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178 A MAETYEDOM.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
-#* I Was Close To The Door Of The Brown...
know wliat you are all about ? Do you know that this man of God is what the Erastians call an attainted traitor ? Do you know the
penalty of resetting , supplying , or intercommuning with such a one ? That to correspond by word , writ , or message ; to supply
him with meat , drink , or harbour , is denounced under the highest pains ? What are you all thinking of ? "Why , they will take him
and shoot him—him , Master Arthur , I mean—if ever they catch him , on the very spot ! The soldiers are prowling everywhere , and
you know my young master cannot start on this expedition until the night be far advanced , on account of the moonlight . " " Dear
Patience" returned Mistress Faith , looking ready to weep herself , " to , mother : this matter is well-nigh above me . " She ran up
stairs go , and my I , turning to the brown parlour , opened the door , and went in . Mladhad her back turned to rne as I entered . On
approaching , y I found y she was setting one of her drawers to rights , and had in her hand a little red shoewhich Master Arthur had worn
, when an infant . She looked up as I came near ; then , as if it needed explanationremarked"You see I have turned a thrifty housewife
this afternoon , , my good , wench . This drawer sadly wanted ordering . Buthow now ? what hath befallen thee , my good Patience ? "
With all duty , , made bold by the urgency of the case , driven by love and fear , I ventured , then , to remonstrate with the honoured lady .
I put the matter very home ; I did not spare her one thing , so desperate was I , and I set all the danger before her e 3 _^ es with cruel
words . " You see , my dear and honoured madam , " I concluded , " what terrible risk must be run : shall it be by the youngest , the
darling of all our hearts ; the one of greatest promise of all ? Oh , no ! this must not be ! You will graciously try me instead , you will
indeed ! The Lord will assist me to compass this affair , and to bear in my mind all your directions ? " " Sit down here beside me , my good
Patience , " replied my lady very solemnly , " and let me set this affair before theeas the Lord hath set it before me , after many prayers
and tears . , For this hath not been one of His easy tasks . This chosen vessel of God , this great and shining light , must not be let
to fall into the hands of the Men of Belial , who are his cruel enemies ! " " Doubtlessdoubtlesshonoured madam , but- "
" Has the House of Wardour , ever betrayed , its ancient trust to the meanest thing that claimed its shelter ? shall it be treacherous , then ,
to its dearest friend in the hour of his sorest need ? for there is mercy for none who ever had the smallest hand in the death of the
Archbishop . " " Oh , my lady , treachery and the name of Wardour are the two poles ! but " She authoritatively broke in upon
me . " Patience , God doth not set us our tasks as we should choose them . Could I but do this oh , my God , iny God ! " the poor lady
nearly gave way here : but then suddenly controlled herself with wonderful self-command . " Neither I nor my daughters have any
chance of guiding , with a hope of success , through a secret pass
178 A Maetyedom.
178 A MAETYEDOM .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1858, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051858/page/34/
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