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Untitled Article
conversations , as far as Mrs . Sherwood has proceeded , ( for she is not yet half through the task she proposes to herself , ) are on the different clauses of the Catechism , including the Ten Commandments . The last-mentioned portion of her york is much the best ; she has often , powerfully enforced the claims of the Deity to man ' s obedience , and disclosed the fallacy of his evasions . None of these stories , however , are
without passages of a very objectionable nature . The quaintness and formality of the style are occasionally very annoying , and the artificial language put into the mouths of the young ladies and gentlemen who are her pattern characters , is equally so . The best story , on the whole , perhaps , is that of Anna Williams , which is a very close , practical application of the Third Commandment to the cases of a multitude of religious professors of our day . The extent to which the name of God may be " taken in vain , " by an
affectation of feelings never experienced , by mere giving into the slang of a party , is extremely well shewn . The danger , also , of deserting homely duties for such as are more noisy and fashionable , is pointed out , and several characters are sketched with a very clever hand . As a specimen , may be selected a scene , in which the heroine , a quiet country girl , is introduced into an evening party of religious professors . " Mrs . Humphreys , addressing herself to Miss Parker , inquired if they were not to have the pleasure of their dear minister ' s company that
afternoon ? " Miss Parker answered , that he had certainly promised to come ; but he had begged her not to wait tea for him , as his time was never at his own command . tf Several persons now echoed Mrs . Humphreys' voice , who had just expressed her fears that their beloved pastor would ruin his constitution by his labours ; adding , that no man could , uninjured , long support such a round of duties , or answer such constant calls upon his time .
" Many voices wery instantly raised in admiration and pity of this excellent man , whom all represented as undergoing , in addition to his labours , mental and bodily , the severest persecutions which the enemies of religion could inflict . And so touching were the outlines which these good people drew of their beloved minister , that Anna , whose imagination had been very busily , and very injudiciously , at work the whole of the day , had just finished a picture in her own fancy of this respectable pastor , in which she had blended
together such symptoms of suffering and Christian resignation , as one should naturally expect to discover in a portrait of David Brainerd , or the venerable Swartz , when a loud rap at the street door was the immediate forerunner of a brisk step in the hall , which speedily brought into the room a well-looking-, ruddy , boyish-faced young man , in a genteel clerical dress . " The joy expressed by the greater part of the company at the appearance of this young pastor , brought up some old-fashioned blushes into Anna ' s face , particularly as some of the ladies , who bad expressed so much deli g ht , were quite as young as herself , and therefore could not claim the privilege of years for their freedom of manner .
" In the meantime , Mr . Burton , ( for such was the name of the ^ oung clergyman in question , ) politely refusing several chairs offered to him in different parts of the room , stepped up to Miss Parker and Mrs . Humphreys , who were sitting near together $ and having paid the usual compliments , was going to sit down quietly , when Mrs . Humphreys called Urn to account for being so late " . To which he made answer , that hia time was not at his command ; and that his calls were bo numerous that he hardly knew in what way to answer the one half of them j but that he could not deny himself the pleasure of joining
Untitled Article
Review . ' —Mrs . Sherwoods Lady of the Manor . 199
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1827, page 199, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1794/page/39/
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