . '' Salome listened in agony . Every word of Lionel Hezekiah 's stung her conscience unbearably . So this was the result of her weak yielding to Judith ; this innocent child looked upon her as a wicked woman , and , worse still , regarded old , depraved Abel Blair as a model to be imitated . Oh ! was it too late to undo the evil ? When Judith returned , Salome blurted out the whole story . `` Lionel Hezekiah must go to Sunday school , '' she concluded appealingly . Judith 's face hardened until it was as if cut in stone . `` No , he shall not , '' she said stubbornly . `` No one living in my household shall ever go to church or Sunday school . I gave in to you when you wanted to teach him to say his prayers , though I knew it was only foolish superstition , but I sha 'n' t yield another inch . You know exactly how I feel on this subject , Salome ; I believe just as father did . You know he hated churches and churchgoing . And was there ever a better , kinder , more lovable man ? '' `` Mother believed in God ; mother always went to church , '' pleaded Salome .
`` XXXXX was weak and superstitious , just as you are , '' retorted Judith inflexibly .
Blair Hezekiah Judith Mother Salome cock-fights conscience prayers story subject