Why, Thomas, I've often heard men say that they had to 'kill time', and didn't know what to do with themselves for hours together!" "'Tis wicked and against the Lord's will," and Thomas shook his head.
"The Lord never wants folks to be idle or kill time.

He fixes it so there's a-plenty of useful things for everybody to do all the time, and they wants to do un." "'Tis the measure of a man's worth," remarked Doctor Joe.

"The worth-while man never has an hour to kill.

The day hasn't hours enough for him.

It's the other kind that kill time--the sort that are not, and never will be, of much account in the world." They walked a little in silence, each busy with his own thoughts, when Thomas remarked: "The Lord has been wonderful good to me, Doctor Joe, givin' me three as fine lads and as fine a lass as He ever gave a man.