The things we do!

There are so many
well-informed and well-dressed etc. etc. people in the world that the
succession of them keeps St. Jacob's full for a year or more. Then, it
may be, a bawling quack, who has neither knowledge, nor scholarship, nor
charity, but who frightens the public with denunciations and rouses them
with the energy of his wrath, succeeds in bringing them together for a
while till they tire of his din and curses. Meanwhile the good quiet old
churches round about ring their accustomed bell: open their Sabbath
gates: receive their tranquil congregations and sober priest, who has
been busy all the week, at schools and sick-beds, with watchful teaching,
gentle counsel, and silent alms.
Though we saw Honeyman but seldom, for his company was not altogether
amusing, and his affectation, when one became acquainted with it, very
tiresome to witness, Fred Bayham, from his garret at Mrs. Ridley's, kept
constant watch over the curate, and told us of his proceedings from time
to time.


Pages:
577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601