The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other TalesMore, Hannah
General
The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other Tales
More, Hannah
Christian life -- Fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction; Short stories
_Fantom._ You have narrow views, Trueman. What _can_ be more
delightful than to see a paper of one's own in print against tyranny
and superstition, contrived with so much ingenuity, that, though the
law is on the look-out for treason and blasphemy, a little change of
name defeats its scrutiny. For instance; you may stigmatize
_England_ under the name of _Rome_, and _Christianity_ under the
name of _Popery_. The true way is to attack whatever you have a mind
to injure, under another name, and the best means to destroy the use
of a thing, is to produce a few incontrovertible facts against the
abuses it. Our late travelers have inconceivably helped on the cause
of the new philosophy, in their ludicrous narratives of credulity,
miracles, indulgences, and processions, in popish countries, all
which they ridicule under the broad and general name of Religion,
Christianity, and _the Church_. "And are not you ashamed to defend
such knavery?" said Mr. Trueman. "Those who have a great object to
accomplish," replied Mr. Fantom, "must not be nice about the means.
But to return to yourself, Trueman; in your little confined
situation you can be of no use." "That I deny," interrupted Trueman;
"I have filled all the parish offices with some credit. I never took
a bribe at an election, no not so much as a treat; I take care of my
apprentices, and do not set them a bad example by running to plays
and Saddler's Wells, in the week or jaunting about in a gig all day
on Sundays; for I look upon it that the country jaunt of the master
on Sundays exposes his servants to more danger than their whole
week's temptation in trade put together."
_Fantom._ I once had the same vulgar prejudices about the church and
the Sabbath, and all that antiquated stuff. But even on your own
narrow principles, how can a thinking being spend his Sunday better
(if he must lose one day in seven by having any Sunday at all) than
by going into the country to admire the works of nature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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