“‘And will not one man in the town help him, no constables—no law?’
“‘Oh, he’s a Quaker, the law don’t help Quakers.’
“That was the truth—the hard, grinding truth—in those days. Liberty, justice, were idle names to nonconformists of every kind; and all they knew of the glorious constitution of English law was that its iron hand was turned against them.”—John Halifax, ch. viii.
[38] This excellent lady went on a visit to an old friend, who found her appearance so miserable that she took the liberty of clothing her from head to foot. The saint was aware that she had been clothed, but neither pleased nor offended. She only laughed, and I believe her secret satisfaction in the matter was that she could give the old clothes to some beggar. I hope, but feel by no means sure, that she did not give away the new ones, which were a surprising improvement to her appearance.
“Her faith through form is pure as thine,
Her hands are quicker unto good.”
In Memoriam.
A Civil Funeral.